All Posts in "Day: July 23, 2021"

Court Stops Union From Strike, Picketing FIRS Offices

Court restrains union from strike sction, picketing FIRS offices – Newsdiaryonline
The National Industrial Court, Abuja Judicial Division has stopped the National Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU) from either picketing the offices of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) nationwide or calling for a strike at any of the Service’s offices across Nigeria.
 Justice O. Y. Anuwe issued the order of interim injunction on Friday in a suit which the FIRS as Claimant/Applicant instituted against NCSU, the Defendant/Respondent.
 The court ordered that “the respondents are restrained from picketing the offices of the applicant on 26th July 2021 or any other day pending the determination of the Motion on Notice. They are also restrained from going on strike, as by so doing, the very essence of the substantive suit is defeated. What this translates to in other words is that parties are to maintain the status quo, and are not to do anything that may be detrimental to the interest of the public, pending the determination of the motion on notice. The order to maintain status-quo however binds both parties in this suit.”
 In another suit, NINC/ABJ/157/2021 in which the NCSU issuing the FIRS, the court refused the prayer of the NCSU seeking an order compelling the FIRS to continue the automatic deduction of check-off dues for the NCSU, which is a defunct union at the FIRS, from the salaries of the Service’s workers. The two cases were adjourned to 15 October 2021 for a hearing of the motion on notice and originating summons.
The Board of the FIRS had announced the dissolution of the NCSU FIRS Unit (whose Executive members are senior staff) which purportedly represents the junior staff cadre that is non-existent in the Service.
  The agency took that decision for reasons outlined in an official announcement circulated to all staff which reads as follows:
   “In line with Gazette No. 6 Vol 65 dated 8th February 1978 and National Industrial Court Judgement dated 27th June 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 as there are no longer any junior staff cadre employees in the service.  There is accordingly no legal or another 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. This 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 given 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.
 “The Management also assured staff that it is unreservedly willing to work and cooperate with the only legitimate representatives of staff, that is to say, the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria.  Accordingly, staff were called upon to redouble their efforts 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).”
Online Editor by — July 23, 2021 in News 0
Amstel Malta Ultra To Sponsor Team Nigeria For 2020 Olympic Games 

Amstel Malta Ultra to sponsor Team Nigeria for Olympic Games Tokyo 2020

 

Premium drink brand Amstel Malta Ultra, has  announced its’ official sponsorship of Team Nigeria at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.

The news of the sponsorship comes as a welcome development for sports enthusiasts and the public at large.

 

Optimistic about the upcoming games, Senior Brand Manager Amstel Malta, Aminah Jagun said, “We have no doubt whatsoever that Team Nigeria will make the country proud. We have watched them train tirelessly over the past months, and we know they’re poised to bring home several medals.”

 

“As proud sponsors of Team Nigeria, we look forward to celebrating our athletes on their journey to Tokyo, where we believe they will shine and make the nation proud. As a brand, we have remained committed to promoting a healthy lifestyle among Nigerians and have now extended this commitment to revive the nation’s sports terrain and unite Nigerians once again through sports,” she continued.

 

Team Nigeria comprises of athletes across track and field events, water sports, and weightlifting and will be led by audacious record breakers. Captaining the subsects of this formidable Team are table tennis champion, Aruna Quadri; powerlifter, Lucy Ogechukwu Ejike and basketball sensation, Adaora Nnenna Elonu.

 

The individual teams also boast phenomenal athletes who have given the nation renewed hope due to their recent performances at the trials and training.

 

The track and field events team in particular – responsible for 13 out of the 25 medals and 2 out of the 3 gold medals the country has won in past Olympic Games – features athletes like Grace Nwokocha Nzubechi (the fastest girl in Nigeria), Ruth Usoro (who recently broke the Nigerian triple jump record of 14.50m), Blessing Okagbare (an Olympics and World Championship medalist), Divine Oduduru, Enoch Adegoke, Tobi Amusan and Annette Echikunwoke amongst others.

