FIRS Proscribes Staff Union

The Board of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has  announced the dissolution of the Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU), FIRS Unit.
Mr Abdullahi Ahmad, the FIRS Director, Communications and Liaison Department,who disclosed this known in a statement in Abuja, explained that the union whose excecutives were purportedly made up of senior staff of FIRS, was dissolved in an official announcement circulated to all staff.
“In line with Gazette No. 6 Vol 65 dated February 8, 1978 and National Industrial Court Judgement dated June 27, 1995, it is noted that the operations of Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU) FIRS Unit as it is constituted today in FIRS is considered illegal.
“There are no longer any junior staff cadre employees in the service.  There is accordingly no legal or other basis whatsoever for the continued existence of a junior staff cadre union in FIRS as the cadre of staff it is deemed to cover do not exist within the organisation.A letter from Federal Ministry of Labour to the Head of Service of the Federation dated 19th February, 2015 confirmed the above position in categorical terms.
The statement further clarified that the right of workers to decide which union to belong is not absolute but must be exercised within the limits of Trade Unions Act CAP T14 LFN 2004.
“The statement said the position was confirmed in the Judgment of the National Industrial Court – NCSU vs ASCSN (2004) 1NLLR Part 3, 427.
“In the light of all the above, The FIRS Board at its Meeting No. 30 held on the 24th June, 2021 therefore directed that, in view of items 1 & 2 above, the activities of NCSU FIRS Unit in the Service are henceforth considered illegal.And the Union (NCSU FIRS Unit) is hereby proscribed with immediate effect” he explained.
The spokesperson said the management also assured staff that it was unreservedly willing to work and cooperate with the only legitimate representatives of staff.
He  urged the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria to redouble its effort in executing the FIRS mandate of assessing, collecting and accounting for tax revenue for all levels of government as contained in the FIRS Establishment Act (2007).
Monarchs Blame Makinde For Insecurity In Oyo

The Ibadan Traditional Council has  blamed  of the worsening  insecurity in Oyo state on Governor Seyi Makinde’s leadership  style.
The monarchs gave the advice at its meeting held at the palace of the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji, where they also advised the governor  to change  his strategies.
They noted that a one-man management can not work in securing the state.
According to them, several attempts to meet the governor and explain why his style was failing the state were unsuccessful.
The members explained that they were excluded in the security architecture of the state, despite being closer to the people in all the communities.
The Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, Sen. Lekan Balogun, appealed to the governor to change his approach, stressing that excluding the traditional institution has not been helpful to good maintainance of security in Ibadan.
“We have nothing against the governor, we supported his emergence and want him to succeed, which is why we are calling his attention to what we perceive as a lacuna.
“The issue of security needs multi-dimensional approach and there’s no way government alone can solve or handle it. As the closest institution to the people, we have crucial roles to play to ensure that the menace of insecurity is tackled and the more reason why there must be collaboration between us and the government to avoid working at cross-purposes.”
Navy  Stops  162 Bags Of Suspected Smuggled Rice In Lagos Offshore

Navy intercept boat with 162 bags of smuggled rice – FRCN
The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT on routine patrol  has intercepted a wooden boat with 162 bags of foreign parboiled rice off the shore of Lagos.
This is conveyed in a statement signed by the Commander, Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT, Commodore Bashir Mohammed on Sunday in Lagos.
He said the patrol team intercepted the boat at 3:30pm on June 8.
“Preliminary investigations by the Base reveals that the bags of rice were all foreign parboiled rice smuggled into the country from Republic of Benin.
“In line with the Nigerian Navy Standard Operating Procedures, NNS BEECROFT on Friday, July 9 handed over the Cotonou boat and 162 bags of rice to the Nigeria Customs Service,” the Commodore said.
He  warned smugglers to steer clear off Lagos maritime environment.
He stated  that the base would be relentless to bring an end to smuggling within its area of operations in line with the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo’s strategic directive for 2021 to 2025.
He added that:“As partners for a safe maritime environment, members of the public, especially our host communities, are enjoined to kindly furnish the base with credible information to assist in curbing activities of criminal elements and economic saboteurs”
Group Urges  NOSDRA To Probe Fresh Oil Spill In Bayelsa Community

