APA – Lagos (Nigeria)
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu yesterday signed the 2024 Appropriation Bill, which the National Assembly increased the budget by N1.2tn to N28.77tn from the earlier proposed N27.5tn by the Executive arm of the government..
The Punch reports that Nigerian President Bola Tinubu yesterday signed the 2024 Appropriation Bill, which the National Assembly increased the budget by N1.2tn to N28.77tn from the earlier proposed N27.5tn by the Executive arm of the government..
The parliament raised statutory transfers (i.e., funding to the National Judicial Council, Niger-Delta Development Commission, Universal Basic Education Commission, National Assembly, Public Complaints Commission, Independent National Electoral Commission, National Human Rights Commission, North-East Development Commission, Basic Health Care Provision Fund, and National Agency for Science And Engineering Infrastructure) from N1.38tn to N1.74tn.
This is according to data from a document titled, ‘House of Representatives Federal Republic of Nigeria Order Paper,’ dated Saturday, December 30th, 2023.
The document revealed the following changes in statutory allocations: National Judicial Council N341.63bn (formerly N165bn), Niger-Delta Development Commission N338.93bn (formerly N324.85bn), Universal Basic Education Commission N263.04bn (formerly N251.47bn), National Assembly N344.85bn (formerly N197.93bn), Public Complaints Commission N14.46bn (formerly N13.69bn), Independent National Electoral Commission N40bn (formerly N40bn) National Human Rights Commission N5bn (formerly N5bn), North East Development Commission N131.84bn (formerly N126.94bn), Basic Healthcare Provision Fund N131.52bn (formerly N125.74bn), and National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure N131.52bn (formerly N125.74bn).
The report that the National Assembly has raised its 2024 budgetary allocation by 74.23 per cent to N344.85bn
The National Assembly has raised its 2024 budgetary allocation by 74.23 per cent to N344.85bn.
The newspaper says that the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, on Monday, received the fourth shipment of one million barrels of bonny light crude oil, supplied by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited.
A statement from the $20bn firm stated that the oil company was expecting the fifth crude oil shipment soon.
The plant had earlier received three shipments of crude oil, as officials of the company told our correspondent that the refinery would start pumping out refined Automotive Gas Oil, also known as diesel, and aviation fuel or JetA1 this month.
In the statement issued on Monday, the company said, “The fresh one million barrels of crude was the fourth consignment to be delivered to the Dangote facility out of the six million barrels of crude being expected by the world’s largest single-train refinery.”
The Managing Director, Dangote Ports Operations, Akin Omole, had earlier told journalists at the Dangote Quay, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos that the refinery would receive about four million crude oil shipment before the end of 2023.
According to him, the refinery would get the remaining two by the early of January 2024, adding that this would position the refinery to begin production.
The Guardian reports that the Minister of Agriculture and food Security, Abubakar Kyari, has assured that the Federal Government is working assiduously to address the high food inflationary trend.
The minister, in a New Year message jointly signed with his Minister of State, Sabi Abdullah, said they heard the complaints by citizens about the cost of food during the festive season, as well as the diminished purchasing power.
He said: “We would like to assure Nigerians that we have heard their cries and are working assiduously to arrest the high food inflationary trend that has been on for some time.”
While pointing out that affordability of food has been impacted by transportation, infrastructure impediments and exchange rate volatility, especially with regard to the imported component of our food requirements, the minister noted affordability as one of the critical indices of food security, along with availability, accessibility, sustainability and nutrition.
He, however, assured that the Federal Government was working to boost food production with the launch of dry season farming in November 2023, targeting wheat, rice, maize, and cassava.
Kyari appealed to farmers to continue to heed the expert advice of Extension Service Agents and called on all stakeholders in the agriculture and food security sector to be alert to the prospects and opportunities that the New Year presents.
The newspaper says that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) said the Federal Government has not demonstrated sufficient commitment towards complying with its agreements with its members.
The NLC, in its end-of-year message, lamented that the N35,000 wage award has not been faithfully implemented just as the Port Harcourt Refinery has not come on stream as projected. It added that the National Minimum Wage Negotiation Council has not been inaugurated as agreed.
NLC President, Joe Ajaero, said the compressed natural gas (CNG) scheme has been distorted by agents of government for the benefit of a few. He said last year was, undoubtedly, a major test of workers’ collective strength and resilience, where they faced uncertainties, overcame obstacles, and witnessed moments that left them feeling disheartened. He said labour would engage the government more this year to ensure that the agreements it reached with it on October 2, 2023, are implemented. He said it was highly insensitive of the FG to allow its citizens to go hungry during the Yuletide season, by denying them the benefit of their hard-earned December 2023 salaries.
According to him, Nigerians are watching the chest-thumping and visitations as if in triumphalism against the collective will where food and drinks were lavished by public officials while workers are not paid and are left in starvation over one spurious reason or the other. He urged the FG to show more compassion in its dealings with Nigerians and Nigerian workers especially in the face of the excruciating poverty which its policies have foisted on hapless Nigerians.
The NLC chief said divisions along the nation’s various primordial fault lines rather than healing became exacerbated in 2023, mainly because of the unfortunate activities of politicians who played them up in their bid to win elections. He said this has caused the nation to become more divided than ever with growing suspicion and increasing trust deficits along those lines.
“Citizens’ confidence in the government is therefore deeply wounded causing a further disconnect between the people and governments as the government continues with policies that negate the welfare of citizens. We observe only a few pockets of progress in governance in some states but largely, the instruments of governance are mainly deployed for the sole benefits of those who believe they have captured the instruments of governance and thus use them for their sole benefit,” he said.
He described the year 2023 as a turbulent year both for workers and Nigerian people as the negative economic policies of the government begin to bite harder on poor Nigerians as predicted.
GIK/APA