Economy
Breaking: Legislature, Executive set to clash over illegal multi-billion naira SIP disbursements
The leadership of the upper and lower legislative Chambers of the National Assembly on Tuesday faulted the way the Social Investment Programme of the Federal Government was being implemented across the country.
The legislative leaders said the exercise must have a legal backing as was the practice the world over.
The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila made their reservations about the scheme at a meeting held on Tuesday with the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajia Sadiya Umar Farouq and some top officials of the Ministry.
In attendance at the meeting was the Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, Deputy Speaker, Idris Wase and some other principal officers and members from both Chambers.
The meeting which was at the instance of the NASS leadership was at the backdrop of the ongoing Federal Government intervention initiatives aimed at reducing the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the most vulnerable Nigerians.
Lawan and Gbajabiamila made it clear that the Social Investment Programme which was established in 2016 under the Presidency but which is now under the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs needed a reform to make it more efficient and effective.
In his opening remarks, Lawan said the National Assembly is very much interested in the current Intervention initiatives of the ministry particularly with respect to the disbursement aimed at assuaging the plight of the poorest of the poor Nigerians against COVID-19.
“We feel that we need to work together with you to ensure that there is effectiveness, there is efficiency, that those who are supposed to benefit, benefit directly,” Lawan said.
The Senate President said the National Assembly is concerned about the conditions and guidelines for the intervention programmes which are specifically directed at the most vulnerable Nigerians.
“When for example, some conditions are set, that those who will benefit will have to go online, through the internet or BVN and the rest of it.
“I want to tell you that the majority of those who are supposed to benefit have no access to power. They have no access to Internet. They have no bank account, so no BVN.
“Infact, many of them don’t even have phones and these are the poorest of the poor. Yet, some of the conditions or guidelines which you set inadvertently leave them out,” Lawan said.
The Senate President said the poorest of the poor have not been sufficiently captured by the programme.
“We believe that when we work together, the Executive side of government and the National Assembly as representatives of the people, we will be able to reach much more of these people who are in serious distress even before the Coronavirus.
“Now with Coronavirus, they need our attention more than ever before. The time has come that we review the ways and manner we use to deliver the services under the SIP to Nigerians.
“We need to be better in terms of strategy for delivery and definitely, what we have been doing in the past cannot deliver exactly what will solve the challenges of the most ordinary and most vulnerable Nigerians.
“So we need to put on our thinking cap and work out some strategies on how to identify the poorest persons in Nigeria. I think we have not been able to reach far out there to get them properly captured,” Lawan said.
Speaking in the same vein, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Gbajabiamila told the minister that she is right now in the eye of the storm because all eyes are on her.
“Your job right now, is probably the most important as we speak, because you are saddled with the responsibility of alleviating ‘poverty’ or the hardship, due to no fault of anyone, being thrust upon Nigerians, and I know that you came into a system, or you met a system that has nothing to do with you, but what we will be asking you to do is for you to change that system.
“When you walk into a system, no system is 100 perfect. The word reform is something we use all the time, and this is the one time when that word reform must be used in the truest sense of that word.
“The questions are going to be asked, how do you come about your list, how comprehensive is your distribution list? What are the parameters? What is the geographical spread? So these are tough questions that are going to be asked but I want you to look at them as frank questions that we need to ask.
“If you really want to define the meaning of representation, if that was being practiced in the real meaning of representation, then we shouldn’t be here. Because all the questions we want to ask, we should already have the answers. We should be providing those answers to the Nigerian people we represent.
“But if they ask me, as the speaker of the House, or ask the Senate President or any of my colleagues here, we are going to be struggling for answers. If we were really representing, then we will not need to ask because we will have the answers,” Gbajabiamila said.
The Speaker said the relevant Committees in the House have been complaining bitterly even before the Minister took over the scheme about the inability to access information about the scheme.
Gbajabiamila said Nigeria’s SIP is similar to the Unemployment Insurance Act in the UK and the Social Security Act in the US.
“There is a lot of take away from this COVID-19. One of them is the International Best Practices. My point is that these things are backed by law. They are codified by the legislature so that these issues and these questions will not arise,” he said.
The Speaker urged the minister to talk with the relevant Committees and the National Assembly leadership on the best way to codify the scheme.
In her response, the minister said the SIP was moved to her ministry for “sustainability and institutionalisation,”
“I am very pleased to hear that we are going to work together to see that we give a legal backing to this programme because that is the only way to go,” the minister said.
A total sum of N1.678 trillion, being February 2025 Federation Account Revenue, has been shared to the Federal Government, States and the Local Government Councils.
The revenue was shared at the March 2025 Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting held in Abuja; chaired by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun.
The meeting was attended by the Accountant General of the Federation, Shamseldeen Ogunjimi.
The total distributable revenue of N1.678 trillion comprised distributable statutory revenue of N827.633 billion, distributable Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue of N 609.430 billion, Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL) revenue of N35.171 billion, Solid Minerals revenue of N28.218 billion and Augmentation of N178 billion.
According to a communiqué issued by the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), total gross revenue of N2.344 trillion was available in the month of February 2025. Total deduction for cost of collection was N89.092 billion while total transfers, interventions, refunds and savings was N577.097 billion.
The communiqué stated that gross statutory revenue of N1.653 trillion was received for the month of February 2025. This was lower than the sum of N1.848 trillion received in the month of January 2025 by N194.664 billion.
