Benue Assembly approves Alia’s N100bn loan request

The Benue State House of Assembly has approved Governor Hyacinth Alia’s request to access a facility of a N100 billion loan from United Bank for Africa (UBA) for infrastructural development.

The house presided over by the Speaker, Mr Alfred Emberga, granted the approval at an emergency plenary on Friday in Makurdi.

Emberga read a letter dated October 9 and signed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mrs Deborah Aber, on behalf of the Benue Executive Council.

The governor requested assent from BSHA to access a facility of N100 billion term loan from the United Bank for Africa (UBA).

‘To discount the promissory instrument received from the Federal Government in respect to the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG).

‘The purpose of the loan is to finance infrastructure development projects across the state, including the renovation and equipping of 23 general hospitals.

‘The loan was also for the renovation and building of special science schools statewide as well as the completion of ongoing roads, bridges, drainages and electricity projects, including the Makurdi, Gboko and Otukpo internal roads.

‘The other purpose of the loan facility is for the building of skills acquisition centres and building and equipping smart schools in each federal constituency.

‘It is also for the renovation and equipping of secondary and tertiary institutions and the provision of infrastructure in designated industrial parks, including agricultural processing projects,’ it added.

According to the letter, the loan is also for the construction of buildings and provision of equipment for the Benue State University of Agriculture, Science and Technology, Ihugh, in Vandeikya Local Government Area.

The loan was also to be used for any other infrastructure project approved by the Executive Council, renovation and additional buildings in Government House and urgent work on Makurdi arterial roads.

‘The term loan is negotiated with the following terms: the facility amount of N100 billion for contractor infrastructure financing with a tenor of 48 months with monthly repayment.

‘The repayment source shall be from discounted Federal Government promissory notes and Federal Allocation Accounts Committee-Internally Generated Revenue (FAAC/IGR) inflow,’ it added.

In their separate comments on the letter, the Majority Leader, Mr Thomas Dugeri; the Minority Leader, Mr Abu Umoru; Dr Matthew Damkor (APC/Tiev); and Mr Kennedy Angbo (APC/Otukpo-Akpa) applauded Gov. Hyacinth Alia for his developmental strides in the state.

The lawmakers said that with the loan the state would experience overwhelming progress and development both in the urban and rural areas.

Ruling, Emberga, said that since members were not opposed to the request, it was, therefore, approved.

Abiodun unveils Ogun Job Centres to empower thousands of youths

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has launched the Ogun Job Centre across the three senatorial districts of the state, describing it as the dawn of a new era of opportunities and empowerment for the youth.

Speaking during the official commissioning held at the Government Science and Technical College, Idi-Aba, Abeokuta, the Governor, represented by his Deputy, Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele, said the initiative marked more than the opening of a facility-it represented ‘the audacious beginning of a life-changing initiative.’

The project is a collaboration between the Ogun State Government and international partners including the German Cooperation (Deutsche Zusammenarbeit), Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), the World Bank through the Ogun State Economic Transformation Project (OGSTEP), and implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft fr Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.

According to Abiodun, the centre serves as a platform ‘where every effort meets opportunity and dedication is rewarded with growth.’

He added that job creation has remained a defining pillar of his administration since inception, aimed not just at reducing unemployment but at ‘building a skilled, confident and competitive workforce for the demands of the 21st century.’

‘In Ogun State, we are raising leaders, creating self-reliant and disciplined young men and women who will lead our industries, our digital economy and our nation into a prosperous future,’ he said.

He urged youths and job seekers to take full advantage of the centre’s offerings, noting that the prosperity of the state depended on a skilled and empowered workforce.

Ogun State Head of Service, Mr. Kehinde Onasanya, described the project as pivotal to the state’s economic transformation.

He commended Governor Abiodun for prioritising youth empowerment through various initiatives, including the Gateway International Airport, infrastructural upgrades, school renovations, and health sector reforms.

Country Director of GIZ Nigeria and ECOWAS, Dr. Markus Wagner, said the initiative was designed to empower young Nigerians, strengthen employability, and boost economic growth.

He revealed that Ogun’s job centre is among ten created nationwide and would complement existing skills centres in Abeokuta, Ijebu and Ota.

‘The State, being an industrial hub, is now on the world map for its efforts in promoting sustainable development and entrepreneurship,’ Wagner said.

Chief Economic Adviser and Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Dapo Okubadejo, noted that through OGSTEP, over 21,000 Ogun youths had already been trained in various vocational and digital skills.

