Flowerbud News

Month: December 2023

  • Breaking: Court stops INEC from conducting fresh election into 26 defected Rivers lawmakers’ seats

    Breaking: Court stops INEC from conducting fresh election into 26 defected Rivers lawmakers’ seats

     

     

    Abuja: A Federal High Court in Abuja, has restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from conducting fresh election to fill the seats of the 26 Rivers House of Assembly members who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Justice Donatus Okorowo, who gave the ruling in an ex-parte motion moved by counsel to the defected lawmakers, Peter Onuh, also restrained the INEC, PDP and the house of assembly from declaring their seats vacant and withdrawing their respective Certificate of Returns pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

    Justice Okorowo equally gave “an interim order of injunction restraining all the defendants from interfering with or impeding in any way or attempting to interfere with or impede in any way the performance of the applicants’ official and legislative functions as the speaker, the deputy speaker and members, respectively, of the Rivers State House of Assembly, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

    “An order of interim injunction is hereby granted restraining the defendants/respondents, jointly and or severally, by themselves or their agents, from interfering with or impeding in any way or attempting to interfere with or impede in any way the full enjoyment of the official rights and privileges of the plaintiffs/applicants as the speaker, the deputy speaker and members, respectively, of the Rivers State House of Assembly, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

    “An order of interim injunction is hereby granted restraining the 5th and 6th defendant (I-G and DSS), by themselves, officers, subordinates, servants or agents from denying or refusing to provide security for the plaintiffs or howsoever withdrawing their security details or personnel or failing to provide details or personnel or failing to provide adequate security for the plaintiffs/applicants for the purpose of enabling them to continue with the performance of their constitutional legislative and oversight functions pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.”

    The judge, who granted the reliefs on Dec. 15 (Friday) but a certified true copy (CTC) of the ruling sighted by News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Sunday night, ordered the applicants to undertake damages in the sum of N250 million.
    Okorowo adjourned the matter until Dec 28 for hearing the motion on notice.

    NAN reports that the 26 lawmakers had, in the motion ex-parte marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1681/2023/ dated Dec 13 and filed Dec 15, sued INEC, PDP, the assembly, clerk of the assembly, Inspector-General (I-G) of Police and Department of State Service (DSS) as 1st to 6th defendants respectively.

    The motion, which was deposed to by the factional Speaker of the assembly, Mr Martins Chike-Amaewhule, sought five reliefs.(NAN)(www nannews.ng) /Flowerbudnews

  • Buhari @ 81: Buharists celebrate ex-leader’s pro-people agenda, forthrightness

    Buhari @ 81: Buharists celebrate ex-leader’s pro-people agenda, forthrightness

     

    By Flowerbudnews
    Enugu: Buharists, on Sunday, extolled former President Muhammadu Buhari sterling qualities, especially his pro-people agendas, his Spartan and forthright lifestyle even as the immediate past leader clocks 81.

     

    A notable Buharist and former Director-General of Voice of Nigeria (VON), Mr Osita Okechukwu, said this in a facilitation massage made available to journalists in Enugu.

     

    Okechukwu noted that Buhari raised Nigeria and devoted his public service to service to the common man during his administration and other befitting services he rendered to the nation.

    He recalled how Buhari raised a marshal plan to confront the challenge of food security in the country, regretting that insurgency slowed down the drive to make Nigeria the food basket of Africa.

     

    Part of the statement reads: “It is with gratitude to Almighty God that we, the Buharists, celebrate and proclaim a hearty happy birthday cheer to our icon, former President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR on his 81 years on earth.

     

    “As we, the Buharists wish him healthier and fruitful years ahead, we recognise that his birthday is the appropriate time to recount his pro-people policies, his resistance to World Bank’s anti-peoples policies, even as military Head of State.

    “Billions of naira in bail-out funds were granted to state governments, social investment programmes, reduction of infrastructural deficit and the famous Buhari’s unprecedented agrarian revolution to enhance Nigerians prosperity.