Online Editor by — July 23, 2021 in Brands&Marketing 0
Nigeria Welcomes  Super Tucano Aircraft 

Aerial Photography by Deremer Studios, LLC
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF), has announced  the arrival of the first batch of Super Tucano aircraft in the country ry, to tackle the insurgency war.
Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, Director of Public Relations and Information (DOPRI), of the NAF, conveyed this in a statement.
He added:”the first batch of A-29 Super Tucano aircraft have arrived Kano, today 22 July 2021 at about 12.34pm.On hand to receive the aircraft were the Honourable Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Magashi (Rtd).”
Online Editor by — July 23, 2021 in News 0
Bayelsa, South Korea Deepen Economic Partnership 

Bayelsa, South Korea Consolidate Economic Partnership – Independent Newspaper Nigeria
The Bayelsa State Government and the Republic of Korea are strengthening  their partnership in the areas of agriculture, maritime, construction and manufacturing for mutual economic development.
The South Korean Ambassador to Nigeria, Kim Young-Chae is in Bayelsa State on a two-day visit as a follow-up to his meeting with Governor Douye Diri last month in Abuja, to further explore areas of the partnership between the state and the Republic of Korea.
Speaking in Government House, Yenagoa, as a guest of the state government,  Young-Chae noted that the state had the potential to be as developed as his country.
According to him, Bayelsa and South Korea shared a lot of similarities, noting that they would make economic co-operation between both parties beneficial.
Young-Chae while expressing the readiness of his country to make the partnership a reality commended the enthusiasm of Governor Diri for the development of the state.
In his remarks, Diri expressed the willingness of the state to forge economic relationship with South Korea as a way of harnessing its potential.
He stressed that Bayelsa was peaceful and open for business even as he expressed the optimism that by partnering with one of Asia’s economic giants, Bayelsa can move from poverty to riches.
The governor described Bayelsa as an agrarian state, saying that the state was interested in partnering with South Korea in agriculture and other areas of economic development.
Diri said, “Bayelsa is peaceful, safe and open for business. Having listened to you, we are sure that we are on the right track. By partnering with you, Bayelsa can go far. We can move away from poverty to riches like South Korea with this partnership. You have mentioned areas of partnership, especially in agriculture, and we are very ready.
Online Editor by — July 23, 2021 in Niger Delta 0
 Ooni Rallies Support For Sunday Igboho, Constitutes Committee

Sunday Igboho: Ooni rallies Yoruba leaders - P.M. News
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Enita Ogunwusi has set up a 28-member committee of south-west leaders to look into the arrest of Sunday Igboho in Benin Republic.
Akin Osuntokun, the committee coordinator, said the committee will look into the issues surrounding the arrest of Igboho and related matters.
According to Osuntokun, “The Ooni of Ife inaugurated an advisory council comprising eminent Yoruba sons and daughters across the political spectrum. It is called the Ooni Caucus.The inauguration ceremony had been scheduled over a month ago and it is just an accident that it coincided with reports of Sunday Igboho’s arrest in Cotonou.Nonetheless the council is actively interested in the new development and would appropriately respond in the nearest future.”
Some of the people on the committee are Oba Olusola Alao, the Olugbon of Igbon; Senator Biodun Olujimi; Toyin Saraki; Segun Awolowo’; Doyin Okupe; Gbenga Daniel, and Muyiwa Ige.
Online Editor by — July 23, 2021 in Oduduwa 0
COVID-19 Third Wave:3 Dies In A’Ibom 

