Delta Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, has called on the National Assembly to embody in the 1999 Constitution being amended, true federalism and independence of Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).
The governor made the call on Monday at a nationwide sensitization on the review of the existing revenue allocation formula held at Unity Hall, Government House, Asaba.
He explained that an independent RMAFC would carry out its functions independently, including laying its proposals directly before the National Assembly for approval.
According to the governor, the current practice where recommendations of the Commission are presented to the President has led to the non-review of the revenue allocation formula since 1992 as no president demonstrated the political will to forward the amendments to the parliament.
He commended RMAFC for ongoing sensitisation of the states before a zonal exercise where recommendations from the states would be received.
“For quite some time a lot of talks have gone on in the revenue allocation and it’s very unfortunate that in this country we are still operating a revenue allocation formula that was actually reviewed in 1992.
“As we look forward to a new revenue allocation formula, we hope that you come out with something that is fair, justifiable and equitable.
“But, the challenge is that when you have done all this work, you are going to eventually, by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, lay this before the President and the President ought to lay it before the National Assembly.
“There is a challenge there and there has always been a challenge there, because what is there in our laws that will ensure that the President lays the recommendations of RMAFC before the national assembly?
“We hope that the national assembly takes a look at this amendment because RMAFC is supposed to be an independent commission, a commission on behalf of all federating units and component parts of the federation.
“They cannot tie your hands; the Constitution ought to be amended to enable Chairman of RMAFC to directly lay before the national assembly whatever review it has come up with so that nobody stands it down,’’ he said.
Okowa stated that the National Assembly must do what was right because “a nation is a nation. A federation is a federation with federating units and we must have that principle of justice and fairness.
“The independence of the RMAFC must be entrenched in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and they must ensure that this aspect of the Constitution is reviewed to ensure that RMAFC Chairman lays its report directly to the National Assembly.”
According to him, efforts of the commission can be in vain if the president fails to lay the report before the national assembly.
“No matter how much we propose and no matter how our good intentions tend to be, there is a challenge on the execution of the revenue formula as it ought to be because of limitations in the Constitution of the country and that’s an aspect we have to attend to.
“There is no doubt that for good governance in this country and for sustainable development, it’s important that the revenue allocation is revisited in such a manner that more money goes back to the sub-national units in our federation.
“At the moment, the Federal Government is taking too much of the totality of the revenue accruing to the federation to the extent that sub-national governments, including the states and the local governments, are actually short-changed and do not have enough resources
“They are the governments closest to the people who understand the needs of the people and they are the governments that can truly develop the various localities in such a manner that the impact of government would be felt in our various communities,” he added.
The governor said that the states in the country were over-burdened with lots of responsibilities, especially with a lot of security challenges across the nation.
“In recent times there have been lots of cries on restructuring and the need to devolve more powers to the states and local governments for efficiency and effectiveness of governance.
“There are lots of things being done by the Federal Government that can be better and effectively handled by the states.
“We look forward to a situation where more powers should be devolved to the sub-national governments and it is our hope and prayer that your recommendations will see the light of day and there will be a laying of recommendations of RMAFC by its chairman before the National Assembly.
“As at today, the amount the states and local governments take home from FAAC can’t actually take them home in the real sense because the values are getting so low, so minimal that all states are struggling to pay salaries.
“When you turn your states and local governments to salary-paying governments you have actually destroyed the fabric of development in the nation,” he said.
Okowa deplored the non-review of the 13 per cent derivation given to oil-producing states, adding that oil-bearing communities were faced with environmental degradation and destruction of their sources of livelihood.
He said that the creeks were the most difficult terrains to develop and urged the Sensitisation Committee to take a tour of the creeks of Niger Delta to appreciate the challenges faced by the people.
“A lot of study has been done by moving around to find out the pains of the people.
“The Federal Government should not be entitled to more than 40 per cent while the remaining 60 per cent should be shared between the sub-national governments – states and local governments.
“If we are in a federation, all federating units must be treated with respect,” he added.
The government commended RMAFC for working towards recovering funds under-paid to the oil-producing states.
Earlier, the Federal Commissioner representing Delta State in RMAFC, Mr Andrew Agbaga, had commended Governor Okowa for his giant strides in governance, which had culminated in improved standard of education, entrepreneurship programmes for youths, infrastructural development, especially in roads and the gigantic Central Secretariat Complex in the state.
He said that RMAFC was empowered by law to review from time-to-time, the revenue allocation formula, in line with changing realities.
Agbaga admitted that the revenue formula ought not to be in force for more than five years, but regretted that all previous attempts to review the formula in the past 28 years had been fruitless.
He, however, said that RMAFC considered it expedient to review the revenue allocation formula because the political structure of the country had since changed.
The commissioner listed other reasons for the proposed review as inadequate and decayed infrastructure, threats to internal security, ecological changes, including climate change and global warming.
“With the creation of six additional states in 1996, which brought the number of states to 36, with corresponding increase in local governments from 580 to 774, it has become imperative that the revenue allocation formula be reviewed.
“It is in consideration of this that the Commission is very eager to review holistically, the Revenue Allocation Formula which currently gives the Federal Government 52.6 per cent, states 26.7, per cent and local governments, 20.6 per cent.
“The Commission has called this stakeholders’ sensitisation to make their recommendations ready and presented so that the report can be ready in December for onward presentation to the President,” Agbaga stated.
Welcoming participants to the event, Commissioner for Finance, Chief Fidelis Tilije, said that Delta was a special state with more than 20 cities and big commercial activities.
He stated that Delta had large upland and riverside areas, with attendant huge costs on infrastructural development, adding that issues of housing, environment, water resources, among others, ought to be devolved to the states.
Tilije urged RMAFC to strive towards arriving at the indices that would dovetail into computation of a revenue allocation formula favourable to the sub-national governments.