     

    “We, the Buharists, make bold to state that because of his passion for food security he invested more than any other Federal Government in agriculture post 1970.

     

    “Regrettably, we lament the truism that palpable insecurity diminished his quest for food security as his credo was, we must produce what we eat.”

     

    Okechukwu said that Buharists, therefore, appealed to President Bola Tinubu, to continue with some of the laudable programmes, particularly “Buhari’s Agrarian Revolution”.

    According to him, these programmes included the Green Imperative Programme designed to mechanise agriculture nationwide and Anchor Borrowers Programme under whatever nomenclature.

     

    “We are happy that President Tinubu promised to continue with our icon’s initiatives, because that is a befitting way to honour the image of this great Nigerian who loves the poor and cares for the nation,” he added. (Flowerbudnews)

  • Make Enugu hospitable hub for productive economic activities – Economist urges Enugu govt

    Make Enugu hospitable hub for productive economic activities – Economist urges Enugu govt

     

     

     

    By Flowerbudnews

    Enugu:  A Development Economist, Prof. Chiwuike Uba, has urged Enugu State Government to concentrate on making the state hospitable hub for productive economic activities, which necessitates a paradigm shift in the government’s approach.

     

    Uba, the Executive Director, Amaka Chiwuike Uba Foundation (ACUF) Initiative for Policy and Governance, an NGO, gave the advice while speaking with newsmen in Enugu on Sunday.

     

    He spoke on the sidelines of the recently released proposed 2024 Budget of ₦521.6 billion of Enugu State, tagged: “Budget of Disruptive Economic Growth”, presented to the Enugu State House of Assembly.

    The economist said: “It becomes abundantly clear that concerted efforts must be made to rectify the current situation by a paradigm shift in the government’s approach in terms of fostering an atmosphere of collaboration, support, and guidance to businesses.

     

    “By embracing this approach, Enugu State stands poised to attract new investments, propel existing businesses to greater heights, and ultimately fortify its economy to thrive in the competitive landscape of today’s Nigeria”.

     

    He noted that the proposed 2024 budget, which is the financial blueprint of the state for the upcoming year, seems to had overlooked or rather misjudged the prevailing trend of the state’s cash flow.

     

    The economist said that despite the scarcity of factors and incentives needed to promote business growth, enhance productivity, and alleviate poverty in the state, the proposed budget failed to adequately address these pressing issues.

    “Currently, Enugu State finds itself languishing at the bottom of the ease of doing business rankings, a dismal position that raises serious concerns about the rationale behind the exorbitant fee rates imposed within its boundaries.

     

    “In the latest 2023 Nigeria Sub-national Ease of Doing Business Report, Enugu State is shamefully placed as the 36th among all states and the Federal Capital Territory, indicating a blatant disregard for fostering a business-friendly environment.

     

    “Furthermore, the state fares no better in the realm of Economic Opportunities, as it languishes at the 30th spot out of the total 36 states and the FCT.

     

    “While the improvement of the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) is undoubtedly crucial, the greater urgency lies in devising astute and collaborative initiatives that incentivize existing businesses and entice new enterprises to grace the state’s doorstep,” he said.

    Uba noted that regrettably, businesses in the state must provide for themselves almost all the basic amenities that should rightfully be within the purview of the government, forcing them to shoulder an unfair burden.

     

    According to him, while the government and its agencies opportunistically extract rents from the private sector in a predatory fashion.

     

    He acknowledged the social obligation of citizens to fulfill their tax and other non-tax responsibilities, however, said that the government must exercise caution and avoid the perilous path of stifling the very entities responsible for generating the golden eggs.

     

    “A meticulous examination of the state’s third-quarter budget implementation report reveals a rather disheartening reality, with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry’s total recurrent expenditure by September 2023 amounting to a mere N124 million, including a paltry N1.2 million spent by the SME promotion.

