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YIAGA-Africa, a Civil Society Organisation (CSO) observed the 2019 presidential election said that the result as announced by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was consistent with its parallel vote tabulation results estimates.

The Chairman of the Board of YIAGA-Africa, Dr Hussaini Abdu made this known while presenting the organisation’s report on the election on Friday in Abuja.

“For the 2019 presidential elections, the official results announced by INEC were consistent with YIAGA AFRICA’s Parallel Vote Tabulation results estimates.

“In other words, the results reflect the votes cast at the polling units.

“Similarly, the INEC official turnout rate and rejected ballots figure were consistent with YIAGA AFRICA estimated turn out rate and rejected ballots based on reports from 1,491 98.4 per cent of sampled polling units,” he said.

Abdu, however, said that YIAGA AFRICA’s findings revealed certain lapses and reports of malfeasance which impacted on the quality of the process in some polling units and states.

He said that the report also revealed possible incidents of vote suppression as reflected in the percentage of cancelled ballots in some states such as Rivers, Nasarawa, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Plateau, Kogi, Benue and Kaduna State.

He said that Nigeria’s 20 years democracy was tested with the conduct of the 2019 general elections.

Abdu said that the elections presented an opportunity for Nigeria to consolidate on the gains of the 2015 elections and deepen its democratic transition.

According to him, although INEC introduces reforms to deepen electoral integrity and citizen’s participation, the elections are characterised by many of the same shortcomings that have marred previous national elections in Nigeria.

The chairman said that as in past elections, INEC’s logistical challenges and misconduct by political parties undermined the integrity of the elections.

He also said that the inability of some citizens to vote undermined public confidence in the electoral process.

Abdu said that INEC overestimated its own capabilities and underrated the challenges with the management of logistics.

“This was worsened by undue interference with the electoral commission functions by state and non-state actors as well as the release of election funds six weeks to the presidential elections.

“This is in spite of its secured funding from the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

“The assault on basic rights and freedoms by state institutions especially security agencies coupled with failure to conclude amendments to the electoral legal framework indicated a lack of commitment to electoral reform and electoral integrity,” he said.

Abdu said that the report contained evidence which made it clear that a lot was less than desired and that the overall outcome was not necessarily vindication of the process.

He observed that Nigeria missed an opportunity to improve the quality of its elections as compared to the 2015 national elections.

“The 2019 elections were not the elections Nigerians wanted, they were not the elections Nigerians expected and most importantly, they were not the elections Nigerians deserved.

“Nigeria needs a national conversation on a new electoral design or framework that responds to prevailing socio-political and economic realities.

“INEC must improve its capacity to deliver credible elections and political parties must play according to the rules as failure to do so could imperil Nigeria’s democracy,” he said.(NAN)

(FLOWERBUDNEWS) The Federal Government has developed a scorecard for the ranking of websites of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), to help in rebranding  public service.

The Director General, Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR), Engr. Dasuki Arabi, made the disclosure in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

Arabi said that the main objective of the ranking was to open government to the citizens by providing information going by the evolution and current trend of information dissemination worldwide.

He said the idea was in line with the Executive Order on “Ease of Doing Business” and Open Government Partnership commitment of  the Muhammadu Buhari administration.

“The media system is changing; websites are becoming very important and they have taken over what we do manually as the link of mam-to-man is being cut off.

“If you are looking for anything now, just go to the website. We need to encourage our website administrators to work and that is why the scorecard came on board.

“Basically, the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) was created in 2004 to serve as engine room for reforms at the federal level and as I said, we monitor, we initiate, we inform and we also evaluate reform activities in every facet of government at the federal level,” Arabi said.

According to him, the reform and rebranding process in the public service will be holistic as it will affect different areas of governance.

He said BPSR was already working with the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) to lead the rebranding process.

“We are working with Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) to lead the rebranding process again and the rebranding we are looking at is not only looking at information management but rebranding the entire service.

“We report to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and we have a steering committee on reforms that is chaired by the SGF and deputised by the Head of Civil Service of the Federation.

“Permanent Secretaries of key agencies of government, including the chairman, Federal Civil Service Commission, National Assembly Service Commission and the National Judicial Service Commission (are members) so that other arms of government could be carried along in this process.

“We are talking about Public S

(FLOWERBUDNEWS)  The Kaduna State Government has earmarked N22.9 billion to the educations sector, representing 28.1 per cent of the N81.6 billion Supplementary Budget recently passed by the state’s House of Assembly.

A breakdown of the supplementary budget obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna on Monday, shows that N65.4 billion of the budget was allocated for capital projects.

It shows that of the N22.9 billion allocated to the education sector, N14 billion was allocated to the state’s Universal Basic Education Board to improve infrastructure, access and learning outcomes in basic schools.

“The Ministry of Education and the Kaduna State University got N4.0 billion and N4.1 billion respectively, while N147.2 million was earmarked for the state’s Library Board.

