National News
ActionAid says Nigeria’s economy could face major fiscal crisis
ActionAid says Nigeria’s economy could face major fiscal crisis
ActionAid has raised an alarm that Nigeria’s economy could face a major fiscal crisis with increasing financing of the fiscal deficit with borrowings.
A press statement issued by the non-governmental organisation on Tuesday after a virtual meeting to review the State of the Nation by its General Assembly Members lamented that the public fiscal deficit, financed mostly by domestic and foreign borrowings, widened with high debt service payments, estimated at more than half of federally collected revenues, pose a major fiscal risk to Nigeria’s economy.
Other observations coming from the meeting are that Nigeria is currently faced with an unprecedented wave of different but overlapping security crises – from kidnapping to extremist insurgencies, lamenting that almost every corner of the country has been hit by violence and crime with the growing insecurity being closely linked to the high rate of poverty in the country.
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Attendees of the meeting also described as unhealthy the ongoing strike of medical doctors across the country being the fourth time since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, with some of them complaining they are owed salaries for several months. They lamented that many Nigerian media outlets are reporting that patients – some with COVID-19 symptoms – are being turned away at short-staffed hospitals.
They however said the ongoing Review of the 1999 Constitution offers the opportunity for Nigerians to shape the constitution with the goal that it reflects the desires and aspirations of the citizens, stressing that some of the provisions to be considered vital for the uplifting of the status of citizens include Socio-Economic and Cultural Rights as contained in Chapter 2 of The constitution, issues of Gender Equality and a thorough reform of the Nigeria Police.
They observed that the Twitter ban by the Federal Government has had severe economic costs, stating that it is a step backwards for civic engagements and threatens the civic space which has continued to shrink in recent years.
They however recommended that the rising public debt, unemployment, inflation, and high cost of living require the immediate embracing of fiscal federalism in absolute terms, noting that this will enable the country to break the vicious cycle of poverty, eliminate the wholesale dependence on oil which makes Nigeria a monolithic economy.
They also advised that the cracking of the nation’s current security challenges requires increasing the manpower and welfare of all security agencies and equipping them with modern combat equipment, skills, and training, urging the government renew its partnership with neighboring countries to enhance intelligence exchange and information sharing that would help in quelling the insurgency and other sundry crimes, while calling for the state-of-the-art combat Tucano and Alpha jets newly acquired to be deployed immediately to help in further neutralizing the criminal elements with precision and bring the protracted insurgency to an end.
They urged the federal and state governments to explore different models to improve the work environment for medical practitioners, adding that health insurance must be made mandatory with sound mechanisms to prevent corruption for universal health care coverage.
On the constitution review, they asked that the non-justiciability of the provisions of chapter 2 of the 1999 constitution should be reviewed and amended by removing the non-justiciable character and make them enforceable in line with international treaties which have been domesticated in Nigeria.
ActionAid says Nigeria’s economy could face major fiscal crisis
German Ambs, UNDP Country Rep unveil Zulum’s mass housing units, ICT centre
By: Our Reporter
The Ambassador of Germany to Nigeria, Annet Gunther, and the resident representative of the United Nations Development Programme to Nigeria, Elsie Attafuah, unveiled two projects executed by the administration of Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, in Monguno town.
While the German Ambassador unveiled resettlement houses for internally displaced persons (IDPs), Nigeria’s UNDP Country Representative conducted the commissioning of a 100-person capacity ICT centre to facilitate digital education.
The housing estate consists of 1,000 two-bedroom semi-detached low-cost houses and another 900 semi-permanent shelters with basic amenities such as a health centre and a borehole for water provision.
About 1,874 IDP families from 14 communities benefited from the housing project. Each of them received food and non-food items, N50,000 cash for the household heads and another N20,000 for each housewife.
In her goodwill message, Madam Annet Gunther commended Governor Zulum for the laudable projects that helped people affected by insurgency pick up the pieces of their lives.
She said: “This housing project is also a great example of collaboration between the government of Borno State and international partners. Funding for the housing units comes from both the state government and international partners.”
Elsie Attafuah corroborated Gunther’s commendation of Zulum’s administration, noting that the housing project aligns with UNDP’s regional stabilisation effort which is working towards peace restoration in communities in Lake Chad area.
Governor Zulum, in his address, explained that while the German Government funded the construction of 500 permanent and another 900 semi-permanent shelters, Borno State Government constructed the remaining 500 houses and provided amenities such as a health centre and potable water among others.
“A Letter of Agreement (LOA) was signed between Borno State Government and UNDP in 2020 under the RS German initiative to start the construction of 500 housing units. In August 2023, another LOA was signed under RSF German reintegration funds aimed at completing the 500 permanent housing units, providing an additional 900 semi-permanent shelters, and installing 375 solar streetlights,” the governor said.
He added that in addition to these efforts, Borno State Government had also constructed 500 permanent housing units and provided toilets for the temporary shelters, bringing the total number of houses constructed to 1,900.