     

    “However, it is imperative to recognize that the creation of a conducive business environment inherently stimulates the emergence of opportunities, paving the way for the establishment and expansion of enterprises that, in turn, generate employment opportunities.

    “These jobs subsequently become subject to taxation, effectively bolstering government coffers.

     

    “Unfortunately, the prevailing sentiment among most businesses in the state is that the governmental agencies exhibit a disproportionate enthusiasm for uncovering alleged wrongdoing, even in the absence of any evidence, rather than providing the essential guidance and support needed to ensure regulatory compliance.

     

    “Consequently, only a scant few businesses feel comfortable reaching out to state agencies for assistance or clarification regarding regulations,” he added.(Flowerbudnews)

  • NAFDAC Adopts Critical Measures to Curb Diversion of Industrial Food Products into Open Markets

    NAFDAC Adopts Critical Measures to Curb Diversion of Industrial Food Products into Open Markets

     

    By Biola Lawal

    Abuja (Flowerbudnews): The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has adopted critical measures to effectively curb diversion of unbranded industrial food products, especially milk and cereals, into the open market.

    NAFDAC Director General, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye said that the critical measures became necessary to protect undiscerning consumers
    against the potential health hazards posed by the diversions and their attendant dispensing in unsanitary conditions.

    Prof. Adeyeye spoke on Friday at an end-of-year stakeholders open dialogue and feedback session with food manufacturing companies, warning that the Agency would henceforth, be more critical in issuing permits for importation of bulk food raw materials.

    The dialogue session was held to rub minds on how to serve the NAFDAC stakeholders better in the coming year by reviewing the outgoing year, a NAFDAC statement issued on Sunday by Resident Media Consultant, Sayo Akintola, disclosed.
    .
    Prof Adeyeye observed that the diversion were possibly from the warehouses of food manufacturing companies with their attendant health hazards for the undiscerning consumers because of the mode of dispensing in unsanitary conditions.

    The NAFDAC Boss said that that the Agency had now put in place, additional measures to curb the incidence of unbranded cereals and other food items of industrial sizes that enter into the open markets.

    The Director General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, who was represented by the Director of Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (FSAN), Mrs. Eva Edwards, registered the concerns of the Agency over the perennial problem of ubiquity of bulk food items that are found in the markets, possibly from the manufacturing plants or their suppliers, describing it as unacceptable.

    Prof. Adeyeye said that going forward the Agency would be more critical with the process of issuing permits for importation of bulk food raw materials from 2024.

    The Director General noted that the items enter the country because companies have applied to use them in the manufacture of their NAFDAC registered products, noting with dismay that we are concerned that we find these items being sold in measures, scoops in the open markets.

    ”So we are looking at that process of issuing permits for bulk food raw materials very critically’: She stated.

    According to her, the Agency has put in place additional measures for assessing and verifying the utilisation records of each company that applies for import permits to import bulk food raw materials.

    We dont want to just see your stock cards, we want to know what you imported in the previous year. We want to know what you used because there are some calculations that we need to make, she explained.

    She went further to remind the manufacturers that the Agency knows the ingredients that are used in their products, adding that she had the opportunity to have one-on-one discussions with some companies and it was discovered that sometimes companies request far more than they require, because they feel that the quantities are going to be cut by the Agency.

    The NAFDAC boss however, emphasised that If they can show records of utilisation of the quantities requested in a previous cycle, that it was used, we will check and do our calculations and if we realise that yes that company is doing business to those levels, we look at the quantity requested and grant approval.

    She acknowledged that businesses exist to make a profit, adding that when you are projecting for the coming year, obviously you are also thinking about doing more business. There is always some allowance for that.

    She said what we dont want to see is that diversion into the open market. We dont want people measuring milk and cereals in cups and measures in 2024. It is an unhygienic practice. It is not good for the general population in terms of food safety and hygiene.

    She said that NAFDAC would continue to advocate for the support of her partners and stakeholders in the quest for better, safer, healthier, more nutritious food, adding that we all stand to benefit from this as we are all consumers.