LAGOS STATE GOVERNMENT
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF PRESS SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNOR
PRESS RELEASE

LAGOS PROHIBITS OPEN CATTLE GRAZING, AS SANWO-OLU SIGNS BILL INTO LAW

•Governor Okays Bill To End ‘Cycle Of Gender-Based Violence’, Appoints Exec. Sec

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Monday, assented to the bill prohibiting Open Cattle Grazing and Trespass of Cattle on Land, signing the legislation into law 11 days after it was unanimously passed by the State House of Assembly and transmitted to the Executive arm for authorisation.

By implication, it is now criminal in Lagos for cattle rearers to occupy unapproved public areas and private land with their livestock for grazing. The law also prohibits the act of moving cattle round public places by herders.

The signing of the anti-open grazing law by the Governor followed the decision of Southern Governors’ Forum last August, setting the September deadline to pass the law across member States.

There have been crises witnessed in some States, resulting from alleged open grazing.

Although farmer-herder crisis is not pronounced in Lagos, the anti-open grazing law is expected to prevent the spillover of the menace into the State.

Sanwo-Olu, who assented to the bill during the State’s Executive Council meeting in Alausa, directed the security agencies to swing immediately into action and enforce provisions of the law.

He said: “By the powers vested in me as the Governor of Lagos State, I am signing the bill on Open Cattle Grazing and Trespass of Cattle on Land into law to prohibit issues associated with open grazing of livestock.”

The Governor also signed legislation transforming the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT) into a full-blown agency.

The development coincided with the commemorative month dedicated to raising awareness on gender-based violence in the State. The Governor and members of the State’s cabinet wore attire with purple shades to support the campaign against sexual violence.

The DSVRT legislation provides for the establishment of Sexual Offenders’ Register that would help the State efficiently tackle violations in the communities.

After signing the law, Sanwo-Olu said: “Raising awareness about domestic and sexual violence is an important piece of working to end the cycle of violence. It is important to reiterate the State Government’s zero tolerance to all forms of sexual and gender-based violence. We will not rest on our oars until the menace is reduced to the barest minimum in Lagos.”

The Governor appointed Mrs. Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi as the Executive Secretary of the new agency.

Vivour-Adeniyi was the coordinator of the response team before the legislation was signed into law.

