By Okon Okon

Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HOCSF), said the recent physical verification exercise by her.office, exposed workers living abroad but still earning salaries from the service.

Yemi-Esan revealed this during a chat with media executives on Wednesday in Abuja, being part of activities to mark 2024 Civil Service Week.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the theme for 2024 celebration is ‘Educate an African Fit for the 21st Century: Building Resilient Education Systems for Increased Access to Inclusive, Lifelong, Quality and Relevant Learning in Africa’.

The HOCSF said many of the civil servants, who were caught up in their games, had to resign their appointments, following their failure to carry out the physical verification exercise.

According to her, the verification exercise was one of the measures by her office, to check corrupt practices, run a smooth civil service and reposition the sector.

“Recently, there was a circular that went out to all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) that, they should do a physical headcount in their MDAs.

“That means, everybody on the nominal roll, that is receiving salaries, should appear physically and the names of those who did not show up for the exercise should be forwarded.

“In the circular, I cautioned that Permanent Secretaries and CEOs that give wrong information will be held liable if anything is discovered outside of the information that was given,” she said.

The HOCSF added that the decision by the government was that, after the exercise, they would stop the salaries of those, in one way or the other, had left the service without proper documentation, but still earning remuneration.

“From what I saw, the number of people that have gone out of the country and are still earning salaries, is more in the parastatals than in the core ministries.

“I actually called one of the heads of the agencies and queried why there is such a number of people earning salaries and are not on their desks.

“I asked how the agency come about such a huge number of the purported workers,” she said

Yemi-Esan said the reply she got was that some of the civil servants even returned from the UK for the verification exercise.

Yemi-Esan said: “The Head of that agency told me that he discovered that, a week after the verification exercise,  some of them rushed from the UK to the country, with the intention to do their own verification

“He said they came to him saying,  aah! Oga, we are around; we heard they did verification.

“The agency head, asked them to come back in two weeks time for their verification; knowing fully well that  nobody working in the UK, will be able to have such luxury of time,” she said.

The HOCSF said from the incident narrated to her, most of the affected workers had to resign their appointments because they knew that the game was over.

She decried the situation, where civil servants who did not have official permission to be out of their office, would travel out of the country for years, and still earning salaries.

Yemi-Esan added that such development was unacceptable, when there were millions of Nigerians waiting to be employed.

She also used the opportunity of the event, to appreciate media partners whom she described as “backbone for the successful reforms carried out” by her office since her assumption of duty.(NAN) (www.nanews.ng)

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Edited by Rotimi Ijikanmi

By Adedeji Egbebi
A former Director of the National Orientation Agency(NOA) in Ekiti State, Mr Bamitale Oguntoyinbo, has advised local government chairmen to initiate and execute projects that would promote community development.

Oguntoyinbo gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Oye-Ekiti, Oye Local Government Area of the state.

He noted that some local government chairmen in the state were not living to expectations of the residents in providing the dividends of democracy.

Oguntoyinbo, also a former Chairman of Oye Local Government, described local government as the bedrock of democracy.

He said it is also the closest government to the people where developmental projects must be carried out to complement the state government.

He urged the chairmen to work harder in their various local governments to complement the good work of Governor Biodun Oyebanji.

According to him, the governor has been working tirelessly to fulfil his electoral promises, and need the support of the chairmen for the people to enjoy dividends of democracy.

“I enjoin the local government chairmen to initiate and execute developmental projects to promote development in their communities.

“The chairmen must interact with the community people, share ideas with them on their needs and initiate projects that will meet their needs.

“They should also initiate good projects and ideas that can attract the approval of the governor to release funds,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Chidi Opara/Tayo Ikujuni

By Perpetua Onuegbu

The Niger Delta Young Professionals (NDYP) says it will organise a Summit/Bootcamp for over 1000 young professionals across the Niger Delta region to cross-fertilise ideas on business development.

Mr Moses Siasia said on Wednesday that the summit would be specially designed to hold in Port Harcourt, Rivers, on June 27, to bring together a cross-section of economists, policymakers and business development experts.

Siasia said that the theme of the summit ‘Building a Culture of Entrepreneurship and Self-reliance Beyond Oil’, was designed to help entrepreneurs know the best way to wriggle out of the current economic challenges faced in the country.

He said the experts would examine the critical role of MSME in the overall development of the economy.

Siasia said this year’s event is strategic, as it coincides with the 2024 United Nations World MSME Day.

“The World MSME Day is specially marked to create a platform to discuss and exchange ideas.

“The ideas are on how key stakeholders, including policy makers, large companies, financial institutions, and the international community can support micro, small and medium-sized businesses to advance the 2030 Agenda.

“It also contribute to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including poverty eradication and decent work for all.

“The Niger Delta MSME Summit/Bootcamp is a sustained initiative that has been creating enormous opportunities and growth for young MSME owners in Nigeria’s oil-rich Niger Delta region,” Siasia said.