    Speaking in the same vein, the Chairman, Technical Committee of the Association of Food, Beverage, and Tobacco Employers (AFBTE), Mr Fred Chiazor, commended NAFDAC for its proactiveness in responding to developments in the industry.

    He noted that FSAN as a Directorate sees the stakeholders as partners and not as criminals. It is a Directorate that wants improvement, and this is a win-win. We are happy that you are doing what you should be doing to grow the industries.

    He said that NAFDAC and the stakeholders would continue to partner to find areas of better collaboration and improvement in the coming year.

    Nestle Nigeria Plc, Ajinomoto Foods Nigeria Limited, Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc., Coca Cola Nigeria Plc, Nigeria Bottling Company Plc., Guinness Plc., OK Foods, Cadbury Nigeria Ltd, CHI Ltd, UAC and NB Plc are some of the over 50 food manufacturing companies at the forum.(Flowerbudnews)

  • Coy delisting: CAC advises public on business registration

    Coy delisting: CAC advises public on business registration

     

     

     

    By Lucy Ogalue

    Abuja:  The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), has advised the general public to desist from opening /registering businesses that they had no immediate intention of translating into action.

    The Director of Compliance, CAC, Mr Justine Nidia, gave the advise in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday.

    Nidia said the commission does not encourage people to go ahead and register companies when they had not developed any business idea that would translate into action.

    “It is not advisable to register a company and keep it in your briefcase because that is not helpful to the economy,” he said.

    According to the director, such companies are termed shelf companies and are discouraged from being kept in the register of companies of CAC; thus, they are delisted.

    “The idea of delisting companies is that we should not be seen encouraging shelf companies.

    “By shelf companies, we mean registered companies that are redundant or dormant; they are not doing anything.

    “So they do not have to be on the register of companies. The appropriate thing to do is to remove them or strike them off the register,” Nidia said.

    He said the commission had published an initial list of about 100,000 companies to be delisted.

    “We gave an initial period of 90 days, which has elapsed, to those who think they will still be in business to file annual returns for them not to be delisted.

    “After the initial publication, about 5,000 companies responded to file their annual returns, with the remaining approximately 95,000 to be delisted.

    “What we have done recently is to issue another publication, requesting companies that have filed their returns, and their names are still on the list to get back to us with evidence.

    “So we do not delist a company that already filed its return. So we have given an additional period of one month, after which we will gazette the final list,” Nidia said.

    The CAC director commended the efforts of the present government led by President Bola Tinubu for ensuring a conducive atmosphere for businesses to thrive in the country.

    Nidia said the commission in line with Tinubu’s mandate, developed a four-point agenda to drive the affairs of CAC.

    ”The strategic direction contained in the renewed hope agenda informed the need to formulate my four-point agenda aimed at repositioning the commission for greater productivity.

    “The four-point agenda is diversification of revenue base, enforcement of compliance, promotion of industrial harmony, and improvement of human capital,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)/ Flowerbudnews

  • Ex-APC national chair, Adamu, quits politics

    Ex-APC national chair, Adamu, quits politics

    The former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Abdullahi Adamu, has said he recently decided to leave active politics in the country because he noticed that he had started developing allergies for political activities.

     

    Adamu made the disclosure on Saturday in Lafia at the presentation and launching of a book titled, ‘Progressive governance: Showcasing the achievements of His Excellency, Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State 2019 – 2023’, which was written by Abdullahi Tanimu.

     

    Speaking on the content of the book, which has 230 pages and a total of 23 chapters, the former APC national chairman, who was the first civilian governor of the state, commended the author for his efforts in writing out all the achievements of the governor since he was elected into office.

     

    While noting that the incumbent governor had consolidated the achievements of his predecessors and improved on them, Adamu urged the residents of the state to continue to support and pray for the governor and his cabinet members in order for them to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people.

