Category: Uncategorized

By Jennifer Yusuf

The Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) has announced the downward review of the cost of 2019 general pilgrimage to Israel from N731, 000 to N715, 000.

The Acting Executive Secretary of the commission, Esther Kwaghe disclosed this on friday in Abuja during the signing of contracts agreement with air carriers and ground handlers for the 2019 general pilgrimage exercise.

Kwaghe said “I want to announce to the general public that this year 2019 cost of pilgrimage to Israel has been reviewed downward to N715, 000 and this is the effort of the Chairman of the commission”

“After yesterday final negotiation of terms of contract for the 2019 pilgrimage exercise.  I am happy that all of us have agreed on the terms and conditions that will govern this year pilgrimage. We are therefore here this afternoon to sign in line with due process of Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) requirements ”

The Acting Executive Secretary while urging the service providers not to renege on the agreements of the contracts also tasked them on safety of the pilgrims and value for money.

“While thanking the air carrier and ground handlers I urge you to be faithful in keeping to the latest and terms of the contracts. I assure you that we will keep to our own terms and do our best to all diligence to meet up with the obligations” She stated.

On his own part the Chairman of the Commission, Yomi Kasali said that the decision to reduce the price was informed as a result of entreaties and plea by the conference of states and other stakeholders. He noted that the commission also considered harsh economic situations in the country and demands by many Nigerians to participate in the spiritual exercise.

Kasali said “We are just responding as a board to the plea of our stakeholders. The 36 state chairmen met with us and pleaded again that we should review this price downward. We want it to be affordable and the time we are in”

He said Nigerians pilgrims should expect deep spiritual excellence as the commission is working round the clock to serve them better and ensuring that they get value for their money.

The chairman assured that all the technical lapses that were experienced during the Easter pilgrimage would be addressed. He added that it has nothing to do with the lack of planning on the part of the commission.

Kasali asked the air carriers and ground handlers to treat the Nigerians with respect and dignity during the pilgrimage exercise in the holy land.

According to him “That is why i keep saying to us service providers try to treat an average Nigerians with care, I care about welfare and wellbeing, I care about service. When I pay for it, I want to get value for money. That is my kind of person and you should try and ignore the ugly ones.

He said he would not hesitate to show any service provider who is trying to compromise the standard the way out.

“You have every right to write to us, you have every right to share your thought with us, you have every right to have your say. I guarantee you we will not cheat you. As long as we are here that is what government stand for. To defend the defenceless, be a voice for the voiceless and support the weak ” Kasali noted.

Responding on behalf of service providers, Executive Director AtlasJet Nigeria Ltd, Ercument Filiz assured the commission to provide an outstanding service in this year exercise.

Some of the service providers present at the event includes; Tabar Tours, Tailor Made Tours, AtlasJet Nigeria, Ophir Tours, Hadur Travel among others.

By Abel Leonard Nzwanke/Lafia

The Nasarawa State House of Assembly says it will resolve the crisis rocking the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees(NULGE) in the interest of peace and development of the state.

Alhaji Mohammed Alkali, the Chairman of the Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, said this on while addressing two factions of the association which appeared before the committee in Lafia.

Alkali said that the House was working tirelessly toward repositioning the local government system in the state.

He added that the assembly would not fold its hands and watch the leadership of the union in crisis.

“We will not finish this issue today, we request for all necessary documents to enable us to ascertain the authentic leadership.

“It is in the interest and for the overall development of the local government and the state at large,” he said.

Alkali urged the factions to remain calm and allow the House to do the needful in the interest of peace and development.

Daybreak news reports that Mr Akolo Andrew, the State Deputy President of NULGE who appeared for the elected executive members of the union, claimed that their tenure is still on.

It was also observerd that Mr Haladu Ibrahim Agah, the state Caretaker Committee Chairman of NULGE, said that the constitution of the committee followed the expiration of the elected NULGE officials in the state.

Actress Felicity Huffman has been sentenced to 14 days in prison.

Huffman also received a $30,000 fine, 250 hours of community service and one year supervised release, federal court Judge Indira Talwani said today in Boston.

Before announcing the sentencing, Talwani said Huffman knew what she did was wrong, saying, “She knew it was a fraud it was not an impulsive act.”

A group of civil society organisations (CSOs) have urged the Federal Government not to follow through with the plan to increase Value Added Tax (VAT), saying that it will increase poverty and widen inequality.

Daybreak reports that the CSOs were reacting to the recent announcement by the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, that the Federal Executive Council had approved the proposal to increase VAT from five percent to 7.5 percent.

The CSOs, under the auspices of Tax Justice and Governance Platform, (TJGP) Nigeria, in a joint statement on Friday in Abuja, advocated for the promotion of a progressive, fair and transparent system in which domestic resources would be utilised for people-oriented development.

NAN reports that the statement was made available to newsmen by Mr Chinedu Bassey, on behalf of the steering committee and members of the Tax Justice and Governance Platform

The CSOs in the Platform are Christian Aid, ActionAid Nigeria, Centre for Democracy and Development, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, OXFAM Nigeria and Imo State Tax Justice and Governance Platform.

