National News
FG, States, LGs Go Full Cashless March 1
FG, States, LGs Go Full Cashless March 1
Worried by the inflationary consequences of huge public sector cash withdrawals on the nation’s economy, the Nigerian Financial and Intelligence Unit (NFIU), yesterday, outlawed cash withdrawals from all government accounts effective March 1, 2023 warning that defaulters risk three-year jail term.
The NFIU, declared that such transactions would now be done electronically in line with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) monetary policy.
It said defaulters who fail to heed the cash restriction order on public accounts risks collaborative investigation by the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC).
Director and Chief Executive Officer, NFIU, Modibbo Tukur, who confirmed the latest development at a press briefing, at the Unit’s office in Abuja, said defaulters risk spending three years behind bars.
He said “The NFIU had told banks and government agencies at all levels to go fully digital by moving online, as all transactions involving public money must be routed through the banks for the purpose of accountability and transparency.
“This is not reversible as we are only enforcing the law. As far as we are concerned, Nigeria will become a full non-cash economy by March 1, 2023 this year.
As a consequence, any government official that withdraws even one naira cash from any public account from March 1 will be investigated and prosecuted in collaboration with relevant agencies like EFCC, ICPC and the NPF,” he said.
Tukur clarified that under the guidelines, only the President can give a waiver for any cash above the approved daily threshold to be withdrawn for urgent or emergency reasons.
He said despite the introduction of the cash withdrawal limits in the country, state governments withdraw a total of N701 billion cash above the N225 billion withdrawn by the Federal Government and N156 billion withdrawn by the local governments in the country, bringing total public sector cash withdrawals between 2015 to date to N1.082trillion.
“With some states withdrawing up to N24 billion and then we also discovered that the Federal Government withdrew in cash up to N225 billion while the local governments withdrew up to N156 billion.
“So if we are to apply the law here, all the public servants involved in this withdraws are entitled to three years imprisonment. That’s what the law said,” he said.
The NFIU therefore directed federal, state and local governments in the country to put necessary measures in place to ensure the smooth operationalisation of the new policy.
He advised the different tiers of government in particular, to deploy technology and train their staff to be able to apply the new policy from the stipulated date.
Modibbo said: “With the implementation of this guideline, Nigeria has been taken into a non-cash economy with effect from March 1, 2023.”
Continuing, he said: “The rate of withdrawals above the threshold from public accounts has been alarming, over N701 billion has been withdrawn in cash from 2015 till date. So you are all aware of the inflation in the economy, public servants traveling ,this and that, so the mark of withdrawing above the threshold is becoming very frequent.
“For government exigencies, only the President has the power to grant any waiver to any government official considering the importance of the situation; either for national security, health, or other important reasons.”
“From the first of March 2023. If there is any cash withdrawal, it is going to trigger off money laundering investigation in either EFCC ICPC, the Nigerian police, or all the law enforcement agencies, depending on the relevance of the withdrawal.
“So it’s also understood, the cash in the system is limited. But with this guideline, we expect that cash withdrawal from the system will go down by about N1 trillion Naira out of the N3 trillion cash that is in circulation on a weekly basis now.”
In his reaction, Frank Onyebu, Chairman, MAN, Apapa Branch, said: “This measure is laudable, but I think it’s still a tall order based on so many militating factors, chief of which is infrastructural deficiency. We cannot be talking about going totally cashless when we still have problems with internet penetration.
Chairman, SMEs Group of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Daniel Dickson-Okezie said it was a welcome development.
“The more cashless we go, whether at governmental , organisational or individual levels, the better for the economy and society.
The issue of cashless economy was mooted for the first time during the Olusegun Obasanjo administration. The policy is acceptable because it will check crime , money laundering, corruption in government, private and public sectors.
Businesses don’t thrive in a corrupt society, investors don’t want to invest in a corrupt environment and corruption affects government too. So cashless economy will tame corruption,” he said.
He however tasked the government to follow it up by improving information technology infrastructure saying “The whole thing is based on ICT and it is important that we are able to make payments seamlessly.”