     

    He said, “I am not only a retiree but I am out of politics. I’m beginning to develop little allergies for political activities now and political speeches.

     

    “So, forgive me, I will not make any political statements beyond asking for further and more support for the governor of the state.

     

    “He needs all your prayers and goodwill to be able to succeed. So, to encourage the author for his good work, I will launch 20 copies of the book for one million naira.”

     

    On his part, the Senator representing Nasarawa West Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Aliyu Wadada, lauded the governor for attracting investors like Dangote, Flour Mill, Asma Rice, among other companies to the state.

    “If all the companies that the governor has attracted to the state begin full operation, they would offer employments to thousands of people and boost the revenue of the state,” he added.

     

    In his speech, the State Governor, Abdullahi Sule commended the author for recognising his efforts towards developing the state and making it viable for investors.

     

    Sule revealed that the government had concluded plans to construct 15 kilometers road in each of the 13 Local Government Areas of the state.

     

    The governor added that the government had paid the counterpart funds for year 2023 to the Universal Basic Education Commission, saying that over 140 schools would be constructed under the arrangement.

     

    He, therefore, promised to embark on more projects that would have direct bearing in the lives of the people, and also train and retrain the workforce for optimal performance.

     

    Earlier, the author of the book, Tanimu, said he was motivated to write the book because of the leadership style of the governor who believes in inclusivity.

     

    The author, who is a physically challenged person, said the governor had done a lot of work which prompted him to go round the state to take pictures as well as to interact with the communities where the projects were cited.

  • LG accounts not freezed, CoP not suspended, Ondo govt denies

    LG accounts not freezed, CoP not suspended, Ondo govt denies

    The Ondo state government has denied freezing the accounts of all the local government and the Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the state, and sacking of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu’s Chief of Protocol, describing the reports as not only false but also misleading.

     

    This was contained in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation in the state, Mrs. Bamidele Ademola-Olateju, who said there was never a time the Acting governor, Hon. Lucky Ayedatiwa or any government functionary issue such a directive, saying the news of the sack the governor’s CoP is designed to embarrass the state government.

    According to Ademola-Olateju, the information is fake and baseless and called on the people of the state, especially the local government officials to disregard it

     

    The Information Commissioner also clarified the misrepresentation of facts on the preparation of the Acting Governor’s engagement, saying the Chief of Protocol (CoP) to the Governor, Mr. Bola Alabi, has not been sacked or placed on suspension.

     

    Ademola-Olateju maintained that the Chief of Protocol was not placed on suspension saying that the report was mischievously reported, urging the public to ignore the said report.

    Ademola-Olateju’s statement read: “The news going round some old and new media platforms that the Acting Governor, Honourable Lucky Orimisan Ayedatiwa has put a freeze on local government accounts in the state is false and misleading.

    “At no time has the Acting Governor or any functionary of the state put a freeze on local government accounts or order any closure.

     

    “This information is fake and baseless. We ask that the good people of Ondo State, particularly officials of local governments to disregard the rumour.

     

    “Necessary complimentary personnel/civil servants have been deployed to the LCDA(s) and they have been advised to exercise due diligence and processes in their operations by the Government”

     

    She said “The State Government is committed to the proper functioning of the new thirty-three LCDA(s) and the existing 18 Local Government Area in the state as a way of enhancing development at the grassroots.

    Government is aware of a suit filed by the opposition party before the State High Court, and we are hopeful that contending issues before the Court will be decided shortly.

     

    ‘While a date has been fixed for the conduct of Local Government election in the State, the Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC) has started working on the delineation of a minimum of five Councillorship Electoral Wards in each of the LCDA(s).