“We call on the Federal Government to pay serious attention to widening the tax net rather than increasing the rate, which will only place more burden on the few that complies and still exempts the majority that do not pay taxes.

“If government wants to still go ahead with the increase, we expect empirical projections and evidence-based expected outputs to indicate that the tax yield from the increase will outweigh any disadvantage and potential negative impact.

“We also want the government to guarantee that majority of Nigerians will be the ultimate beneficiaries of the proposed measures,” they said.

The CSOs urged government to, in the meantime, reduce the tax incentives granted to multinationals and consider full digitisation of the processes of tax administration to curb leakages in the system.

They also called for the establishment of the beneficial ownership register in Nigeria as a measure of knowing people’s real worth and what they were expected to pay as tax.

“We call on the Federal Government to again beam its searchlight on illicit financial flows from Nigeria, as it represents a source of substantial revenue leakage and loss to government.

“We call on the Federal Ministry of Finance to ensure that the FIRS is not compelled to impose hardships on hapless Nigerians in a bid to generate taxes to meet unrealistic targets.

“The platform calls on the Federal Government to improve market information and transparency by implementing the National Tax Policy,” they said.

The group called on all Nigerians, especially civil society organisations, the media and labour, to continue to raise their voices against measures and policies that would further impoverish Nigerians.

By Jennifer Yusuf

Chinese Cultural Centre has organized the first Chorus Competition for secondary schools in Abuja as part of activates to celebrate the 70^th National Day of the founding of the People’s Republic of China which coincides with Nigeria’s national day of October 1^st.

The musical showpiece which had 9 secondary schools in Abuja competing was hosted by Government Girls Secondary School, Dutse, in the Bwari area council of the Federal Capital Territory.

In a speech delivered by the Director, China Cultural Centre, Mr. Li Xuda, he stated that the competition was put together to promote education and the cultural values of Nigeria and China. He noted that China and Nigeria are blessed with rich cultural heritage which should be promoted and protected at all cost.

“China and Nigeria would benefit a lot in the future by these acts we have undertaken to harness talents and promote cultural heritage through this “Jasmine flower song competition.”

Mr. Xuda, also used the occasion to reiterate the commitment of China towards the sustenance of the cordial and bilateral relationships that exist between Nigeria and China.

“Nigeria has gained a lot of benefits since the inception of diplomatic ties with China. Both countries have had shared benefits in education, social, cultural and economic development, of which Education and Culture are priority to the Chinese Cultural Centre” he said.

Also speaking at the event, the Executive Chairman, FCT secondary Education Board, Hon. Yahaya Musa Muhammad who sent a representative said, China has done a lot to promote education in Abuja, noting that lots of students have been beneficiaries of its scholarships and awards.

“I am glad to see our students beautifully kitted and performing the ‘Jasmine flower song in Chinese language. I would give honor to the Chinese Embassy  and the Cultural Centre for organizing this competition to harness the exceptional talents of our students The Education Board will continue to work hand in hand with the Chinese Cultural Centre to see that this maiden edition is not the last,” he said.

Speaking on behalf of the competing schools Mr. Yusuf Barde, Vice- Principal, Government Girls Secondary school, Dutse thanked the Chinese Cultural Centre for its eagle eye in identifying “culture” as a tool of moral regeneration in our youths saying that our culture has been devalued by copying negative western cultures which are presented as popular culture to our youths.

“What China Cultural Centre has done is first of its kind by an international cultural organization and we are very grateful that our students have experienced speedy cultural orientation as it concerns Chinese and Nigerian cultures. Since the announcement of this competition earlier this year, our students have shown a lot of enthusiasm” he said.

The competition which is a first in the country, had Government Secondary School, Jabi, Abuja claiming the first prize. Awards were given to outstanding performers and consolation prizes to all participants.

By Mike Mike

The move by the government to regulate the financial inflow of non-profit organisations(NPO) has been described as a right step in the right direction.

This was the concession reached on Friday as Spaces For Change, a non-profit organization held its consultative meeting with civil society organisations in Abuja.

According to them, the move will help checkmate the inflow of funds for illegal use by some of the organisations which may be aiding money laundering and terrorism.

Speaking on the need to improve their services and help the government in that direction, Victoria Ibezim-Ohaeri, said the Financial Action Task Force, (FATF) which is responsible for the assessment of national risk  understands the need.

Ibezim-Ohaeri said it must be noted that money laundering and terrorism funding if properly monitored will help countries take appropriate measures to counter any threats so identified.

She said that this year’s meeting centred on the review of the Space for Change’s 2017 review which examined the link between the FATF recommendation 8 and restrictions on civic freedom in Nigeria.

“That study detailed how domestic efforts to comply with this international provision has not only opened the door for states to introduce the restrictive legislation but also given them further ground to crush dissent, violate civil liberties and impose restriction on civil society,” she state.

Space for Change was established in 2011 with the intent to increase the participation of women, youth and communities in the development of social economic policy and also helped public authorities and corporate entities put humanity right at the heart of their decision makings.

On their part, the CSO numbering over 20, said while it welcomes the evaluation of FAFT, they believed that there are critical areas of concern which should be put in  place to curb corruption or combat money laundering and financing of terrorism.