Also speaking, the Head of Development Cooperation at the German Embassy, Dr. Karin Jansen, stressed that addressing unemployment required collective effort.

‘Government alone cannot do it. Partnerships like this promote self-reliance, talent and innovation,’ she said.

In his remarks, the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, lauded the collaboration as a vital step toward reducing unemployment and fostering economic resilience.

The Olota of Ota, HRH Oba Prof. Abdulkabir Obalanlege, described the job centre as a timely intervention, saying it would empower many young people to become employers of labour.

Programme Component Manager, Skills Development for Youth Employment (SKYE II), GIZ Nigeria, Ms. Svjetlana Djokic, highlighted the project’s goal of ‘building partnerships, creating job opportunities, and changing mindsets in the labour market.’

Two beneficiaries, Deborah Ajiboye, a Mathematics graduate, and Iyabo Alaka, a fashion designer, testified that the state’s skills acquisition programme had transformed their career prospects and given them renewed hope for the future.

Introducing the new cybercrime treaty

This month, October, a key Asean country will be host to a raft of countries for the signing ceremony of the new cybercrime treaty. Its full (and rather wordy) title is: the ‘United Nations Convention against Cybercrime; Strengthening International Cooperation for Combating Certain Crimes Committed by Means of Information and Communications Technology Systems and for the Sharing of Evidence in Electronic Form of Serious Crimes’.

Will this cybercrime convention be an epiphany for those who seek effective legal measures against online scams and other heinous cybermalwares wreaking havoc worldwide?

First, it provided a finite list of crimes to be outlawed, thus preventing arbitrary generalization of online crimes at the national level based on too much discretion for the authorities. And second, it was a treaty much linked with checks-and-balances premised on human rights and democracy. Behind the drafting of the new treaty, those considerations were very much part and parcel of the contestation between democratic countries and nondemocratic countries.

On the positive side, the cybercrime convention provides a finite list of malpractices which need to be criminalized nationally, rather than a negative, generalized approach. The list is based on the following: illegal access to cybersystems (such as computers); illegal interception of electronic data; interference with electronic data; interference with an information and communications technology system; misuse of such devices; related forgery; related theft or fraud; offenses concerning online child sexual abuse or exploitation; solicitation or grooming for the purpose of committing a sexual offense against a child; and nonconsensual dissemination of intimate images.

There are then provisions against money laundering and on the liability of legal persons, implying both individuals and companies. The jurisdiction for legal action at the national level under the convention is broad, covering not only when the offense is committed on the territory of a member country; it can also be extended to cover offenses committed by a national of the member country, misdeeds against a national of the member country, or against the member country itself.

Interestingly, the new treaty does not delve into the sensitive area of misinformation and disinformation which are at times the result of state propaganda. This gray area needs capacity-building and educational measures to enable the general public to ‘think before believing,’ from a young age, in a democratized setting with a discerning mindset.

However, there are various stumbling blocks in relation to the cybercrime convention. First, many provisions in this treaty defer to domestic law in relation to the various prohibitions.

Ironically, a government ‘s claim against a cybercrime domestically may, in fact, be justifying an excuse to constrain the freedom of expression of individuals perceived to be antithetical to the regime in power.

To be fair to the new treaty, there is an explicit provision advocating respect for human rights. However, the relationship between rights-cum-freedoms and limits imposed in the name of criminalizing cybercrimes is not totally clear. In international human rights law, for instance, limits on the right to freedom of expression are only permissible if they fulfill a three-part test.

First, the government of the country trying to limit that right must prove that there is a clear law on the subject rather than a measure based on broad executive discretion-the principle of ‘legality.’

Second, the authorities must prove that the limitation is necessary according to the risks and proportionate to the circumstances-the principles of ‘necessity’ and ‘proportionality.’

And third, the limitation needs to have legitimate aims, such as to protect democracy or to shield children from abuse-the principle of ‘legitimacy.’

As a monitor of the implementation of the new treaty, a Conference of States parties will take place periodically.

While this will offer a check-and-balance against excesses by some countries to some extent, it is also incumbent on the international community, including UN human rights mechanisms, to keep watch of the situation.

The role of civil society and the business sector will also be important as vigilant sentinels to ensure that the criminalization of cybercrimes is not a pretext to confirm or reinforce the mass of criminal laws, policies, and practices existing in many countries which are used against political dissidents and nongovernmental voices.