An economist, Dr Nathan Owhor, lauded the directive by NFIU on MDAs to ensure that all receipts and payments on government transactions from March 2023 are cashless is good for the economy.
“The leakage in the MDAs are huge and not good enough for the economy. The Chief Executives in the MDAs must learn how to be accountable and show greater financial discipline.
Some of them who claim to have strong godfathers are actually reckless with government finances and they enjoy protection. This protection is usually sustained by huge cash rewards which is a drain on the economy.
“The new cashless policy for the MDAs will therefore achieve four broad objectives amongst others. In the first instance, which is perhaps key is the ability to track government receipts and payments.
Secondly, it has the capacity to reduce the high level of waste and mismanagement in the MDAs. It will also build trust in the domestic economy because of the level of transparency it will engender.
All of these possibilities in the final analysis will make more funds available for development projects,” he said.
FG, States, LGs Go Full Cashless March 1
National News
2027: VP Shettima’s Aide lauds North East Youths, others for endorsing Tinubu/Shettima for second term
2027: VP Shettima’s Aide lauds North East Youths, others for endorsing Tinubu/Shettima for second term
By Inusa Salihu
The Personal Assistant Domestic (Northeast), office of the Vice -President Kashim Shettima, Comrade Mahmud Muhammad, has expressed gratitude to the teaming youths, mostly members of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC in the North East who endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his Vice, Kashim Shettima to run for the second term on the same ticket come 2027 general elections.
He also applauded Governor Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno State who is the Chairman North East Governors’ Forum, his counterparts from Yobe and Gombe state, Alhaji Inuwa Yahaya and Mai Mala Buni, as well as other party stalwarts and thousands of supporters who also threw their weight behind Tinubu/Shettima -led administration.
The endorsement were made on Sunday in Gombe state during the North East APC Consultative Meeting.
Meanwhile, there was a chaos witnessed at the meeting after Comrade Mustapha Salihu, National Vice Chairman of the ruling APC in the North-East, failed to mention the name of Vice-President Kashim Shettima while endorsing President Bola Tinubu for a second term.
But briefing Journalists shortly after the meeting, Comrade Mahmud said, “the unanimous decision taken by all stakeholders to ensure Tinubu/Shettima fly another same ticket come 2027, would ensure continuity of good governance with inclusivity, progress and development of Nigeria at all levels.
“As you can see the large turn out of people, all the entire Youths, the three Governors, Women groups and stakeholders have unanimously gave their support come 2027.
“Let me use this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude to all and sundry for not just coming out enmasse to witness this meeting, but to also join millions of Nigerians who are clamouring for Tinubu/Shettima ticket for second term.
“I want to assure the APC family and all other Nigerians from other political parties to continue give their maximum support and cooperation to the present administration which is poised to put smile on the faces of the downtrodden”. He said.
According to Mahmud, President Bola Tinubu and Kashim Shettima have in their short term of leadership, transformed Nigeria with their renewed hope agenda, adding that, the education, health, agriculture, women/youths empowerment and other sectors have witnessed positive boost.
He specifically thanked Governor Zulum for his continued support to the present administration led by President Tinubu and his Vice, Kashim Shettima.
Mahmud then call on Nigerians to continue pray for peace, as there is no development without peace.
Earlier in his speech at the occasion, Chairman of the North East Governors’ Forum and Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum noted that, in the last two years the Tinubu-Shettima led government has done a lot in areas of health, education, youth and women empowerment, revenue generation and has better lives of citizens.
He called upon all and sundry to rally behind a ticket that promises unity, progress and hope for the country.
Likewise, the Deputy National Chairman of the APC (North) Hon. Ali Bukar Dalori from Borno state also endorsed Tinubu/Shettima ticket while delivering his remarks.
But in another development, chaos were witnessed at the meeting after Comrade Mustapha Salihu, National Vice Chairman of the ruling in the North-East, failed to mention the name of Vice-President Kashim Shettima while endorsing President Bola Tinubu for a second term.
Also, the National Chairman of the Party, Umar Ganduje did not mention the name of Kashim Shettima, as he only endorsed Tinubu, a situation that led to the meeting ended abruptly.