     

    “Delineation of these electoral Wards by ODIEC is part of the transition guidelines provided for in the Government White Paper for transiting from 18 LGA(s) to 51 LGA(s)/LCDA(s) in the state. Government is committed to a smooth transition that will usher a democratic Elected Local Government Area in Ondo State”

     

    She stated further “Also, our attention has been drawn to the social media misrepresentation of our Circular Letter No. FAD/DG.156/98 of 14th December 2023 in respect of the Preparation of the Acting Governor’s Engagement, which has been mischievously reported to the effect that the Chief of Protocol (CoP) to the Governor, Mr. Bola Alabi, has been placed on suspension.

     

    “Nothing could be farther from the truth. The Chief of Protocol to Mr Governor has not been placed on suspension by the Ag. Governor nor by any person.

     

    “It should be noted that the schedule for the preparation of Mr. Governor’s Engagements is less than two per cent of the CoP’s responsibilities.

     

    “Usually, suspension from duty would have warranted removal of salary and privileges, which does not happen in this case. As we speak, Mr. Bola Alabi is busy with Mr. Governor”

     

    “Nevertheless, His Excellency, the Ag. Governor, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa is prepared, where necessary, to make changes that would guarantee the effective running of the administration.

     

    “Again, the public is implored to always confirm the veracity of every piece of information/news in respect of the Ondo State Government from appropriate quarters before dissemination” She said.

    t

     

  • NLC debunks report of nationwide strike

    NLC debunks report of nationwide strike

    The Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, has debunked reports making the rounds indicating a purported nationwide strike scheduled to commence on Monday, December 18.

    A statement issued and made available to DAILY POST on Sunday by the NLC’s Head of Information and Public Affairs, Beson Upah said the notice circulating on social media was fake.

     

    He called on Nigerians to disregard the notice, stressing that there was no intention to embark on any strike action.

    The statement reads, “It has been brought to our attention a notice of a strike action (purportedly signed by the General Secretary of NLC and Secretary General of TUC, Comrades Emmanuel Ugboaja and Nuhu Toro, respectively) to commence tomorrow, Monday, December 18 across the country.

     

    “We want to re-assure Nigerians that this notice did not emanate from us, and neither do we have any intention of initiating any strike action this period.

     

    “Accordingly, concerned Nigerians are advised to ignore this notice. It is fake”.

  • Sanwo-Olu approves wage award, December bonus for workers

    Sanwo-Olu approves wage award, December bonus for workers

    The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has approved N35,000 wage award for the state public servants.

     

    This was just as he also approved the payment of 50% of basic salary as an end-of-year bonus for all political appointees and public servants, employees of local governments and local council development areas, Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board and the Lagos Neighborhood Safety Corps.

     

    The approval was contained in a circular obtained by PUNCH Online, signed by the Lagos State Head of Service, Bode Agoro, with reference number CIR/HOS/’23/Vol. 1/ 109.

     

    The circular titled ‘2023 End Of Year Bonus And Implementation Of Wage Awards’, stated that the governor approved the payments as part of his administration’s appreciation of public servants’ contribution towards the progress of the state, as well as his commitment to their welfare.

     

    The statement further noted that the end-of-year bonus and the wage award which would be paid alongside December 2023 salary, would be non-taxable.

    The statement reads, “As part of the present administration’s continuous appreciation of the contributions of all public servants towards the advancement of the state and its unrelenting commitment to the welfare of its workforce, it is hereby notified for general information that Mr. Governor has graciously approved the payment of 50% of basic salary as end-of-year bonus for all political appointees and public servants, including employees of local governments and local council development areas, Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board and Lagos Neighborhood Safety Corps.

     

    “In the same vein, Mr. Governor has further approved the implementation of the wage award (palliative) pending the review of the national minimum wage.

     

    Therefore, the 50% of basic salary as an end-of-year Bonus, as well as the wage award palliative), will be paid alongside the December 2023 salary as a “non-taxable element”.

     

    “Sequel to the foregoing, public servants are implored to continually strive for excellence in providing qualitative service delivery to the people of the State in line with Mr Governor’s THEMES+ Agenda.

     

    “Accordingly, all heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies are hereby enjoined to note the content of this circular and give it the service-wide publicity it deserves.”