According to Zulum, these accommodations will play a crucial role in the voluntary decongestion and eventual closure of some IDP camps in Monguno, ensuring a smoother transition for resettling families.
The governor expressed gratitude to the Governments of Germany, the United Kingdom, Sweden, the Netherlands, Egypt and the European Union, among other donors for supporting Borno State.
“We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Government of Germany for their generous contribution and to UNDP for their unwavering partnership.
“Additionally, we thank all other donors and contributors to the RSF, UN OFFER, and other funding initiatives dedicated to promoting peace, stability, reintegration and development in Borno State,” Zulum stated.
Dignitaries, including the Egyptian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mohammed Foud, Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno, the Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator, Esty Sotyoko, the head of UNDP office, Maiduguri, Mathew Alao, community leaders and citizens, gathered to witness the commissioning ceremony.
German Ambs, UNDP Country Rep unveil Zulum’s mass housing units, ICT centre
Budget Defence: NHRC Promises to Tackle Emerging Human Rights Challenges
By: Michael
Mike
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has presented its 2024 budget performance and defended its proposed 2025 budget before the Joint Committees on Human Rights of the Senate and House of Representatives.
The budget presentation which held at the National Assembly Complex, highlighted the Commission’s efforts to address pressing human rights issues amidst growing economic challenges and human rights concerns in the country
Speaking during the session Chaired and Co-Chaired by Senator Adegbomire Adeniyi, Chairman Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters and Hon Peter Makinde, Chair House of Representative Committee on Human Rights, the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Dr. Tony Ojukwu, provided a comprehensive breakdown of the Commission’s ₦5 billion allocation for 2024.
Ojukwu, who stated that the budget achieved an unprecedented 99.9% implementation rate, including the construction and completion of eight state offices across the country, emphasized that this achievement was remarkable given the Commission’s limited resources.
The Executive Secretary justified what the proposed N8 billion appraisal for the Commission for 2025 fiscal year, which represents an increase from the previous year, would be used on.
He said the proposed budget aims to address emerging human rights challenges such as terrorism, communal conflicts, insurgency, natural disasters like floods, and the rising cost of operations due to inflation and an increased payroll.
Ojukwu said: “The proposed budget will strengthen the Commission’s capacity to address pressing human rights issues in Nigeria.”
He revealed that “the proposal includes funding for the establishment of more human rights offices across the country to improve access to the services of the Commission, especially in states where our services are not felt,” insisting that these efforts are essential for enhancing the Commission’s independence and effectiveness.
“This proposed budget reflects our determination to create a more inclusive and just society,” Ojukwu said, adding that: “It will enable us to expand our reach, respond swiftly to human rights violations, and engage effectively with communities to promote awareness and accountability.”
He however appealed to lawmakers to consider increasing the proposed budget from ₦8 billion to ₦19.55 billion, explaining that the growing volume of complaints, which stood at over 2 million annually and the cost of investigating each case is straining the Commission’s resources.
He said: “For instance, investigating a single case costs approximately ₦8,000. To investigate 2 million cases effectively, the Commission would require ₦16 billion. The current allocation of ₦8 billion is grossly inadequate to meet this demand.”
Members of the Joint Committees commended the NHRC for its strategic focus and commitment to its mandate. While some lawmakers sought clarifications on specific aspects of the proposal, which the Executive Secretary addressed, some consequently raised their concerns.
If approved, the proposed allocation would represent a critical step towards addressing persistent human rights challenges in Nigeria, including gender-based violence, child rights violations, and police brutality, public inquiries on various investigative panels, etc.
The National Assembly is expected to conclude deliberations on the budget proposal in the coming weeks.
Budget Defence: NHRC Promises to Tackle Emerging Human Rights Challenges
VP Shettima Decorates Newly Promoted Police Officers in His Office
By: Our Reporter
Vice President Kashim Shettima on Friday decorated five police officers from his security detail with their new ranks following their recent promotion by the Police Service Commission.
The officers promoted included Idowu Olatunji who moved to Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) from Superintendent of Police. Adamu Barma was elevated to Superintendent of Police (SP), while three officers – Rufai Mohammed Bello, Usman Abubakar, and Yanas Zidon – were all promoted to Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP).
At a brief decoration event at the Presidential Villa, Vice President Shettima praised the officers’ dedication to duty while reminding them of the increased responsibilities that come with their new positions, just as he assured them of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to the development and welfare of all security agencies.
He said, “Today’s event is a recognition of your dedication and hard work but with promotion comes greater responsibility as the President is proud of the work and sacrifice you make for all Nigerians.”
The Vice President emphasised the importance of maintaining professional standards, urging the officers to remain above reproach and stay committed to the core values of the Nigeria Police Force.
He also expressed gratitude to the Police Service Commission for their swift approval of the promotions.
VP Shettima Decorates Newly Promoted Police Officers in His Office
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