Beware-the shrinking space for individuals and communities in a world of increasing surveillance, artificial intelligence prevalence, and politicized-elite predominance!

DJ Cuppy speaks on joys of being single

Nigerian disc jockey and billionaire heiress, Florence Otedola, popularly known as DJ Cuppy, has opened up on how she feels being single.

The media personality on her Snapchat handle, revealed that she has some things she likes about being single.

While speaking about her relationship status, Cuppy stated that she loves being able to eat her dinner on her own without small talks.

‘One of my fave things about being single? I can eat dinner alone and actually focus on the food. No small talk, just me and my plate lol,’ she wrote.

The DJ has ben open about her love life and her career after her previous engagement to British boxer, Ryan, failed.

Amupitan, a non-partisan patriot – Senator

Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial Zone, Steve Karimi has described Professor Joash Amupitan who was nominated for appointment as the new chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as one of Nigeria’s finest scholars, most rigorous legal inquisitors, experienced administrators, and non-partisan patriots.

Karimi said this while conveying his appreciation to President Tinubu for appointing Amupitan who is from his senatorial district as the new chairman of INEC in a statement on Thursday.

Amupitan, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria who is also the incumbent Deputy Vice-Chancellor in-charge of Administration at the University of Jos, Plateau State, was proposed to the National Council of State, (NCS) for appointment of as the new INEC Chairman by President Tinubu.

He received the unanimous concurrence of the body to have Amupitan replace Prof Mahmood Yakubu, who was in office for one full decade.

Karimi, in a statement by his media officer, Busayo Tosin, said the President could not have made a better choice.

His words: ‘I feel personally gratified that Mr President has looked in the direction of my senatorial district for the appointment of an intellectual of astounding repute, a man of distinction and integrity for the chose of a helmsman for the nation’s electoral ombudsman.’

Amupitan, Karimi noted, is a pan-Nigerian to the core, who, though from the Okun-Yoruba section of Kogi, has lived most of his life in Plateau State from his first day in the university, through his doctorate, before pursuing an illustrious career over the past four decades. ‘Not forgetting that he underwent his National Youth Service Corps, (NYSC), in Bauchi State in Nigeria’s North East,’ Karimi noted. These, he noted, make him a thoroughbred ‘Arewa son.’

Senator Karimi expressed the collective appreciation of the people of Kogi West for the trust and confidence reposed in one of theirs. He expressed optimism that Prof. Amupitan sterling antecedents will stand him in good stead to be the very best head of a national electoral outfit Nigeria ever knew.

Ombudsman Remulla to release memo lifting restrictions on SALNs

A memorandum lifting the restrictions on access to Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) will be issued next week, according to Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla.

Remulla said this in a press briefing on Friday, saying that his office aims to release the document ‘hopefully by Wednesday.’

‘We’re just preparing the mechanics, but next week, maybe it’ll be okay if we start releasing this. The earliest is next week,’ he noted.

‘I will ask them to make this information available. But of course, we need the requesting parties to ask for information, but not blanket, because they can be weaponized. What we need is for us to have an undertaking to ensure public interest,’ he explained.

He added that the ombudsman will soon open its doors to the public to make it a true ‘sumbungan ng bayan’ (public’s grievance platform).

Remulla said the office plans to crowdsource information for lifestyle checks and complaints, noting that investigations will no longer rely solely on fact-finding teams, but will also gather input directly from citizens through an open communication line.

This reiterates his earlier pronouncement that his office will use crowdsourcing of information about individuals who should be investigated in public.

Access to SALN was restricted during the tenure of Ombudsman Samuel Martires through Memorandum Circular No. 1, Series of 2020.

The memorandum requires anyone requesting access to a SALN to present a notarized letter of authority from the declarant, effectively barring the public and the media from obtaining copies unless allowed by the official concerned.

Aside from this move, Remulla earlier said there will also be crowdsourcing of information, allowing the public to submit details on individuals who should be investigated. /apl

Awka North LGA supports Soludo’s re-election with N150m

Some communities in Awka North Local Government Area (LGA) of Anambra have donated N150 million to Gov. Chukwuma Soludo to boost his campaign for reelection.

The communities presented the symbolic cheque to Soludo on Friday at the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) rally at Amansea, Awka North LGA, to bolster Soludo’s campaign ahead of the Nov. 8 governorship election.

Mr Thankgod Anagor, Chairman, Awka North LGA, appreciated the governor for completing 55.5 kilometers of roads in area in the last three and half years.