“Nuhu Bamali Polytechnic, Zaria, got N492.6 million and Kaduna State College of Education, Gidan Waya, got N110.8 million,” it added.

The document further shows that the Ministry of Finance got N10.6 billion, the second highest after education, followed by Kaduna Road Agency with N9.8 billion.

The health sector got N4.8 billion, out of which N2.0 billion was allocated to Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital for various capital projects.

“Ministry of Health and the state’s Primary Health Care Development Agency got N1.1 billion each, while N228 million was allocated to Shehu Idris College of Health Sciences and Technology, Makarfi.

“Ministry of Public Works and Infrastructure got N4.6 billion, state Legislature, N3.0 billion, Kaduna Geographic Information System, N2.3 billion and Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, N2.3 billion.

“Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs got N2.2 billion, while Market Development and Management Company got N1.0 billion.”

The document also showed that the agricultural sector got N197.8 million, Kaduna State Urban Development Agency, N200 million and Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources N95.4 million.

Ministry of Business Innovation and Technology got N930 million, while N430.6 million was allocated to Planning and Budget Commission.

A breakdown of the sources of the N81.6 billion shows that N53.9 billion was concessional multilateral loan from World Bank Performance for Result, through the Federal Ministry of Finance.

It also shows that N9.4 billion was a refund of unremitted Pay-As-You-Earned taxes from some federal government agencies in Kaduna, while N3.6 billion was from Airport Refund from ministry of finance.

According to the document, the amount was for some work executed by the Kaduna State Government in 2017 when Abuja Airport flights were diverted to Kaduna Airport.

Also, N100 million was a partial refund on Operation Sharan Daji contribution, while N492.6 million was 2017/2018 Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) intervention for Nuhu Bamali Polytechnic, Zaria.

Similarly, N3.9 billion was 2017 to 2019 TETFund Special Intervention for Kaduna State University and additional N193 million from Presidential Needs Assessment under TETFund.

Also, N8.0 billion was Universal Basic Education Intervention Fund, 2017 to 2019, while N1.9 billion was a World Bank grant for the implementation of Better Education Service Delivery for All project.

NAN reports that the N81.6 billion supplementary budget, in addition to the N157.4 billion earlier approved for 2019, brings the budget size to N239 billion for the 2019 fiscal year.

NAN also reports that in 2018, the budget was N216.55 billion. (NAN)

A 34-year-old man, Yusuf Oladimeji,  on Tuesday appeared before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court for allegedly breaking into his father’s tenant’s apartment and stealing two phones and N150, 000.

The defendant, who resides at Dopemu area of Agege, Lagos, is standing trial on  a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.

He, however, pleaded not guilty before Magistrate O.A. Aderibigbe.

The Prosecutor, Insp. Mojirade Edeme, told the court that the defendant committed the offences with others still at large, on Aug. 20 at his residence.

Edeme said that the  two phones worth N33,000, adding that the phones and the money belonged to  the complainant, Mr Peter Agbo.

“The defendant  and his accomplices entered the complainant’s apartment with dangerous weapons at night and commanded him to surrender his phones and money or risk harm.

“They forcefully collected his valuables and took to their heels.
Some days later, the complainant saw his phone with his landlord’s son.

“He reported the case to the police, and the defendant was arrested,” the prosecutor said.

Edeme said that offences violated Sections 287 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 287 stipulates three years’ imprisonment for stealing, while Section 411 prescribes two years’ jail term for conspiracy.

Aderibigbe admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum.

She ordered that the sureties should be gainfully employed and show evidence of two years tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

The magistrate adjourned the case until Sept. 9 for mention.

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) says the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grows by 1.94 per cent (year-on-year) in real terms in the second quarter of 2019.

The NBS said this in its “Nigeria GDP Report for Second Quarter 2019’’ released on Tuesday in Abuja.

According to the NBS, the figure indicates an increase of 0.44 per cent compared to a growth rate of 1.50 per cent recorded in the second quarter of 2018.

It, however, said the figure, when compared to 2.10 per cent (revised from 2.01 per cent due to oil output revisions) recorded in the first quarter of 2019, showed a decline of –0.16 per cent points.

According to the bureau, the aggregate GDP stood at N34.79 million in nominal terms, an increase of 13.83 per cent over the performance in the second quarter of 2018 and 9.8 per cent over the preceding quarter.

The bureau said the figure was higher than N28.43 million recorded in the first quarter of 2018, representing a year-on-year nominal growth rate of 11.80 per cent.

“The performance observed in quarter two, 2019 follows an equally strong first quarter performance, and was likely aided by stability in oil output as well as the successful political transition,” it stated.

It said that overall, a total of 15 activities grew faster in the second quarter 2019 relative to 2018, while 13 activities had higher growth rates relative to the preceding quarter.

“On a half year basis, real growth in the first half of 2019 stood at 2.02 per cent, higher than in 2018 which was 1.69 per cent.

“Quarter-on-quarter, real GDP increased by 2.85 per cent compared to a decline of –13.69 per cent in the preceding period,” it stated.