COVID-19: 156 cases recorded in Akwa Ibom in 2 weeks - Vanguard News
The  new Delta variant of Covid-19 pandemic has claimed three lives out of the 156 new positive cases in Akwa Ibom State.
Briefing newsmen in Uyo, the state capital  the Secretary to State Government and chairman, Akwa Ibom State COVID-19 Committee,  Dr Emmanuel Ekuwem implored  all citizens to obey all guidelines and protocols earlier enunciated
While declaring that all Covid-19 monitoring mechanisms have been  reactivated to ensure strict compliance with guidelines and protocols, to assist the state combat the new wave, the state government also advised citizens to ensure that;
“Social distancing in tricycles and in Mini-buses and wearing of face masks are to be strictly complied with.Religious houses (churches and mosques) should run at half capacity and services should last not more than one (1) hour.
“Hotels, sit-outs, clubs, schools, transport companies, supermarkets, Banks, pharmacies should all ensure compliance with all Covid-19 preventive measures in their facilities.
“Report any suspicious symptoms such as fever, cough, difficulty in breathing and body pains and weakness to the nearest Covid-19 facility or use the following help lines 08000275664, 08189411111”
He assured that the state molecular laboratories were fully functional and tests for covid-19 are being done regularly.
Online Editor by — July 23, 2021 in Health 0
Promo:Fidelity Bank Gives Customers  N39m

Fidelity Bank rewards customers with N16m in promo – The Sun Nigeria
Fidelity Bank Plc  yesterday gave N39 million to 15 customers in the final draw of its Get Alert In Millions (GAIM) Season 4 savings promo.
 Speaking at the final draw, the bank’s Managing Director, Mrs. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, said the campaign was the ninth in the series of savings promos embarked upon by the bank in last 14 years.
Onyeali-Ikpe said the season 4, which commenced in October 2019, had so far conducted five draws but was suspended due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
She noted that the promo was suspended in March 2020 upon obtaining the necessary regulatory approval due to COVID-19.
“Based on the monthly and bi-monthly draws conducted, 81 winners had emerged; with a total of N63 million and several consolation prizes won,” she added.
Onyeali-Ikpe, who was represented by the bank’s Executive Director, Lagos &South West, Dr Ken Opara, said the bank had also given out airtime worth about N6 million to 7,000 customers in the promo.
“At this final draw, we shall give out total cash wins of N39 million to 15 customers and 18 consolation prizes of television sets, fridges, and generators.
“Upon conclusion of this draw, we would have given out N120 million in cash and 108 consolation prizes of television sets, fridges, and generators (worth N7.8 million) to 204 winners,” she said.
Onyeali-Ikpe noted that the promo was instituted to boost financial inclusion and to reward its teeming customers for their loyalty and patronage.
“The phrase ‘It pays to save with Fidelity Bank’ has become deeply entrenched in the minds of the people and this savings campaign will in no small measure aid the growth of that consciousness.
“This promo encourages customers and members of the public to imbibe a savings culture, thus deepening financial inclusion, in line with the mandates of the Central Bank of Nigeria,” she added.
She said the promo had impacted positively on the bank’s bottom-line.
“The impact has been very phenomenal in major growth, a lot of people who didn’t have the opportunity to save now have.
“The major thing is that it has increased the savings culture and that has also translated to the bottom-line in terms of the volume of savings the bank has achieved both in the number of people and the volume of savings.
“It has been a huge success; benefit to the customer, benefit to the bank and benefit to the country,” Onyeali-Ikpe said.
According to her, the bank is perfecting arrangements for the next promo and the customers should be expectant.
“So, in no distance time, you are going to see another promo with additional incentives.
“The customers should keep the hope alive, keep saving, before you know it the next promo is with us with bumper benefits attached to it. It will get better than what you have seen today,” she said.
She said the bank would inculcate financial literacy in the next promo.
“We will teach people how to invest and invest well. The package is also going to involve teaching them how to invest what they have won to have a sustainable lifestyle at the end,” she said.
The winners emerged through a transparent process witnessed by representatives of the National Lottery Commission and Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission.
The  cash prizes were in the categories of N10 million grand prize, N3 million, N2 million and N1 million, respectively.
 Mr. Sunday Okeke of Matori branch Lagos and Mr. Justine Nwaozor of Suleja branch, Niger State, were the star prize winners of N10 million naira each.
Online Editor by — July 23, 2021 in Banking&Finance 0
COVID-19 Reduced  $5bn Diasporan Remittances, says FG