‘For these and many other reasons, we remain deeply grateful to Mr Governor. We stand united in our support for your administration to continue achieving success.

‘Our goal is to build on the initiatives already transforming Anambra into a model of development; that is why we are fully supporting your re-election efforts,’ he stated.

The lawmaker representing Awka North Constituency in the State Assembly, Mr Johnmark Ikwunne, outlined various projects initiated by the governor in the area.

‘This administration has made significant impacts in Awka North, particularly in the areas of youth development, education and healthcare.

‘Gov. Soludo deserves our full support to continue his transformation agenda,’ he said.

Speaking on behalf of the ten communities in the LGA, the President-General of Urum, Mr Felix Ifebumma, reaffirmed their steadfast support and solidarity for the governor.

‘Today, we stand united in our commitment to support a leader who has demonstrated a remarkable dedication to the progress of our state,’ he said.

In his response, Soludo thanked the communities, noting that their endorsement signifies the trust and confidence the people of Awka North have in his administration.

‘Together, we will build a prosperous future for the people of Anambra.

‘There are three local government areas that have consistently sustained my vision of becoming governor; the Awka North, Anambra West and Ogbaru.

‘Previously, residents of Awka North had to pass through other local government areas to get home. However, with the completion of the 10.9-kilometre road to Achalla, that is no longer the case.

‘As a result of these developments, land values in the area have increased significantly and the average person in Awka North is now better off, ‘he said.

Describing Amansea as the gateway to Anambra, the governor urged the youths to shun cultism and other social vices to maintain a safe and peaceful community.

‘Just be patient and watch what comes next. Awka North is truly blessed by God. We must work together to fulfill its destiny,’ he added.

Retired FCTA Director bags 24 years jail term for ?318m fraud

Justice James Omotosho of Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has sentenced one Mr. Garuba Mohammed Duku, a retired Director of Finance and Administration with the Federal Capital Territory Administration to 24 years imprisonment after he was found guilty of N318 million fraud.

Duku was arraigned before the court by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on a six-count charge of corruption and money laundering involving the sum of ?318 million 2022.

Duku, who worked as Director of Finance and Administration with the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC) under FCTA, according to ICPC, between 2012 and 2013 fraudulently diverted ?318,250,000 belonging to Council into his personal account, which was domiciled at Fidelity Bank Plc.

ICPC said its findings showed that Duku received multiple payments totaling the said sum, including ?56.25 million, ?71 million, ?53 million, ?54 million, ?46 million, and ?36.3 million, which were subsequently transferred to Bureau de Change operators and expended for unauthorized purposes.

During the trial, ICPC successfully demonstrated that the defendant’s method of fund release and withdrawal was fraudulent and in violation of extant government financial regulations.

The Commission also refuted Mr. Duku’s claim that the funds were disbursed to his superiors, as no evidence was produced to substantiate the assertion.

In his judgment, Justice Omotosho held that the totality of evidence and witness testimonies presented by the Commission proved the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Consequently, the court sentenced Mr. Duku to four years’ imprisonment on each of the six counts, or an option of fine equivalent to five times the amount stated in each count, totaling approximately ?1.6 billion.

The sentences are to run concurrently.

This conviction underscores ICPC’s unwavering commitment to holding public officers accountable and ensuring that those who betray the public trust through corrupt practices are brought to justice in accordance with the law.

ICI asks DPWH to reduce gov’t engineers’ control over biddings

The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) wants the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to set limits to the control of district and regional engineers over the bidding for public infrastructure projects to curb corruption by lowering the ceiling of contract amounts they can approve.

In a letter to Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon, ICI Chair Andres Reyes asked that the DPWH immediately reduce the threshold of the contract amounts for procurement of civil works that regional engineering offices can approve to P200 million from P400 million.

For district engineering offices, the ICI suggested that they be allowed to green-light only up to P75 million from P150 million in their bidding plans.

‘We urge that this recommendation of this commission be immediately implemented,’ the fact-finding body told Dizon.

According to ICI Executive Director Brian Hosaka, the recommendation aims to curb systemic corruption in the bidding processes of the DPWH.

Threshold from Bonoan time

‘The suggestion of the ICI is to halve (the LOAs) so that the procurement for civil works will be controlled,’ Hosaka told reporters on Thursday.

The flood control scandal revealed that DPWH engineers declared that projects were completed when, in fact, these were nonexistent or substandard.

The current threshold for the LOAs was implemented during the time of Dizon’s predecessor, Manuel Bonoan, through DPWH Department Order No. 195 in 2022. This order was affirmed in succeeding DOs in 2022 and 2023.

Bonoan said then that the levels of authority he set would ‘ensure the highest efficiency in the implementation of infrastructure projects.’

The order allowed Bonoan to overrule the authority he had delegated to his subordinates, such as the district and regional engineer.

Such authorities may be modified, expanded, or withdrawn by the public works secretary at any time ‘as public interest so demands,’ according to DO No. 195.

Among the ‘civil works’ items that district and regional engineers could authorize were the procurement project management plan, approved budget contract and notice of award.

Newly installed special adviser to the ICI, Rodolfo Azurin, Jr., said that the site inspections of flagged infrastructure projects may be resumed soon.

Azurin, however, said that he has yet to identify the specific projects he intends to prioritize and would await recommendations from Dizon.

‘We will definitely investigate each and every one [alleged to be involved in anomaly],’ he said when asked whether there would be ‘sacred areas’ he would protect from the probe.

Aside from Azurin, Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) Chair Michael Aguinaldo also met with ICI officials on Thursday to discuss the mandate of the government’s antitrust body, which has begun its own investigation of alleged bid rigging and manipulation of public works projects.

The DPWH last week asked the PCC to look into cases of possible procurement manipulation involving St. Timothy Construction Corp., Wawao Builders, IM Construction Corp., SYMS Construction Trading, and officials and employees of the DPWH in Bulacan, as well as Sunwest Inc., and officials and employees of its regional office in Mimaropa. /cb

Customer Service Week: How FIRS Boss put Nigerians first

This week has been Customer Service Week across the world, and as always, it is a time to celebrate customers and appreciate those who serve them. At the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), the celebration has been full of colour, excitement, and unity. From themed dress days to fun activities, staff across the country took time to appreciate the people who make their work meaningful, the taxpayers.

But beyond the glamour and celebration, this year’s Customer Service Week has given everyone at FIRS another reason to reflect on the kind of leadership the agency has been blessed with. Since Dr. Zacch Adedeji, Executive Chairman, came on board, he has shown that leadership is not just about policy but about people, and when I say people, I mean the people of Nigeria. He has brought a human touch to tax administration and changed the way many Nigerians perceive the agency.

Today, FIRS is not just an agency collecting taxes across Nigeria; it is a people-driven institution that listens, understands, and responds. Through innovations such as the TaxProMax platform, electronic invoicing, and an active online presence, people and businesses can now file returns, make payments, or access information with ease. Every transaction is secured and verifiable through a unique Invoice Reference Number and QR code, while taxpayers without internet access can conveniently use the *829# USSD code to retrieve their TIN, verify tax clearance certificates, locate nearby offices, or make quick inquiries. It is now easy for anyone to pay taxes or ask questions, as FIRS experts are always ready to assist through the website, social media, or call centers.

The Tax Boss is a man who knows his onions and leads with direction and purpose. FIRS has built a strong culture of courtesy and service excellence. Staff are reminded that taxpayers are partners in progress and that respect, fairness, and timely service are necessary to good governance. This change has increased public trust and strengthened the agency’s reputation as a responsive institution. Today, if you ask ten Nigerians, nine will tell you they now understand taxes better and why they are important. We have never had it this good.

His calm confidence, intelligence, and people-first approach have changed the atmosphere within the Agency. Staff now take pride in serving, knowing that their work makes life easier for millions. Taxpayers, too, are beginning to see FIRS differently, not as a burden, but as an institution they can trust.

As this year’s Customer Service Week comes to an end, with the theme ‘Mission: Possible,’ Nigerians can agree that Dr. Zacch has made it more than just a theme; he has made it our reality. He has shown that change is possible in public service. He leads by example, puts people first, and ensures that FIRS has become a true model of what responsive governance should look like.

At the end of the day, Dr. Zacch is a tactical leader whose results speak louder than words. What he has built at FIRS tells its own story. It is a system that works, a team that serves, and a nation that believes again. Nigerians can now see that the mission is truly possible.

Happy Customer Service Week to the Tax Boss, the entire FIRS team, and the ever-supportive taxpayers across Nigeria. Together, we keep building a better country for everyone.

Arabinrin Aderonke Atoyebi is the Technical Assistant, Broadcast Media to the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service.