Group urges NOSDRA to probe fresh oil spill in Bayelsa community - Punch  Newspapers
The Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) has urged  the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) notifying the agency that a fresh oil spill has devastated the environment of Yiba-ama (Oruma) community in the Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
The group,in a letter dated July 15, 2021,  said its field monitors who visited the impacted sites accompanied by some community leaders traced the spill incident to Odua in the neighbouring Abua/Odual Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The organization urged the agency to probe the incident and compel the owners of the facility spilling crude oil to stop it from spreading and remediate the polluted environment.
The letter read in part: “On Tuesday, 13 July, 2021, ERA/FoEN field monitors visited Oruma community and were led to the impacted sites of the spill incident where investigation indicated that the crude oil was spreading from neighbouring Odua community. Odua is a boundary community in Abua/Odual Local Government Area of Rivers State.
“On the strength of the above, ERA/FoEN formally notifies and calls on NOSDRA, Bayelsa State, to urgently conduct an independent investigation on the spill and its source, and compel the spilling facility owners to immediately stop the spill and clean-up the impacted environment.
“May we equally alert NOSDRA that this notice serves as information from the community on this subject matter and in accordance with the NOSDRA Act, penalties will begin to count for the spilling facility owners from the date of receipt of this information.”
Withdraw Order On Reporting Terrorist Attack,SERAP Tells Buhari

The  Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has given  24-hours ultimatum to President Muhammadu Buhari, urging him to use his leadership position to urgently instruct Mr Lai Mohammed , Minister of Information and Culture, and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to withdraw the directive containing a sweeping gag order banning journalists and broadcast stations from reporting details of terrorist attacks and victims across the country.
The NBC had in a letter dated 7 July, 2021 issued a directive asking journalists, television and radio stations in Nigeria to stop “glamourising and giving too many details on the nefarious activities of terrorists and kidnappers” during their daily newspaper reviews.
SERAP in a letter dated 17 July, 2021 and signed by its deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare said the  contents of the directive by the NBC to journalists and broadcast stations are entirely inconsistent and incompatible with Nigeria’s obligations under article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and article 19 of the International covenant on civil and political rights.”
SERAP said: “We would be grateful if the repressive directive is withdrawn within 24 hours of the receipt of the letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions in the public interest.”
The organization expressed “grave concern that the contents of the NBC directive would impermissibly restrict the rights to freedom of expression, information, and victims’ right to justice and effective remedies that are central to public debate and accountability in a democratic society.”
SERAP said: “Reporting on the growing violence and killings in many parts of the country is a matter of public interest. The NBC directive to journalists and broadcast stations to stop reporting these cases, coupled with the possibility of fines and other punishment, would have a disproportionate chilling effect on the work of those seeking to hold the government accountable to the public.”
The letter, read in part: “The broad definitions of what may constitute ‘too many details’, ‘glamourising’, ‘divisive rhetoric’, and ‘security issues’ heighten concerns of overreach, confer far-reaching discretion on the government, and suggest that the NBC directive is more intrusive than necessary.”
“These words and phrases do not indicate precisely what kind of individual conduct would fall within their ambit.”
“The vague and overbroad definitions of ‘too many details’, ‘glamourising’, ‘divisive rhetoric’, and ‘security issues’ also raise concern that the NBC directive unduly interferes with the rights to freedom of expression and information, and is disproportionate to any purported legitimate governmental aim. Ill-defined and/or overly broad directives are open to arbitrary application and abuse.”
“The use of these words and phrases by the NBC, given their opaque and ambiguous meaning, leaves open the possibility for application beyond unequivocal incitement to hatred, hostility or violence. Such words and phrases may function to interpret legitimate reporting by broadcast stations, journalists, and other Nigerians as unlawful.”
“Exacerbating these concerns are growing restriction of civic space, the suspension of Twitter in Nigeria, and the attempts by your government to push for the amendment of the Nigeria Press Council Act and the National Broadcasting Commission Act, to further suppress media freedom, freedom of expression and access to information.”
“Allowing the media to freely carry out their duties is essential to building a secure society and leaving no one behind. Conversely, imposing impermissible restrictions on broadcast stations, journalists and other Nigerians undermines the security that builds a healthy and vibrant society.”
“Article 19(1) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights establishes the right to freedom of opinion without interference. Article 19(2) establishes Nigeria’s obligations to respect and ensure this right, which includes the freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, and through any media of one’s choice.”
“Under article 19(3), restrictions on the right to freedom of expression must be ‘provided by law’, and necessary ‘for respect of the rights or reputations of others’ or ‘for the protection of national security or of public order, or of public health and morals’.”
“Although article 19(3) recognizes ‘national security’ as a legitimate aim, the Human Rights Council, the body charged with monitoring implementation of the Covenant, has stressed ‘the need to ensure that invocation of national security is not used unjustifiably or arbitrarily to restrict the right to freedom of opinion and expression.’”
“Since article 19(2) promotes so clearly a right to information of all kinds, this indicates that your government bears the burden of justifying any restriction on reporting of cases of violence and killings, and withholding of such information as an exception to that right.”
“Any restrictions should be applied strictly so that they do not put in jeopardy the right itself. The NBC directive to broadcast stations fails to meet the requirements of legality, necessity and proportionality.”
“The requirement of necessity also implies an assessment of the proportionality of restrictions such as those being imposed by the NBC, with the aim of ensuring that restrictions target a specific objective and do not unduly intrude upon the rights of targeted persons.”
“The interference with the constitutional and legal duties of journalists and broadcast stations cannot be justified in the context of the right to information, as the NBC directive has not shown that their reporting would impose a specific risk of harm to a legitimate State interest that outweighs the public’s interest in such information.”
“The NBC directive may also create an environment that unduly deters and penalizes broadcast stations and journalists, and the reporting of government wrongdoing more generally.”
“The Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom expression has concluded that national security considerations should be ‘limited in application to situations in which the interest of the whole nation is at stake, which would thereby exclude restrictions in the sole interest of a government, regime, or power group.’”
“SERAP notes the collective interdependency of the compendium of constitutional and international human rights, which function to collectively complement and enhance the advancement of the security and rights of each individual in society.”
“We hope that the aspects highlighted will help guide your actions in acting to ensure that Nigerian journalists and media can freely carry out their constitutional duties as contained in Section 22 of the Nigerian Constitution.”
“While your government has the obligation to maintain national security, this obligation is not set apart from the obligation to protect and ensure human rights. National security is a necessary and integral part of the right to security guaranteed to each person individually.”
Stop Promoting Unverified Medicinal Cure For COVID-19,NAFDAC Warns Herbal Practitioners 