The bureau said that for better clarity, the Nigerian economy had been classified broadly into the oil and non-oil sectors.

For the oil sector, the NBS said the nation posted a real growth rate of 5.15 per cent (year-on-year) in the period under review, representing a 9.10 per cent increase relative to the rate recorded in the corresponding quarter of 2018.

This, it said, also indicated an increase of 6.61 per cent when compared to the first quarter of 2019, adding that quarter-on-quarter, the oil sector recorded a growth rate of –1.55 per cent in the second quarter.

According to the report, the sector contributed 8.82 per cent to total real GDP in the second quarter of 2019, up from levels recorded in the corresponding period of 2018 but down compared to the preceding quarter.

“In quarter two, 2019, Nigeria recorded average daily oil production of 1.98 million barrels per day (mbpd), or 7.6 per cent higher than the daily average production of 1.84 mbpd recorded in the same quarter of 2018.

“This, however, is slightly less than output recorded in quarter one, 2019 (1.99 mbpd-revised from 1.96 mbpd),” it stated.

The NBS said that the non-oil sector grew by 1.64 per cent in real terms during the reference quarter.

It added that the growth was –0.40 per cent points lower than recorded in the same quarter of 2018, and -0.83 per cent points lower than the first quarter of 2019.

According to the bureau, during the quarter, the sector was driven mainly by Information and Communication, Mining and Quarrying, Agriculture, Transportation and Storage and other Services.

“In real terms, the non-oil sector contributed 91.18 per cent to the nation’s GDP, lower than the share recorded in the second quarter of 2018 (91.45 per cent).

“This however is higher than the first quarter of 2019 (90.78 per cent),” he said.

The bureau said that Quarterly National Accounts (QNA) were an integrated system of macroeconomic accounts designed to describe the entire system of production in a nation on a quarterly basis.

They provide a picture of the current economic status of an economy on a more frequent basis than Annual National Accounts.

In providing a reasonable level of detailed information of the economy, QNA allows the government to regularly access analyse and monitor economic developments.

 

(FLOWERBUDNEWS) Inter Milan forward Mauro Icardi, their leading scorer in each of the last five seasons and former captain, has joined Paris St Germain on a year-long loan, the Serie A side said on Monday.

The move will interrupt a turbulent six-year spell at Inter for the Argentine, who has fallen out with fans along on the way.

He also provided fodder for gossip columns thanks to his marriage to Wanda Nara, a media personality who also acts as his agent.

Inter said that as part of the deal it had also extended Icadi’s contract by two years until 2022.

The move was to avoid the possibility of him leaving as a free agent next year.

“The Argentine forward has signed for the French club on an initial year-long loan with the option to make the deal permanent at the end of this period,” said an Inter statement.

Earlier, Gazzetta dello Sport published a photograph of Icardi and Nara at Malpensa airport, saying they would board a private jet for Paris to finalise the deal.

The 26-year-old is an out-and-out centre forward who is deadly in the penalty area but whose contribution elsewhere on the pitch has been questioned.

He scored 124 goals in 219 appearances in all competitions during six years at Inter.

Despite his scoring exploits, Icardi fell out with the club’s hard-core fans over his account of an argument with supporters in his autobiography in 2016.

Curva Nord ultras responded that “Icardi is not our captain, not now or ever”, and applauded when he missed a penalty in one of Inter’s next games.

In February, he was stripped of the captaincy after becoming embroiled in protracted negotiations over a new contract.

He then said he could not play because of a knee injury, although the club said a medical examination had found nothing wrong.

He returned to the side in April after talks between his lawyer and the club.

Luciano Spalletti, the Inter coach at the time, said then that it was “humiliating” for Inter to have to negotiate with a player to get him to play.

Spalletti left the club at the end of last season and was replaced by Antonio Conte, who said that Icardi did not figure in his plans for the future. (Reuters/NAN)

(FLOWERBUDNEWS) The Debt Management Office (DMO), says that the September savings bonds’ offer of the Federal Government has opened for transactions.

The DMO said in a circular on its website obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday that the two-year bonds were being offered at 11.15 per cent, while the three-year bonds would be at 12.15 per cent.

It added that the two-year bonds would be due in Sept. 2021, while the three-year bonds would mature in Sept. 2022.

It, however, did not state how much was offered, but added that the maximum subscription was N50 million at N1,000 per unit, subject to minimum subscription of N5,000 and in multiples of N1,000.

The website said that the bond was fully backed by the full faith and credit of the Federal Government, with quarterly coupon payments to bondholders.

The savings bond issuance is expected to help finance the nation’s budget deficit.

It is also part of the Federal Government’s programme targeted at the lower income earners to encourage savings and also earn more income (interest), compared to their savings accounts with banks.

The circular also said that the offer would close on Friday.

The DMO advised interested investors to contact stockbroking firms appointed by it as distribution agents or visit www.dmo.gov.ng for a list of the agents. (NAN)