National

As groups continue to throng the Treasury House, to congratulate the Accountant General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris FCNA, on his appointment into the membership Panel of the International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board Consultative Advisory Group, the AGF has attributed the appointment to the political-will being demonstrated by President Muhammadu Buhari to fighting corruption and doing the right things.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Youths and Students Affairs (SAPYSA), Nasir Adhama has expressed the government's commitment to stem the country's unemployment rate, saying it would provide a conducive atmosphere for the youth to engage in productive ventures. While he charged youths and students in the country to be self-empowered, he said the present government is working towards creating a conducive atmosphere for young entrepreneurs.

The Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Nwabueze Ngige has disclosed that in line with the Change Mantra of the Federal Government of Nigeria, efforts towards ensuring safe, healthy, and decent work as well as the curbing of unnecessary wastages in the economy remain a priority of the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. The Honourable Minister made the remarks in Abuja at the occasion of 2016 commemoration of the World Day for Safety and Health at Work and also launched a reviewed Occupational Safety and Health Inspection Checklist for Nigeria as part of activities to mark the day.

The Special Assistant to the President on Youth and Students Affairs, Nasir Adhama has appealed to Nigerian Students to keep calm and cooperate with authorities in addressing their grievances. The call was made following student unrest at the University of Ibadan (UI) which led to the closure of the institution by its management.

In order to realize the change desire of the present administration, the Federal Government said that concerted efforts are on to reposition the Federal Civil Service for effective service delivery to Nigerians. The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Winifred Ekanem Oyo-Ita disclosed this today in her office in Abuja when she received members of the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN) led by its President and Chairman Mr. Anthony Chukwuemeka Nzom.

The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta in Lagos, presided over a consultative forum on the Draft Regulatory Framework for the Provision of Value Added Services in Nigeria, with a promise to do more in order to protect, and empower consumers of telecommunications services in the country.

Federal Government of Nigeria has said it would not provide resources to any government official to travel abroad for medical attention unless the case cannot be handle in Nigeria. President Muhammadu Buhari made this known at the opening ceremony of the 56th Annual General Conference and delegates meeting of Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) “tagged Sokoto 2016 held in the ancient city of Sokoto.

The Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Nwabueze Ngige has disclosed that the Present Administration has set the stage for the establishment of Productivity Units in all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAS) in the Country, as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari GCON in his address at the occasion marking the observance of National Productivity Day on 20th August, 2015.

ALTHOUGH NIGERIA is the 12th largest iron ore resource country in the world and the second largest in Africa, about 70% of the deposits are yet to be proven, a pursuit the federal government declares it is now engaging in, according to the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.

In a bid to introduce enterprise culture and commercial orientation in the Federal Civil Service, the Federal Government is considering the establishment of a commercial unit, Division or Department in addition to the Public Private Partnership(PPP) Unit as one of the Common Services in Ministries, Departments and Agencies(MDAs) of the Federal Government. The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita disclosed this today in her office in Abuja when she received the report of an 8-man Technical Committee on enterprise culture and commercial orientation in the Federal Civil Service.

As part of government's effort at addressing the issue of unemployment, the Office of the Special Assistant to the President on Youth and Student Affairs (SAPYSA) has developed a partnership with a leading global ICT solution provider, Huawei Technologies to initiate a social development programme that would empower 1000 youths in Information and Communication Technology. The initiative which would be overseen by the Special Assistant to the President on Youth and Student Affairs, Nasir Adhama would commence at a date to be announced soon.

A total of 1, 934, 765 displaced persons are currently living in formal camps, host communities and satellite camps in liberated communities as a result of insurgency in North Eastern States of Borno, Yobe, Taraba, Gombe, Bauchi and Adamawa states. This was disclosed by Yola Camp Coordinator , Saad Bello, who, on behalf of the Director General of NEMA, Muhammad Sani Sidi, took the United States Ambassador to the United Nations, Samanthan Power, round the facilities at Malkohi IDP Camp in Yola, Adamawa State at the weekend.

The attention of the Federal Ministry of Power, Works & Housing has been drawn to reports that the leadership of National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), has issued instructions to its Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), members to stay away from their duty posts. The reports have understandably led to fears of a nation-wide blackout, as has also been reported. The Ministry, after consulting the management of TCN, wishes to state in clear terms that it is not aware of any declaration of industrial dispute by NUEE, nor any lawful notice of strike action against TCN. Therefore no staff of TCN has any legitimate cause to absent him or herself from duty.

The Nigerian government will no longer enter into any Bilateral Air Services Agreement with any country unless it is mutually beneficial to both parties. This is against the backdrop of such agreements in the past from which Nigeria has not reaped the desired benefits. Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika made this known when he received the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ethiopia to Nigeria,Samia Zekaria Gutu in his office.

Education Minister, Malam Adamu Adamu stated this today in his office in Abuja, when he received in audience, the Ambassador of the State of Palestine to Nigeria, His Excellency Mr. Saleh AS’AD Saleh Fhied who paid a courtesy call on the Minister. When signed according to the Minister, the Memorandum of Understanding will help strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries.

· Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun gave an update to the Council on the progress regarding the constitution of the NSIA Board. · The Minister told the Council that nominees have been selected to form a Search Committee that will bring up names of potential Board members of the NSIA.

The managements of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) and the Arik Air Group have been given two weeks within which to resolve all issues relating to indebtedness between the respective organizations.

The Accountant-General of the Federation, AGF, Ahmed Idris, has given assurance that the Federal Government is working out modalities to ensure that payment of...

The Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, (OAGF) has given assurance that the Federal Government is working out modalities to ensure that payment of Federal Government workers are paid early, in line with the directives of Mr. President. The Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), Mr. Ahmed Idris gave the assurance during an interactive session with a team of journalists led by Director News Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Alhaji Sani Sulieman. According to the AGF, ”there is a standing instruction from Mr. President for workers to be paid on or before 24 or 25 of every month,” but said compliance has been hampered by the limited resources available to Government which can only be determined after the monthly FAAC meeting.

The attention of The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has been drawn to publications in the media insinuating looming nationwide blackout due to the ongoing labour lockdown of the TCN headquarters in Abuja. The Transmission Company of Nigeria wishes to clearly state that there would be no blackout in the nation as TCN staff in its regional offices nationwide, who are responsible for the actual wheeling of bulk electricity, are at their duty posts, ensuring that electricity generated by power generating stations is seamlessly transmitted to distribution load centres nationwide.