BREAKING: IKPEAZU PROMISES TO CLEAR OUTSTANDING SALARIES, PENSION BEFORE JULY 2017 ENDING

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu through his Chief Press Secretary has informed Abia State workers and Pensioners that all outstanding salaries will be cleared before the end of July 2017.

Press Release

Following the May 29th Broadcast of the Abia state Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, where he expressed displeasure over the issue of some months backlog of salaries and pensions of some workers in the state, the Governor has vowed to ensure that all outstanding salaries and pensions owed workers in the state will be cleared before the end of July 2017.

The Governor considers this as necessary recompense for the hard work and support of Abia workers who have continued to partner with his administration to ensure accelerated development of the state.

It should be noted that while more than 80% of Abia workers are up to date with salaries, some revenue generating units and teachers have variable months of unpaid salaries alongside pensioners in the state.

Governor Ikpeazu believes that with the expected payment of outstanding salaries he will be able to achieve his campaign promise of ensuring regular salary payments without impacting his development agenda anchored on the five pillars of education, agriculture, infrastructure, trade and commerce, as well as oil and gas.

Enyinnaya Appolos

Chief Press Secretary to the Governor

02/06/2017

Source: Abia Facts News

Road users to pay multiple taxes as bill awaits Senate's approval

There are indications that road users may face multiple taxes as Senate moves to pass the National Roads Fund (Establishment, etc) Bill 2017. The bill, which was sponsored by Chairman of the Committee on Works, Sen. Kabiru Gaya, has scaled first and second readings and has gone for public hearing.

It was listed on the Order Paper of Thursday for third reading and passage but was not considered before plenary was adjourned till Tuesday. The bill, according to report of a 16-member committee that looked into it, seeks to finance the maintenance and rehabilitation of national roads.

The report stated that the sources of revenue for the roads fund would were international vehicle transit charges and axle load control charges. Others are inter-state mass transit-user charge of 0.5 per cent deductible from the fare paid by passengers to commercial mass transit operators on inter-state roads. It also include fuel levy of N5 chargeable per litre on any volume of petrol and diesel products imported into Nigeria and on locally-refined petroleum products.

The report also said that revenue would be generated from toll fee of a percentage not exceeding 10 per cent of any revenue paid as user-charge per vehicle on any federal road designated as toll road.

However, the toll fee excludes roads with Public-Private-Partnership arrangement. Besides charges to be incurred by road users, the bill when passed, would exclude National Roads Fund from Consolidated Revenue Fund and Treasury Single Account, relying on Section 80(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

According to the report, other sections of the bill include application of the roads fund, establishment of governing board, tenure of office of members as well as allowances for members and cessation of membership.

Others are roads programme, exemption from taxation, offences and penalties as well as miscellaneous issues such as regulation and power of the minister to give directives, and the role of National Council on Privatisation.

The report explained that the fund was to address inadequate levels of funding and irregular allocation from Federal Government road management, which made planning for maintenance difficult and irresponsive to private sector development. “Inappropriate funding for management of road infrastructure leads to delayed or insufficient maintenance of roads which in turn leads to failure of assets and results in increased construction costs for routine and periodic maintenance.

“The core of the Road Fund is a concept that will mitigate the insufficiency and unpredictability of funding by extracting additional funds from those that use the road assets in the form of a user-based charge or levy,’’ it stated. The report stated that the bill would, among other things, create enabling environment for private sector participation. (Source: NAN)

Senate Confirms 15 INEC Commissioners as fate of Prof. Egwu, 11 others hangs

Nigerian Senate has confirmed 15 of the 27 nominated INEC Commissioners forwarded to it by President Muhammadu Buhari a month ago. The Committee Chairman, Senator Suleiman Nazif representing Bauchi North Senatorial district observed that the report of the Department of State Services (DSS) was favourable to all of them, hence, the Committee forwarded their names for consideration as required by the law.

 

He, however, did not reveal reasons 12 others were not forwarded for confirmation as at Thursday, but DAILY POST learnt that they have serious petitions against them which are yet to be cleared.

Of note is Professor Sam Egwu, a nominee from Kogi East Senatorial district, who Senator Dino Melaye had earlier vowed to stop, claiming that President Muhammadu Buhari concentrated his political appointments in the eastern part of Kogi state to the detriment of Kogi West which he represents.

But Nazif maintained that the Committee which was charged with the screening of INEC nominees following plenary decision on 3rd May, 2017 swung into action immediately.

Part of criteria for their screening, he revealed, was educational qualifications, saying they were satisfied. “That the Senate do consider report of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the screening of 15 nominees for appointment as Resident Electoral Commissioners”, he said.

Those unanimously confirmed are:

1. Professor Godswill Obioma Abia
2. James Iorliam Apam Benue
3. Dr. Nwachukwu Orji Ebonyi
4. Dr. Iloh Joseph Valentine Chuks Enugu
5. Dr. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda Plateau
6. Umar Ibrahim Taraba
7. Mr. Emeka Ononamadu Joseph Imo
8. Obo O. Effanga Cross River
9. Prof. Francis Chukwuemeka Ezeonu Anambra
10. Dr. Briyai O. Frankland Bayelsa
11. Ibrahim Abdullahi Adamawa
12. Agboke Mutiu Olaleke Ogun
13. Hussaini Halilu FCT
14. Alhaji Ahmad Makama Bauchi
15. Sadiq Abubakar Musa Kaduna

Meanwhile, Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki charged them to be honest in discharging their responsibilities.

Source: Daily Post