SIGNED
GBOYEGA AKOSILE
CHIEF PRESS SECRETARY
SEPTEMBER 20, 2021

LAGOS STATE GOVERNOR, SANWO-OLU APPLAUDS JULIUS BERGER-AFP FURNITURE QUALITY AS LEGENDRY

Julius Berger-AFP, the furniture production unit of Julius Berger Nigeria PLC has been applauded for regularly improving the standard of its diverse office and domestic furniture range for customers across Nigeria.

At the furniture and interior design exhibition held at Balmoral Event Centre inside the popular Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island Lagos last weekend, the State Governor, His Excellency, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by his Special Adviser on Sustainable Development Goals, Mrs Solape Hammond, said: “…the expertise of this company has become legendary. The fact that the furniture designs are so creatively diverse and beautifully fit for purpose recommends Julius Berger-AFP for only substantively worthy, well-earned and most deserved commendation by every serious patrons of the furniture industry across Nigeria. Julius Berger-AFP has clearly positively impacted the furniture and interior design industry in Nigeria. I commend you.”

The Chief Executive Officer of NIREDOBA, a creative and aesthetics company, Mr Oluwaseun Aboderin in his remark at the Julius-Berger-AFP exhibition pavilion, said: “I have heard a lot about your organisation and now I have seen your clearly qualitatively matchless products and reliable after sales services first hand. As a critical watcher and stakeholder in the industry, and with your products and service quality that I see here today, this one thing I can and must say, the sky is the limit for Julius Berger-AFP. You are indeed Nigeria’s leading furniture production and most creative interior design company for the now and the future.”

In his remarks at a formal presentation mid-way into the event, AFP’s Sales Manager, Uche Uzoewulu, said the AFP provides “distinctive furnishings to accommodate unique specifications and taste…AFP’s collection of dining table sets, cabinets and sideboards come in a range of creative finishings and diverse styles that gives a customer a choice of marble, glass, wood or stone dining tables, and leather, wood or fabric chairs.”

Mr Uzoewulu added that the AFP derives its proud pedigree from the impeccably successful and highly acclaimed Julius Berger Nigeria Plc engineering standard and solution-oriented value chain. As an ambassador of the highly acclaimed Julius Berger brand, Uche said AFP continues to upgrade and upscale design and production standards progressively. Julius Berger-AFP, Uche promised, will only get qualitatively better to the satisfaction and happiness of every current and future customer. “We upgrade daily to better your experience when you use our products. AFP designs and produces premium quality furniture that balances function with aesthetics to create exotic spaces that invite and excite delightfully in many ways…. AFP designs consist of elegant pieces that radiate relaxation and tranquillity in the most personal and intimate way. The AFP’s bespoke furniture offerings represent a functional definition of a serene home experience, an oasis of personal style and innovation at its peak”, Uche further said.

The hundreds of VIP guests and customers who called at the Julius Berger-AFP’s pavilion included the representative of the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mrs Kunle Makinde, Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Housing Mrs Toke Benson Awoyinka, Head of Service, Lagos State, Mr Hakeem Muri Okunola and Senior Special Assistant to the state Governor on Administration, Mrs. Titi Oshodi.

Other dignitaries who visited the Julius Berger-AFP exhibition pavilion were the CEO of Lagos State Aids Control Agency, Dr. Monsurat Adeleke, Managing Director of Lagos State Waterways Authority, Mr Oluwadamilola Emmanuel and a former Finance Commissioner in the State, Mr Olawale Edun.

LAGOS STATE GOVERNMENT
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF PRESS SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNOR
PRESS RELEASE

SECURITY OF LAGOS MUST REMAIN THE MILITARY’S PRIORITY – SANWO-OLU

•Governor Hosts Chief of Army Staff, Top Military Personnel

Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has called on service personnel in Lagos military commands to be fully committed to their constitutional responsibilities of keeping the peace and strengthening security in the State.

The Governor pledged the State Government would not waive its mandate to provide logistics support to all security agencies for continuous operations across the State, but urged the personnel to justify the confidence with improvement in security.

Sanwo-Olu spoke on Monday when he received the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Farouk Yahaya, in a courtesy visit at the State House, Marina.