COVID-19 wiped off $5bn Diasporan remittances, says FG
The  Federal Government has said that the COVID-19 pandemic has wiped off 20 per cent from the $25bn annual diasporan remittances to Nigeria.
The government noted that various targeted programmes were being implemented to shore up the deficit.
Disclosing this at a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday to announce the 2021 Diaspora Day celebration scheduled for July 25, the Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, said the home remittances were over 83 per cent of the national budget and 6.1 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product.
She explained that the remittances serve as economic buffers and safety nets to families for school fees, feeding, hospital bills and many other social support systems.
According to her, 30 per cent of the remittances are channeled into investments including real estate, commercial businesses and others.
On the impact of the pandemic on the remittances, Dabiri-Erewa stated, “The COVID-19 pandemic has reduced the annual Diasporan remittances by 20 per cent but don’t forget that we are also coming up with different programmes.
“Remittances actually go to support families but we are having targeted programmes from the diaspora, particularly housing which would be unveiled that day.”
She  stressed that that the nation could not afford to ignore about 17 million Nigerians living outside the sovereign boundaries of the nation, sending home remittances of about $25bn annually.
She noted that the National Diaspora Day 2021 celebration themed: ‘Diaspora integration for national peace and development’, would anchor on peace to accelerate diaspora engagement for national growth and development, adding that no nation succeeded in an atmosphere of insecurity, hatred and divisive tendencies.
Online Editor by — July 23, 2021 in News 0
Nigeria Welcomes  Super Tucano Aircraft 

Nigerian Govt Welcomes Six Super Tucano Aircraft From US
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF), has announced  the arrival of the first batch of Super Tucano aircraft in the country ry, to tackle the insurgency war.
Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, Director of Public Relations and Information (DOPRI), of the NAF, conveyed this in a statement.
He added:”the first batch of A-29 Super Tucano aircraft have arrived Kano, today 22 July 2021 at about 12.34pm.On hand to receive the aircraft were the Honourable Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Magashi (Rtd).”
Online Editor by — July 23, 2021 in News 0
CBN Says Nigeria’s Economy Contacts In May

Why Nigeria Can't Stop Borrowing – CBN – 9News Nigeria
The Nigerian economy contracted in May, a data  from the Central Bank of Nigeria said
The personal statements of some members of the Monetary Policy Committee indicated that the Purchasing Managers Indexes  for the manufacturing and non-manufacturing sectors contracted in May.
“Manufacturing and non-manufacturing PMIs contracted in May 2021, despite growth of the manufacturing sector in Q1:2021, points to the possibility of the buildup in the inventory of finished goods, as a result of low purchasing power,” an MPC member, Folashodun Shonubi, said.
Shonubi,  the deputy governor, operations directorate at CBN, Mr Folashodun Shonubi, advocated widening of the scope and coverage of the development finance interventions, targeted at household and small businesses to address the challenge of low aggregate demand and encourage further productivity.
He said, “The increasing need to refocus the economy and look beyond oil stares us in the face, as many jurisdictions scale down further investments involving use of fossil fuel.
“Interestingly, the speed and source of our recovery underscored the fact that recent economic downturn was strictly on account of external shock and not due to a weakness in domestic macroeconomic fundamentals.”
He said the country must therefore take more steps to enhance domestic investment and productivity, as well as reinforce the internal stabilisers of the economy.
He said considering the observed gradual but steady positive outcomes of the current policy mix, he was convinced that as the economy strengthened implementation of the intervention programmes, it should maintain status quo and allow more time for the manifesting gains to fully mature.
He commended the Federal Government for the progress on further reopening of the economy, as a result of facilitating the first round of vaccination and concluding the ordering of more doses of the vaccine.
On what more could be done to promote productivity, Shonubi implored the government to strengthen collaboration with the CBN, in relation to working with institutions that were critical to facilitation of trade and economic activities.
“This will be important to consolidating the common progress made so far. In the same vein, aggressive implementation of deliberate policy to promote domestic productivity and marketability, including standardisation of product quality, packaging etc. and improvement of port process, among others, would aid further growth in output,” he added.
Online Editor by — July 23, 2021 in Banking&Finance 0