The  Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof.Mojisola Christianah ,has advised Nigerian ivory tower researchers and other herbal medicine practitioners to refrain from promoting untested unverified medicinal products as suitable for the cure of COVID  19, without the agency’s approval.
She  warned that such an act is a violation of the national regulatory authority’s regulations and protocols.
She maintained  that no single drug has been found yet to cure COVID -19, noting that medicinal products available now can only help ease symptoms and up the odds of survival.
She  warned Nigerians against excessive consumption of onions and garlic with a view to curing COVID–19.
She said:‘’People might have been using it and they get better. But if it is not documented, it cannot be recognized by NAFDAC for COVID– 19. They work on our cells to keep people healthier. But not to cure COVID – 19. They help our body to function better. There is no cure for COVID -19 yet’’.
She added that they may boost the immunity and the person may not be easily susceptible to infection, adding ‘’even with that you still have to protect yourself. If you eat Garlic and Onion and you don’t use mask you will get COVID -19. if you are in a very bad environment; If you dont watch your hands, you will get COVID -19. So, everything has to be put together’’.
University of Jos said that there was a herbal medicine, whether its tea or whatever, that can cure COVID  19. They linked it with treatment of COVID -19. They did the packaging, she said.
She added:  We did a letter to warn them that they cannot claim something unless it has gone through our listing process. They were trying to sell it to their staff. That is violation of our own regulatory policies. Nobody should say that this one can cure this or that without going through NAFDAC listing process.
According to her, the research into herbal medicine by the academia is normal. She however, quickly added that It is now for the academia to also recognize the national regulatory authority established to safeguard the safety of the Nigerian populace by ensuring that the product that they are working on has to go through NAFDAC if they want to make it available for human consumption.
Infractions:Group Urges Buhari To Decline Assent To  PIB

PIB: South-South group urges Buhari to withhold assent, rejects 3%  allocation - WuzupNigeria
The Mangrove People Leadership Initiative (MAPLI) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to decline his assent to the controversial Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) passed by the National Assembly.
The group also rejected the three per cent allocated for host communities and the 30 per cent proposed for oil exploration activities in the frontier basins contained in the harmonised PIB.
MAPLI made its position known in a communique read to journalists after its two-day second South-South grassroots conference in Yenagoa,  the Bayelsa State capital, on Friday, with the theme “South-South and The Politics of Petroleum Industry Bill.”
The national secretary of MAPLI, Mfawa Ofegobi,who read the communique, said the region would not accept anything less than 10 per cent for the oil-bearing communities.
He argued that the entire processes leading to the passage did not take into account the plight of oil-bearing communities whose people had suffered large-scale environmental pollution and epidemics resulting from oil exploration by international oil firms.
Ofegobi said, “We appeal to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari to decline his assent to the PIB as passed (by the National Assembly).
“MAPLI rejects the 30 per cent allocated for oil and gas exploration in the frontier basins in the North while the oil-producing region is bedevilled by oil spillages and illnesses.
“We also reject the three per cent allocated to Host Communities Trust Fund. We insist that the PIB should be specific on the definition of host communities. What constitutes host communities? Is it where oil is found, where there are pipelines, refineries or depots?”
The organization warned that the South-South people would be forced to confirm their fear that they were no stakeholders in “the contraption called Nigeria” and seek an alternative if their concerns were not addressed adequately.
MAPLI also commended the governors of the region for their resolve to lawfully ban open grazing of cows by the end of September 2021, urging them to however establish the BRACED Security Outfit to secure lives and property in the area.
Fidelity Bank, LIB TV Boost  Women Empowerment

