Headline

My policies on fuel subsidy removal, forex regime, yielding positive results – Tinubu

Published

10 months ago

July 30, 2023

President Bola Tinubu says the Federal Government is receiving support and commendations from the global communities over the removal of fuel subsidy and the foreign exchange regime policies, saying they are yielding positive results.

Tinubu stated this at a Gala/Award Night on Saturday, organised by the office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HOCSF), to recognise and honour outstanding civil servants to mark the 2023 Civil Service Week.
Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume, President Tinubu appreciated civil servants for their numerous contributions to the economic development of the country.

The president, who accepted the fact that the policies had in one way or the other affected the masses, said the government was working on measures to cushion the effects.

“We shall without delay cushion the pains being experienced by our people as a result of these measures through a number of well targeted interventions aimed at giving adequate relief and succour to a great number of our long- suffering citizens, ” he said.

He, however, pledged to give more supports to the civil service sector, being the custodian of public trust to consolidate on the gains of the ongoing reforms in the sector.

Earlier, in her opening remarks, the HOCSF, Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan, said every human being had an inherent desire to be appreciated or acknowledged for their efforts, and so hard-working civil servants deserve reward for their services to the nation.

According to Yemi-Esan, when an individual feels valued and recognised for hard work, he or she is more likely to be
committed and enthusiastic next time around.

She used the occasion to present prizes namely, a brand new 2022 JAC JS4 Luxury Model SUV, a 2 Bedroom semi-detached bungalow; and a plot of land to the top three outstanding civil servants.

The gesture, which is in collaboration with the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation, also favoured 29 other outstanding civil servants who went home with other awards while few got N500,000 each.

“The Star Prize of a Brand New 2022 JAC JS4 Luxury Model SUV won by Mrs Juwon Olayiwola of the Federal Ministry of Education; a 2-Bedroom Semi-Detached Bungalow was won by Mr. Nwachukwu of Service Welfare Office, office of the HOCSF and the 3rd prize, a Plot of Land, was allocated to Mrs. Chukweke Stella Oluchi, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF).”

While urging heads of MDAs to reward outstanding workers, the HOS said recognition/rewards could serve to inspire employees to go the extra mile to innovate and achieve excellence in the course of discharging their jobs.
“In this ever-evolving corporate world, fostering a positive and motivating work environment has become crucial for the success of any institution.”

Also, the Chairman, Federal Civil Service Commission, Dr Tukur Ingawa, represented by Dr Simon Etim, a Commissioner in the Commission, said rewarding a worker is critical innovative factor for motivation in executing the needed jobs in any organisation.

The theme for the service week is: ‘Digitalisation of work processes in the public service: A gateway to efficient resources utilisation and national development’.

Headline

EFCC bars dollar transactions, orders embassies to charge in naira

Published

3 days ago

May 11, 2024

Desmond Ukafor

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has barred foreign missions based in Nigeria from transacting in foreign currencies and mandated them to use Naira in their financial businesses.

The EFCC has also mandated Nigerian foreign missions domiciled abroad to accept Naira in their financial businesses.

The anti-graft agency said the move is to tackle the dollarisation of the Nigerian economy and the degradation of the naira

The Commission, therefore, asked the government to stop foreign missions in Nigeria from charging visa and other consular services in foreign denominations.

The EFCC gave the advisory in a letter to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, for onward transmission to all foreign missions in the country.

In the letter, the EFCC said it issued the advisory because the practice of paying for consular services in dollars was in conflict with extant laws and financial regulations in Nigeria.

In a letter dated April 5, 2024, which was addressed to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, titled: “EFCC Advisory to Foreign Missions against Invoicing in US Dollar,” the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede expressed dismay over the invoicing of consular services in Nigeria by foreign missions in dollars.

The EFCC cited Section 20(1) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007, which makes currencies issued by the apex bank the only legal tender in Nigeria.

The letter read, “I present to you the compliments of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, and wish to notify you about the commission’s observation, with dismay, regarding the unhealthy practice by some foreign missions to invoice consular services to Nigerians and other foreign nationals in the country in United States dollar ($).

“It states that ‘the currency notes issued by the Bank shall be the legal tender in Nigeria on their face value for the payment of any amount’.

“This presupposes that any transaction in currencies other than the naira anywhere in Nigeria contravenes the law and is, therefore, illegal.”

The commission further stated that the rejection of the naira for consular services in Nigeria by certain missions, along with non-compliance with foreign exchange regulations in determining service costs, is not just unlawful but also undermines the nation’s sovereignty embodied in its official currency.

The letter continues: “This trend can no longer be tolerated, especially in a volatile economic environment where the country’s macroeconomic policies are constantly under attack by all manner of state and non-state actors.

“In light of the above, you may wish to convey the commission’s displeasure to all missions in Nigeria and restate Nigeria’s desire for their operations not to conflict with extant laws and regulations in the country.”

Diplomatic sources said yesterday, May 10, that some embassies were wondering whether the EFCC’s advisory represented the position of the Federal Government.

Headline

Prince Harry visits sick Nigerian soldiers in Kaduna

Published

4 days ago

May 11, 2024

Alero Danjuma

Prince Harry and his team visited the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital in Kaduna to interact with wounded soldiers who are receiving treatment.

The Duke of Sussex is in Nigeria with his wife to champion the Invictus Games, which Harry founded to aid the rehabilitation of wounded and sick servicemembers and veterans.

Nigeria joined the Invictus Community of Nations in 2022 becoming the first African country to join.

Prince Harry’s visit to Kaduna came 68 years after his late grandmother Queen Elizabeth II visited the state during the time of the late Premier of Northern Region Sir Ahmadu Bello.