According to him, the event will enable a cross-section of economists, policymakers and business development experts to examine the critical role of MSME in the overall development of the economy.

He noted that in spite of lack of support from the governments in the region, poor management of MSMEs, high-interest loans from banks, corruption, and inadequate infrastructure, the initiative had pulled through with sustainable impacts over the years.

Siasia said that Mr Summy Francis, the President of Africa’s Young Entrepreneurs (A.Y.E.) would be speaking at the event.

“Other speakers include Mr Temitope Runsewe, the CEO of Dutum Company Limited; Mrs Esther Adebayo, President of the Women Agro Processors, Agricgen and Exporters Initiative (WAPAGEIN).

“Mr Otuya Okecha, CEO Firbesol Nigeria Limited; Dr Martins Fregene, Director of Agriculture, African Development Bank, among others, will also be speaking at the event.

“The summit is expected to “ignite the next generation through expanding entrepreneurial culture in the Niger Delta region.

“Participants for the summit will be drawn from the nine states of the Niger Delta region, as past editions produced positive results which are indication of secured future of entrepreneurs in the oil-rich region.

“This year’s event would feature product exhibitions, grants, bootcamp, main-stage keynotes, panel discussions, interactive master sessions, style breakout.

“There will also be a business-to-business meetings, mentoring sessions, networking opportunities featuring outstanding line-up of successful entrepreneurs, innovators, strategists and business leaders from top brands.”

Siasia noted that the beneficiaries of past editions, many of whom have received grants to grow their businesses, have been able to grow a huge business capital and create employment opportunities for other prospective MSMEs.

“The inaugural edition of the summit held in 2021 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State had over 400 Niger Deltans benefitting from the NIRSAL Intervention Loan for small business owners in the area of Agriculture, Creative Industry and ICT.

“In the second edition held in Asaba, Delta State in 2022, and the third edition in 2023 in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State, the NDYP gave out grants to innovative businesses,” Siasia added. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Emmanuel Afonne

By Salif Atojoko

President Bola Tinubu has congratulated fathers, including paternal figures, who have contributed to shaping the destiny of the nation with their sacrifices.

Tinubu also congratulated fathers for their forbearance, provision, protection and guidance of the young ones, to the noble and true path.

The President made the remarks in a statement issued by Chief Ajuri Ngelale, his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, on the occasion of Father’s Day marked every June 16.

“The President states that Father’s Day is significant for its purpose as a day set apart to honour all fathers – living, deceased and paternal figures.

“President Tinubu affirms that society is in better stead with fathers who rise to the great demand of responsibility, guiding the children through the vagaries of existence and preparing them for the future,” he said.

He added that society was also better off when fathers bequeathed to children pristine values that money or material comfort could not provide, but only by personal example of discipline, integrity, service, respect, love and allegiance to the nation.

“The President salutes all fathers, the sung and the unsung, who brave the toil of the day and the soreness of the night to provide for their families, describing them as true heroes.

“President Tinubu urges fathers to stay true to their bounden commitment of positively shaping the destinies of those to whom the future belongs.

“The President wishes Nigerians happy Father’s Day,” Ngalele said in  the statement.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Father’s Day has its origins in the middle ages, and official roots in West Virginia, the United States, where an event was held in 1908 to celebrate 362 men who died in an explosion at a coal mining company. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Emmanuel Afonne

By Femi Ogunshola

The Coalition of Civil Society Groups in Nigeria for Promotion of Accountability and Transparency in Governance (CCSGNPATG) have thrown their weight behind the proposed Nigeria Shippers Council Regulatory Agency.

Mr Monday Ndubisi, the leader of the coalition which comprises 45 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), said this at a press conference in Abuja on Monday.

He hailed the Committee on Shipping Services for its inclusivity and commended the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola for getting it right with the Shipping Council Regulatory bill.

Ndubisi commended the committee for giving stakeholders the platform to make inputs to the bill at a public hearing.

“The legislation aims at empowering the Nigerian Shippers Council to effectively regulate the shipping industry, protect the interests of shippers, and promote economic growth.

“The Bill for an Act to Repeal the Nigeria Shippers’ Council Act, and enact the Shipping and Port Economic Regulatory Agency Bill and related matter has passed second reading in the House of Representatives.

“This bill will bring much-needed transparency, accountability, and efficiency to the sector while strengthening the Shippers Council’s regulatory powers,” he said.

Ndubuisi further added that it would also reduce costs, increase competition, and improve service delivery.

He said that the passage of the bill would have a positive impact on the Nigerian economy and the lives of citizens.

“Our coalition is pleased to note that 99 per cent of the opinions expressed at the public hearing are in favour of the bill as presented.

“We also note that a few amendments were suggested, which the House Committee on Shipping Services, ably led Rep. Abdulsamad Dansuki, has promised to take note of,’’ he said.

He said that such an accommodating disposition was what the electorates expected of the lawmakers, adding that they are looking forward to the House to sustain this trend. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Funmilayo Adeyemi/Christiana Fadare