Gross revenue of N654.456 billion was available from the Value Added Tax (VAT) in February 2025. This was lower than the N771.886 billion available in the month of January 2025 by N117.430 billion.
The communiqué stated that from the total distributable revenue of N1.678 trillion, the Federal Government received total sum of N569.656 billion and the State Governments received total sum of N562.195 billion.
The Local Government Councils received total sum of N410.559 billion and a total sum of N136.042 billion (13% of mineral revenue) was shared to the benefiting States as derivation revenue.
On the N827.633 billion distributable statutory revenue, the communiqué stated that the Federal Government received N366.262 billion and the State Governments received N185.773 billion.
The Local Government Councils received N143.223 billion and the sum of N132.374 billion (13% of mineral revenue) was shared to the benefiting States as derivation revenue.
From the N609.430 billion distributable Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue, the Federal Government received N91.415 billion, the State Governments received N304.715 billion and the Local Government Councils received N213.301 billion.
A total sum of N5.276 billion was received by the Federal Government from the N35.171 billion Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL). The State Governments received N17.585 billion and the Local Government Councils received N12.310 billion.
From the N28.218 billion Solid Minerals revenue, the Federal Government received N12.933 billion and the State Governments received N6.560 billion.
The Local Government Councils received N5.057 billion and a total sum of N3.668 billion (13% of mineral revenue) was shared to the benefiting States as derivation revenue.
The Augmentation of N178 billion was shared as follows: Federal Government received N93.770 billion, the State Governments received N47.562 billion and the Local Government Councils received N36.668 billion.
In February 2025, Oil and Gas Royalty and Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL), increased significantly while Value Added Tax (VAT), Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT), Companies Income Tax (CIT), Excise Duty, Import Duty and CET Levies recorded decreases.
Economy
Protesters urge president Tinubu to protect Diaspora housing investments along Lagos-Calabar coastal highway
A group under the aegis of Renewed Hope Concern Citizens (RHCC) on Friday staged a peaceful protest, calling for President Bola Tinubu’s intervention in protecting housing investments owned by Nigerians in the diaspora along the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway.
The protesters gathered in front of the United States Embassy in Abuja, carrying banners with inscriptions such as; Minister of Works, Senator Umahi should revert to the original gazetted alignment as promised. Enough is Enough; Association of Nigerian Diaspora Investors (ANDI) has cried enough, please intervene to save their energy to promote, support, and assist the Renewed Hope Administration; Renewed Hope Concern Citizens want Diaspora Investments to be protected and given adequate attention among others
“As committed stakeholders in the nation’s economic progress, we have consistently supported the government’s vision, particularly in revitalizing Nigeria’s infrastructure and energy sector. While we acknowledge the administration’s positive strides, recent developments have raised concerns about the misalignment of energy policies, particularly regarding the 2006 Gazetted alignment.
“We urgently call on the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, to restore the 2006 Gazetted alignment to ensure continued growth and stability in Nigeria’s energy sector,” said Hon. Tayo Agbaje, Chairman of RHCC, while addressing journalists.
The group refuted the Minister’s claim that an underground cable warranted the removal of structures in Okun Ajah, Lagos and outlined several reasons why President Tinubu’s intervention is crucial.
According to them, The 2006 Gazetted alignment has long provided a stable and predictable framework, essential for maintaining investor confidence in Nigeria’s energy sector.
“Diaspora investors contribute significantly to job creation, business growth, and the overall economy, making their protection vital to sustaining these contributions.
“The President should investigate the Minister of Works’ claim about the underground cable allegedly interfering with the 2006 Gazetted plan.
“Restoring the alignment will reinforce Nigeria’s commitment to a stable investment climate, boosting foreign investor confidence and attracting much-needed capital for infrastructure development.
“Deviating from established policies creates uncertainty, undermining both current and future foreign investments.
“Maintaining the 2006 Gazetted alignment will signal Nigeria’s dedication to long-term economic stability, further reassuring both local and international investors,” the group stated.
The RHCC reaffirmed its support for the Association of Nigeria in Diaspora Investments (ANDI) in its quest to uphold the 2006 Gazetted alignment plan of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.
They urged the government to act swiftly to protect diaspora investors, as this will strengthen Nigeria’s investment future and ensure continued economic success under the Renewed Hope Administration.
Economy
Ogunjimi promises to collaborate with ex-Accountants-General in taking treasury house to greater heights
The newly appointed Accountant General
of the Federation, Mr Shamseldeen B. Ogunjimi said he would collaborate and tap from the wealth of experiences of all Former Accountants -General of the Federation to bring the nation treasury to a greater height.
Mr Ogunjimi disclosed this while receiving two Former Accountants-General of the Federation, Dr John Naiyeju and Dr Ibrahim Dankwambo in his office in Abuja.
Speaking earlier, Senator Ibrahim Dankwambo suggested the upgrading of the Treasury Academy, Orozo owned by the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) to a Degree (University) awarding Institute.
Also, Dr. John K. Naiyeju charged the new Accountant-General to carry along everyone and advised him to make staff welfare his priority.
In a related development, the Accountant-General of the Federation expressed his willingness to work with all professional organisation that will bring positive development to the nation, especially, his professional and Academy colleagues of the doctorate class.
Mr Ogunjimi called on his classmates to come up with ideas and suggestions that will enhance the management of the nation’s treasury that will positively affect the economy development.
In his remarks, the Chairman Forum of Doctorate Students, Ibrahim Aliyu said that they were in Treasury House to congratulate one of their own and assured him of their support towards his successful tenure.
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