Toast to Women in Leadership: Linda Ikeji pays courtesy visit to Fidelity  MD - Naija Times
Fidelity Bank and LIB TV have emphasized the need  for women in leadership to explore business opportunities and assist in women empowerment.
They disclosed  this when the Chief Executive Officer, Fidelity Bank, Mrs Onyeali-Ikpe, accompanied by top female management staff in Lagos, received the Chief Executive Officer, LIB TV, Linda Ikeji, who paid a courtesy visit to the bank.
The bank said in a statement that the purpose of the visit was also to strengthen existing business relationship between Fidelity Bank and LIB TV.
It said the meeting also provided an opportunity to discuss the creation of a long-term platform that would educate, support, and empower women to achieve career/business leadership.
Ikeji expressed her confidence in the bank’s  capacity to impact positively on the growth and development of women-owned businesses in Nigeria.
“Through strategic collaborations, we can set up a forum for young aspiring entrepreneurs to have a one-on-one interaction with successful career women in Fidelity Bank. This will provide them with the opportunity to ask questions and share their experiences,” she said.
She commended  the management’s effort at organising women empowerment programmes, saying more Nigerian women needed such platforms for motivation and there was no limit to what they could achieve.
Onyeali-Ikpe noted that female business owners and professionals must make it a point of duty to be consistent and tenacious to succeed in business.
Telecom Sector Loses $10.8bn To Capital Flight 

Telecom Sector Depletes Forex By $10.8bn In Five Years -
The Nigerian Communications Commission(NCC),says Nigeria lost $10.8bn in the last five years to capital flight in the telecommunications sector amid lingering foreign exchange scarcity in the country.
The agency disclosed this in its National Policy for the Promotion of Indigenous Content in the Nigerian Telecommunications Sector.
It  added  the annual outflow of forex for the sector amounted to about $2.16bn.
It said:“According to available statistics provided by the leadership of the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria, the annual outflow of foreign exchange for the telecommunications sector amounts to approximately $2.16bn.
“A breakdown of the forex spending is as follows: i. CAPEX programmes – $750m ii. Network software licensing – $250m iii. Management fees – $800m iv. Managed services (Tier 2 and 3 support) – $157m v. Miscellaneous (international circuits, roaming and terminations reconciliations etc.) – $200m.
“The statistics were based on the average annual reports of a sample of industry players in the telecommunications space over a five-year period. This is a significant portion of our average annual budget and it is critical that this trend is reversed.”
Meanwhile,the  Nigerian Communications Commission(NCC),says it has not renewed Airtel’s Mobile operating licence
Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, Director, Public Affairs, NCC, explained that the application of the renewal of operating licence of Airtel Nigeria is yet to be approved as it is still undergoing required regulatory process.
He said: “The attention of the Nigerian Communications Commission has been drawn to a recent statement on an online publication credited to the Managing Director/Chief Executive Office of Airtel Nigeria, Mr. Olusegun Ogunsanya, to the effect that the mobile operating license of Airtel has been renewed by the Commission for another period of ten years.
“Mr. Ogunsanya was said to have made the statement while speaking in Lagos on Wednesday, July 14, 202, during the media launch of Airtel’s corporate social responsibility programme, ‘Touching Lives 6’.
“The Commission wishes to state that while Airtel Nigeria has applied for the renewal of the Unified Access Service Licence (UASL) granted to it by the Commission, the application is yet to be approved as it is still undergoing required regulatory process”.
Emefiele Wins Public Sector Icon Award

Emefiele bags The SUN Award for Public Service - Nigeria Business News  |Nigeria Financial News | Nigeria Economy News | Business News in Nigeria |  Nigeria Stock Market News
The Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, has been honoured with the ‘2020 Vanguard Public Sector Icon of the Year’ award’.
He bagged  the award on Saturday in Lagos during the Vanguard Personality of the Year Award ceremony.
Emefiele assumed office as the 10th indigenous governor of the CBN in June 2014 and up with new strategies to navigate the Nigerian economy through hurdles such as the challenge of foreign exchange inflow, the exchange rate, the economic recession, stagflation, financial inclusion and the gap in the value chains of major of crops in Nigeria.
According to his citation,in the course of Emefiele’s tenure as governor, the bank introduced critical interventions such as the Nigeria Electricity Market Stabilisation Facility, the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading-Payment Assurance Facility, the Presidential Fertiliser Initiative, and the Shared Agent Network Expansion Facility, to directly support enterprises with huge potential for job creation, conservation of foreign exchange, import substitution as well as financial inclusion.
It added:”“With the advent of the coronavirus pandemic came global health and economic challenges, which Nigeria was not immune from.However, like every other proactive central bank in the world, the CBN stood up to be counted.”