By Ismail Abdulaziz

President Bola Tinubu is presiding over the first meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) after the Christmas and New Year holidays.

The meeting taking place at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa has in attendance, ministers, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief of Staff to the President and the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.

The members of the council are to serve as an advisory body to the President, who serves as the FEC’s chairman and takes the final decision.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the council is expected to deliberate on pressing national issues including environment, security and the promotion of the Renewed Hope Agenda implementation as contained in the 2024 budget.

NAN reports that before the beginning of the FEC meeting, the President swore in Mr Desmond Akawor as Federal Commissioner for the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).

Akawor, who was nominated in November 2023, was confirmed by the Senate as member, representing Rivers on Dec. 12, 2023.

His confirmation followed the presentation of a report by the senate’s Committee on National Planning and Economic Affairs, recommending him for the appointment.

The new RMAFC Federal commissioner, was appointed, following the death of the immediate past RMAFC Federal commissioner from Rivers, Mr Asondu Temple on Nov. 1, 2023.(NAN) (www.nannews ng)

Edited by Chioma Ugboma

By Philip Yatai

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, says the FCT Administration is taking steps to address security challenges affecting some sections of the territory.

Wike gave the assurance while addressing journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, before a close door emergency meeting with security agencies and other critical stakeholders in the FCT.

The News Agency of Nigerian (NAN) reports that there has been a spike in the abduction and killing of residents by bandits, especially in Kuje and Bwari Area Councils.

The minister, who acknowledged the challenges, urged residents not to panic, as the government has taken measures to address the ugly situation.

“All of us are aware of the security situation in FCT, particularly in Bwari and some other areas that we have witnessed security challenges.

“Yes, I am aware that sometimes too, the press overblows what is happening, but all of us are concerned and we owe a duty to make sure that FCT is safe.

“We will do all we can, and we assure Nigerians who reside here that there is no need for panic. We are taking every step to make sure that the challenges are resolved,” he said.

The minister explained that the meeting was to assess the security challenges in the FCT and adopt practical solutions.

He said that the meeting was expanded to include the Chairmen of the six area councils, because they also have a responsibility in ensuring peace and security in their areas.

“So, we will put our heads together to come up with solutions; we are not sleeping, the security agencies are not sleeping, we will provide every support that they require to allay the fears of the residents,” he said.

Wike frowned at constant travels by the area councils’ chairmen in the wake of challenges, particularly the current kidnappings and other  security issues in the FCT.

He described the development as unacceptable, saying: “This time around, we will not be happy where area council chairmen will abdicate their responsibilities and travel out.

“We have gotten reports that the council chairmen travel any time, and if anything happens, they will not call anybody’s name but the FCT minister’s.

“So, council chairmen should know that they must wake up to their responsibilities. It is not everything that happens people will say that the ministers are not taking steps.” (NAN)

Edited by Maharazu Ahmed

By Philip Yatai

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) workers, under the Joint Unions Action Committee (JUAC), have kicked against the deployment of a Permanent Secretary (PS) for the FCTA, by the Head of Service of the Federation.

The protesting workers also called for the full implementation of the FCT Civil Service Commission (CSC) Law, 2018, which provided for the appointment of PS from the FCTA.

The Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation had released President Bola Tinubu’s approval for posting of 24 permanent secretaries in Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

Among the affected PSs is Dr Magdalene Ajani, who was redeployed from the Transportation Ministry to the FCTA to replace the current PS, Mr Olusade Adesola, who would retire on Jan. 29.

JUAC President, Mr Matilukuro Korede, who spoke on behalf of the workers in Abuja on Monday, challenged the deployment, which he described as an aberration of the FCT CSC Law.

Korede recalls that the Federal Executive Council had in October 2023, approved the implementation of the law establishing a CSC for FCT.

The president said that by this development, the Head of Service of the Federation, Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan, did not have power to appoint a Permanent Secretary for the FCT.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike had in October 2023, announced President Tinubu’s approval for the establishment of CSC for the FCT.

Wike had explained that the development would allow career progression for civil servants in the FCT Administration to become permanent secretaries, who before now could only get to the position of a director.

He explained that the directors could not get to the peak of their careers because there was no CSC for FCT.

JUAC president, therefore, described the action of the Head of Service as faulty, and called for the full implementation of the FCT CSC Law.

“On Thursday, we heard that the head of service has announced that she has gotten approval from President Tinubu to deploy another Permanent Secretary to FCT.

“We felt aggrieved because it is an aberration. As we speak now, the FCT CSC Law has been gazetted since 2018,” he said.

He said that FCT staff had been deprived of becoming permanent secretaries since 2004 when FCT changed from a Ministry to an Administration.

He added that the FCT CSC law addressing the challenge was signed in 2018, but implementation became a problem, until Wike took up the issue, and within a month, secured President Tinubu’s approval for the implementation.

“But to our surprise, the Head of Service decided to include a name for appointment as permanent secretary for the FCT.

“As far as FCT is concerned, the permanent secretary should be appointed among the qualified directors in the FCTA and not from outside.

“This will provide an opportunity for the staff of FCTA to get to the peak of their career by becoming a permanent secretary.

“Our demand, therefore, is that the appointment of a permanent secretary outside the FCTA is an aberration and an anomaly that should be corrected.