2027: VP Shettima’s Aide lauds North East Youths, others for endorsing Tinubu/Shettima for second term
National News
Terrorism: ONSA-NCTC, PAVE Network Move to Strengthen Local Ownership, Capacity for PCVE in Nigeria
Terrorism: ONSA-NCTC, PAVE Network Move to Strengthen Local Ownership, Capacity for PCVE in Nigeria
By: Michael Mike
In a bid to deepen the domestication and implementation of the Policy Framework and National Action Plan for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PF-NAP) across Nigeria, the PCVE Knowledge, Innovation and Resource Hub (KIRH) is hosting a Training of Trainers (ToT) in Kano and Sokoto States.
Mr. Ade Atambi of PAVE Network in a statement on Sunday, said the the four-day training programme, scheduled to take place from June 16 to June 21, 2025, aims to empower stakeholders with the tools, frameworks, and strategic capacities required for sustained, community-based, and evidence-driven PCVE programming.
According to the statement participants include officials from relevant state ministries, departments, and agencies, local government administrators, state house of assembly members, security agencies, community and traditional leaders, civil society organizations, and state PAVE network representatives.
The statement, read in part: “The simultaneous training in Kano and Sokoto States is part of ongoing efforts to promote peace and community resilience in the North West region. The PCVE KIRH, an initiative of the PAVE Network, is working in collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser – National Counter Terrorism Centre (ONSA-NCTC) and other strategic partners, with support from ActionAid Nigeria and funding from the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF).
“The training programme will feature interactive technical sessions, panel discussions, and practical planning exercises, led by seasoned facilitators and subject matter experts. The event is expected to provide a platform for multi-stakeholder collaboration, cross-state learning, and mobilization for sustainable peace and community resilience.”
Atambi also urged media professionals to attend and cover the opening sessions and select panel discussions by obtaining appropriate accreditation.
He said the PCVE KIRH is committed to serving as a national knowledge and learning hub, facilitating critical reflection, technical support, and policy innovation, and promoting the domestication of the PF-NAP at state and local government levels.
Terrorism: ONSA-NCTC, PAVE Network Move to Strengthen Local Ownership, Capacity for PCVE in Nigeria
ABU Wins Inaugural ECOWAS Moot Court Competition
By: Michael Mike
Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaira has emerged the winner of the inaugural Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Moot Court Competition.
The competition which had competing for the top prize of N5 million, eight universities, had as first runners up University of Jos carting home N3 million.
Organized by the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice, the competition which came to an end at the weekend, also had law undergraduates from American University, Yola; University of Nigeria, Nsukka; Igbinedion University, Okada; Lagos State University, Ojo; Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, and University of Uyo, Uyo.
The Moot Court Competition, marking a significant step toward deepening youth
engagement in regional integration and justice, was held under the theme “Promoting Regional Integration and Human Rights through Judicial Processes in West Africa,”
In his closing remarks, the Honourable President of the Court, Justice Ricardo Claúdio Monteiro Goncalves, described the event as a “historic milestone” for the ECOWAS Court and a “beacon of hope” for the next generation of legal professionals in West Africa. Applauding the eloquence, analytical acumen, and professionalism displayed by the participants.
He congratulated all the universities represented, declaring that “every team is a winner” for its invaluable contributions.
Justice Goncalves also announced that, following the overwhelming success of the
maiden edition, the Moot Court Competition will become an annual flagship
programme of the Court, with plans to expand participation to universities across all ECOWAS Member States.
“By creating platforms such as this, the Court not only demystifies its work but also plants the seeds of a more robust legal culture—one that upholds justice, human rights, regional cooperation, and the rule of law,” he stated.
Delivering the vote of thanks, the Honourable Vice-President of the Court, Justice Sengu Mohamed Koroma, lauded the competition as a powerful blend of vision and execution. He commended the students for their dedication and decorum and acknowledged the essential roles played by judges, academic mentors, ECOWAS institutions, and development partners.
“Whether or not you won today,” he told the
participants, “you have all emerged as ambassadors of law and justice in the ECOWAS region.”
ABU Wins Inaugural ECOWAS Moot Court Competition
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