The Army chief is in Lagos for traditional assessment of the military formations and warfare assets in the State.

The Governor said it was important to prioritise safety in the State, given its economic importance and geographic location as one of the country’s international borders. He said the State Government had shared a commendable relationship with the Army and other security agencies in Lagos, promising to strengthen the synergy.

He said: “Lagos has uniquely not only the land borders, it is also an international route in and out of the country through the air and waterways. The relationship we have been enjoying between the State Government and the entire security agencies, especially the Nigerian army, has been commendable. I acknowledge the leadership role being played by the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division with other security agencies in raising the bar of security surveillance, training, information sharing and collaboration in operations.

“From this robust engagement, we have developed a mechanism in which every agency works in synergy with others to improve the State’s security architecture. We have continued to experience improved security, calmness and safety. But there is much that needs to be done and this requires total commitment of our personnel. We will continue to give support to the security agencies to ensure not only their safety and that of the residents, but also the safety of visitors coming to do business in Lagos.”

Sanwo-Olu commended the Army for the progress recorded in improving security across the country, especially in the Northeast where terrorists and armed bandits are being degraded under the sophisticated firepower of the military.

The Governor said the Army chief’s sterling pedigree informed the choice of the President to appoint him in the position, pointing out that Yahaya started well, given the successes recorded by the military in the last four months.

Sanwo-Olu urged the Army chief to build on the collaboration with Lagos Government in the area of intelligence sharing and rapid response to curb kidnapping, vandalism and other peculiar security challenges.

“In the last four months you took over the leadership of the Nigerian army, we have seen all the strategic efforts you’ve started to bring in. We know that, at some point in time, it would get to our turn in Lagos to further raise the morale of your men serving here,” the Governor said.

Yahaya said he was excited after learning about the robust collaboration existing between the Army and other security agencies operating in Lagos, thanking the Governor for the support towards operations of the Army in the State.

The service chief, who disclosed that part of his mission in Lagos was to boost the morale of his men, promised to improve on the collaboration.

He said: “We will do our best to ensure security is enhanced across Lagos and other parts of the country.”

Army top officers in the entourage of the COAS include GOC 81 Division, Maj. Gen. L.A. Fejokwu, Commander of Training and Doctrine, Maj. Gen. S.O. Olabanji, Chief of Logistics, Maj. Gen. O.A. Akintade, and Chief of Army Operations, Maj. Gen. O.T. Akinjobi.

Others are Chief of Military Intelligence, Brig. Gen. D.I. Salihu, Commander of 9th Brigade, Brig. Gen. M.L. Saraso, Provost Marshall, Maj. Gen. O.R. Aiyenigba and Chief of Staff to the COAS, Brig. Gen. A.M. Umar.

SIGNED
GBOYEGA AKOSILE
CHIEF PRESS SECRETARY
SEPTEMBER 20, 2021

LAGOS STATE GOVERNMENT
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF PRESS SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNOR
PRESS RELEASE

COVID-19: SANWO-OLU CHARGES WORLD LEADERS ON VACCINE EQUITY, SAYS LAGOS TARGETS 30 PERCENT VACCINATION RATE FIRST YEAR

•Fela’s Afrika Shrine Agog as Governor Hosts Global Citizen Live Concert

Free access to Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines is one of the strategies designed by the United Nations (UN) to kickstart global recovery, especially in cities that are signatories to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) framework. How is Lagos State, the most populous mega city in Africa, faring in its recovery plan?

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Saturday, gave detailed explanation on how the State Government had expanded access to vaccines since the vaccination programme began in March and the State’s projection to protect its residents and environment.

The Governor spoke at the 2021 Global Citizen Live Concert held at Fela’s Afrika Shrine in Ikeja. Audiences in 11 cities across the world, including Paris, Seoul, London, Sidney, New York and Los Angeles, witnessed the live event held in honour of frontline and essential workers in the battle against the global pandemic.

Global Citizen Live is a 24-hour global event initiated in six continents to unite the world in defending the planet against diseases and defeating poverty.