“We are waiting for the implementation of the FCT Civil Service Commission,” he said.

He added that if the Head of Service insists on appointing a permanent secretary from outside the FCTA, then she has to wait for the law to be amended and be given the power to do so.

“But between now and then, the law must be obeyed and what we know is that FCT CSC has come to stay,” he added.

Korede equally announced to the protesting workers that Wike had reached out to the leadership of JUAC and asked them to be calm.

He said that the minister promised to meet with President Tinubu over the issue and would get back to them.

He, therefore, asked the workers to shield their sword and return to work, while awaiting feedback from the minister, which would determine the next line of action. (NAN)

Edited by Ekemini Ladejobi

By Philip Yatai

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), has warned motorists against beating of traffic lights in Abuja.

Mr Wadata Bodinga, Director, Traffic Management, Transportation Secretariat, FCTA, gave the warning in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Abuja on Monday .

He said sanctions would be meted to anyone who violates traffic rules.

Bodinga said though violation has decreased by 80 per cent, the FCT is still not there yet.

“Some people are still beating the traffic lights in the city. I can tell you that we are not where we wanted to be, but we are not also where we used to be,” he said.

Bodinga explained further that there was an ongoing upgrade on the traffic lights to enable the gadgets to capture traffic data in all the junctions within the city, adding that it would soon be activated.

He said that once concluded, it will enable the traffic lights to pick and record traffic violators in real time where the violators’ vehicle details would be transmitted to the traffic light Control Centre.

“This means that once you have beaten the traffic light in FCT, you are doing it at your own peril, because you will pay dearly for the offence.

“You either pay a fine at the point of renewal of vehicle papers or other means which we are still working on. We are looking at all options.

“The intention is to ensure the safety and security of the motoring public in the FCT,” he said.

The director said that the FCTA has done a lot to ensure that all traffic lights were functional, to curb the rate of accidents, particularly on the intersections within the city.

He added that the accidents occurred mainly because the traffic lights were either not functional or not installed, stressing that the FCT Administration had taken steps to ensure all traffic lights were functional.

“If you go round the city now, you will see that the traffic lights are installed and functional across the city.

“This was made possible following FCTA’s robust collaboration with other countries, particularly China, under its China Aid Project, which provided traffic lights in about 98 junctions under the second phase of the project.

“Also, the FCTA has upgraded the traffic lights in other junctions, about 96 of them, to become accessible online.

“This is a massive improvement, and this is why the turn around maintenance is speedy and direct, because we are able to see a faulty traffic light by just a press of a button in the control centre,” Bodinga said.

Bodinga, however, identified the activities of scavengers and other miscreants, who were stealing the batteries that powered the traffic lights as a serious challenge.

He said that the batteries servicing the traffic lights in about 15 junctions within the city have been stolen so far by the miscreants.

“We are taking measures to see how we can tackle the situation. We are also calling on residents to report anyone attempting to tamper with the traffic lights to security agencies,” he said. (NAN)

Edited by Ekemini Ladejobi

By Perpetua Onuegbu

The Federal Government on Friday assured that it would now deliver the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Dual Carriageway in 24 months, instead of in 2024.

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, made this known on Friday when he inspected the road.

Umahi was accompanied on the inspection by Mr Wale Edun, the Minister of Finance and the Coordinating Minister of the Economy.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the minister had earlier made a commitment of the road being completed in 2024.

But said: “Initially when we started, Berger had four sections working but we ran into hitches due to funding.

Now the Finance Minister has assured us of adequate funding, so we agreed that they are going to go back to four sections.

“By four sections, we are looking at the completion of 15 kilometres of road every month.

“We are now looking at 24 months to finish the project. We are assured of financing by the minister and the contractors have reassured that they are going to come back.

“I commend the palliative work done on the road. The signing of the outstanding certificate of N17 billion, then the other of N33 billion is being processed, so we assure that funding won’t be a problem,” Umahi said.

Giving more insight into the project, Umahi said from Abuja to Kaduna is 165km out of which 45km had been done.

According to him, the total route length is 375 miles dualised, which is equivalent to 715km of central lane.

“Now from Kaduna to Zaria is completed, we have only 20 kilometres between Zaria and Kano, and then we have 40 or 38 kilometres from zero point and then another 82 kilometres undone between Abuja and Kaduna.

“So you can say we have about 88 kilometres plus 82 kilometres which is about 120 kilometres undone within the first section, second section: Kaduna-Zaria completed, 3rd section Zaria-Kano, only 20km is left.

“Our concentration would be to finish that 20 kilometre,” Umahi said.

On his part, the coordinating minister of the economy assured the minister and contractors of government’s willingness to fund the project.

“We are here to examine and to hear from the contractors and to get their commitment, encourage and support them so as to complete this all important reconstruction of the Abuja- Kaduna-Zaria-Kano road.

‘They have done over 40 kilometres on this side, we want to urge them to do more. Infrastructure is critical, it is a critical priority of the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

“That is how we can get food prices down through good transportation, easy transportation of agriculture products.

“That will bring down food prices, inflation and then stabilise the economy and following up on the funding that has been made available to ensure that work is going on at the right pace,” Edun said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola