Federal Government set to ban 'Ponmo'?

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Looks like it. According to a Vanguard report, the Federal Government is looking at banning the sale and consumption of Ponmo. Find the report below...

This indication emerged Tuesday when the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina called for competent regulations that would check the consumption and sale of the product. If this is achieved, he noted that livestock farmers would stand good chances of making high dollar return if the hides and skins (Ponmo) are tanned into leather.

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Federal Court bars House of Reps from changing leadership

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Breaking news report from The Will Nigeria

A Federal High Court in Abuja presided over by Justice Adeniyi Ademola has issued an order stopping the House of Representatives from changing its leadership pending the determination of a suit filed by the leadership of the embattled Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) seeking to block the move. Justice Ademola further ordered the leadership of the House to maintain the status quo until further notice. The ruling frustrates moves by the opposition All Progressive Congress (APC) to take over the leadership of the House following the defection of about 37 members of the PDP to it which gave it majority in the House.

Senate Hears How Nigeria's Aviation Minister Used Federal Airport Authority

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A Senate committee holding hearings into the aviation sector in Nigeria today shockingly heard   how the Aviation Minister Stella Oduah spent $1.6 million on the purchase of two armored cars today, also the committee received further confirmation that the minister received several other cars from another agency under her control.

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Federal Gov. Recovers ₦188Bn From Ghost Workers In 215 Ministries

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The Minister of Information and Supervising Minister of Defence, Mr. Labaran Maku, has disclosed that the President Goodluck Jonathan led administration has recovered the sum of N118.9 billion from ghost workers since the beginning of the year.

The minister made the disclosure during a World Press conference held in Abuja, where he stated that about 46,821 ghost workers have so far been identified from 215 Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, with the application of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System, IPPIS.

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'ASUU Strike Will Be Over ‘In A Few Months’, Says Federal Government.

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Nigerian students were yesterday assured by the Federal Government that the protracted strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, would be over in a few months.

Minister of Education, Mr Nyesom Wike stated this at the anniversary lecture of National Universities Commission, NUC, in Abuja.

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Federal Gov. set to tackle rebel govs, Baraje

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The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party may take a turn for the worse while the Presidency and the Federal Capital Territory Administration intensify actions against “rebel” members of the party.

Our Source gathered on Monday that while the Presidency was set to remove such rebel members holding  board appointments, the FCTA  was determined to make sure that more  governors sympathetic to the Alhaji Abubakar Barage-led New PDP lose their landed properties in Abuja.

One of many seven governors in the New PDP, Rabiu Kwakwanso of Kano State, had a selection little bit of land allocated to him in Maitama District, Abuja, revoked by the FCTA on Saturday.

Our Source gathered that the FCTA was also set to remove what it termed “illegal structures on the land” measuring about 2,500 square metres.

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‘Federal, State Governments In N9tn Debt’

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Nigeria’s total public debt rose from N6.25tn ($40.1bn) in 2010 to N9.04tn ($58.04bn) by the end of December 2012, according to the Debt Management Office.

In its 2013 Report of the Annual National Debt Sustainability Analysis, released in Abuja on Sunday, the DMO said it would issue $100m Diaspora bond in 2014.

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Federal government of Nigeria approves 5-year jail term and N200, 000 fine for exam cheats

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The minister of Education, Prof Ruqayyat Rufai, announced yesterday that students caught from now on cheating during exams will face a five year jail term or N200,000 fine or both.

This decision was reached during the Federal Executive Council weekly meeting that held in Abuja yesterday. The new law states in part...

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Strike grounds federal hospitals, JOHESU says Health Minister insincere

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The nationwide strike called by the health workers’ union has taken a toll on federal health institutions across Nigeria and patients have been at the receiving end.

Visits to some of the affected hospitals in the country on Friday, showed either skeletal work or a total collapse of activities.

For instance, business activities were grounded at the National Hospital, Abuja, on Friday, following the nationwide strike declared by the Joint Health Workers Union.

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Federal Government To Empower Six Million Youths

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The Federal Government has expressed hopes to fully develop the capacity around six million Nigerian youths through Integrated Youth Empowerment Programme (IYEEP) launched with the Mara Foundation within 12 months.

In collaboration with Mara Foundation, FG said it hopes to lessen the amount of youth unemployment throughout the country.

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£3,000 UK Visa Bond: We Will Retaliate –Federal Govt Insists

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The Federal Government of Nigeria on Tuesday insisted on retaliatory action against British citizens if their government went ahead with its plan to impose a £3,000 visa bond on visitors from Nigeria and five other Commonwealth countries.

“If and when a communication to that effect is received, the Federal Government will take appropriate steps to reflect its national interest. ”

Governor expressed displeasure that the UK authorities, which already set November as the discriminatory policy’s commencement time, had not formally communicate to it on the next step of action.

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Federal Government Of Nigeria signs ceasefire with Boko Haram

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KANO – The Federal Government has announced  signing of ceasefire deal with Jama’atu Ahlul Sunnah Lidda’awati wal Jihad, popularly known as Boko Haram. The major breakthrough is coming on the eve of  the Muslim Holy month due to commence Tuesday throughout the country. The minister of Special Duties, Alhaji Tanimu Turaki announced the ceasefire agreement on Radio France International Hausa services monitored in Kano Monday afternoon.

Naija Gist: http://omoooduarere.blogspot.com/

Federal road in Kogi becomes Paradise for robbers, rapists ....

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Abu Micheal, Chief Press Secretary to Kogi State deputy governor, looks at the hardship faced by people and commuters who ply Lokoja- Kabba-  egbe – Ilorin Road and stated the need for the Federal Government’s timely intervention to end the suffering of the people.

Bad roads are responsible for most of the accidents that happen on our roads. At the same time, bad roads hasten the process of tear and wear of various cars and impoverish the owners. Also, pothole infested roads are increasingly becoming the operational zones of criminals particularly, armed robbers.

This is true of the Obajana-Oshokoshoko-Kabba-Mopa-Isanlu-Egbe Road. This is a federal road that links most parts of the West Senatorial District to the rest part of Kogi State. It is also the fastest link between Kwara and Kogi states. The road is now in a deplorable state and it has also become a safe haven for armed bandits who now subject motorists plying the route to harrowing experiences.

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Federal Government set to Stop NECO, cancels UTME

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Federal Government has concluded arrangements to scrap the National Examination Council. Plans have also been concluded to cancel the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination being conducted by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board for applicants into the nation’s tertiary institutions.

JAMB will however not be scrapped.

The government’s decisions, which would be made public soon via a White Paper, are based on the recommendations of the Stephen Oronsaye-led Presidential Committee on the Rationalisation and Restructuring of Federal Government Parastatals, Commissions and Agencies.

Federal Government has no plan to remove oil subsidy, says Okupe

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The Federal Government stated yesterday that contrary to the speculation in the media that the government was planning to withdraw the remaining subsidy on petrol, such plan is not on its table for now. They said for now o! :-)

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, released the statement saying:

"We wish to state categorically that, the removal of oil subsidy is not on the table of the Transformation Agenda of the President. The statement made by President Goodluck Jonathan at the recent Economic Summit held in Lagos was a frank, intellectual and well articulated contribution by the President to the discussion on the Nigerian economy at the said summit, and it was from a honest and sincere leadership perspective."

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Federal Court Strikes Down Government’s Oil Deregulation Policy

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A Federal High Court in Abuja presided over by Justice Adamu Bello has nullified the federal government’s deregulation of the downstream sector of the petroleum industry.
 
Justice Bello in a ruling delivered Tuesday in a suit filed by Lagos lawyer, Mr. Bamidele Aturu declared the policy unconstitutional, illegal, null and void.
  

Update 1:

 "That the policy decision of the Defendants to deregulate the downstream sector of the petroleum industry by not fixing the prices at which petroleum products may be sold in Nigeria is unlawful, illegal, null, void and of no effect whatsoever being in flagrant violation of the mandatory provision of section 4 of the Price Control Act, cap P28, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004," the judge said.

Nigeria’s Federal Reserve Rose To $47.02 Billion

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For the first time in four years, Nigeria’s external reserves grew by 3.8 per cent month on month to $47.02 billion as at February 21, 2013. This increase is coming amid claims by prominent Nigerians that the external reserves is being squandered – the government will have something to boast about now. The latest data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) revealed that the country’s forex reserves were $45.26 billion a month earlier while they rose by 34 .99% from a year ago when $34.83 billion were recorded.

98% of federal pensioners are unpaid — FCP

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There appears no respite yet for federal pensioners, as about 98 per cent of them have been reportedly denied monthly stipends for three months. The Lagos State Coordinator, Federal Concerned Pensioners, Mr. David Adodo, stated this in interview with our correspondent in Lagos. He said the affected pensioners had either been seriously underpaid, or totally denied their pensions since November last year.

This is coming barely a week after about 50 federal pensioners in Abuja protested against what they described as unholy manner with which the OHCSF was interfering in their pensions.

How The Federal Government, State Governments Shared N8.8 Trillion In 2012

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It has been revealed that a total of N8.8 trillion accrued to the three tiers of government from the Federation Account between January and December 2012 from the statutory and VAT allocations. This is according to a report by an authoritative online medium, Economic Confidential magazine. This amount excludes other allocations such as derivation (for oil-producing states), excess crude account, domestic crude account, subsidy reinvestment programme (SURE-P), Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation refund and foreign exchange differentials.

FG Begins Work On 10 New Rail Lines

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The Federal Government has announced plans to construct 10 new rail lines to cover other parts of the country currently not linked by rail. The Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar, said on Friday that already feasibility studies had commenced on seven of the proposed railway lines. Umar, who spoke in Lagos at the inauguration of the Lagos-Kano train service and resumption of fuel haulage by train from Lagos to Offa, said that the feasibility studies on three other planned rail lines would be done in 2013.