A-list Nigerian musical artistes that performed live during the international concert included Femi Kuti, Davido, Tiwa Savage and Made Kuti, among others.

As the epicentre of the pandemic outbreak, Sanwo-Olu said Lagos had pursued a radical vaccination programmes, which led to the administration of 16,000 jabs of vaccines daily. This, the Governor said, is a far cry from what was projected in achieving herd immunity.

Sanwo-Olu disclosed that 405,000 residents had received first doses of AstraZeneca, while 289,000 persons returned for their second doses. The State, he said, administered 230,000 first shots of Moderna to raise the vaccinated population to about 1.2 per cent within five months.

He said: “Our vaccination rate is far below the minimum target of 60 per cent recommended by the World Health Organisation (W.H.O) per city population. At the current rate, it would take about three years to achieve our herd immunity target. We cannot continue at this speed if we seriously want to beat this virus.

“To safely achieve herd immunity against COVID-19, a substantial proportion of our population would need to be vaccinated to lower the overall amount of virus able to spread in the whole population. One of the objectives of attaining herd immunity is to prevent mutations from emerging leading to more aggressive strains. It is important that Lagos achieves herd immunity at the same time with all countries together.”

Sanwo-Olu noted the situation of unequal distribution of vaccines in which richer nations secured more doses than the size of their populations and are preparing to roll out booster shots, while poorer countries struggled to administer first doses, threatening the global efforts to end the pandemic.

He said vaccine equity remained the only path to toe by world leaders to end the pandemic. To do this, the Governor said the world must ensure that vaccines were available to all, especially poorer countries that had struggled with supply.

On how Lagos is creating access and ramping up vaccination, Sanwo-Olu said the Government was leveraging the private sector funding, capacity and infrastructure to scale up availability and distribution.

He said: “Our proposal to the private sector is to reserve and administer 50 per cent of the vaccines procured in partnership with the private sector to be made available free of charge at Government health centres. We propose to deploy a proven system where those who can pay for vaccines subsidise the cost of vaccination for those who cannot.

“Given the fact that we expect COVID-19 vaccinations to be annual going forward, this is the only sustainable path towards achieving herd immunity and making Lagos free of the virus. With our approach, we expect to vaccinate 30 per cent of the population of Lagos within one year. This will put us on a better and more sustainable path towards herd immunity. We expect COVID-19 vaccinations to be an annual programme, going forward, as this is the only way to making Lagos free of the virus.”

The Governor urged Nigerians to continue to be law-abiding and comply with the travel guidelines stipulated by the Presidential Steering Committee to prevent the importation of new variants. He reiterated that observation of social distancing and personal hygiene would break the cycle of community transmission of the virus.

SIGNED
CHIEF PRESS SECRETARY
GBOYEGA AKOSILE
SEPTEMBER 19, 2021

PRESIDENT BUHARI DIRECTS INCORPORATION OF NNPC LTD, APPOINTS BOARD
President Muhammadu Buhari, in his capacity as Minister of Petroleum Resources, has directed the incorporation of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited.
This is in consonance with Section 53(1) of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021, which requires the Minister of Petroleum Resources to cause for the incorporation of the NNPC Limited within six months of commencement of the Act in consultation with the Minister of Finance on the nominal shares of the Company.
The Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Mr Mele Kolo Kyari, has, therefore, been directed to take necessary steps to ensure that the incorporation of the NNPC Limited is consistent with the provisions of the PIA 2021.
Also, by the power vested in him under Section 59(2) of the PIA 2021, President Buhari has approved the appointment of the Board and Management of the NNPC Limited, with effect from the date of incorporation of the Company.
Chairman of the Board is Senator Ifeanyi Ararume, while Mele Kolo Kyari and Umar I. Ajiya are Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Financial Officer, respectively.
Other Board Members are; Dr Tajudeen Umar (North East), Mrs Lami O. Ahmed (North Central), Mallam Mohammed Lawal (North West), Senator Margaret Chuba Okadigbo (South East), Barrister Constance Harry Marshal (South South), and Chief Pius Akinyelure (South West).
Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media and Publicity)
September 19, 2021