News
USAID partners state gov’ts on management of loans
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through its Accountability, Transparency and Effectiveness (State2State) project is partnering state governments on proper use of loans.
Mr John Onyeukwu, the Deputy Chief of Party of State2State project, spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of a four-day workshop on “Public Debt Management and Fiscal Responsibility’’ on Wednesday in Abuja.
Onyeukwu said it was wise for countries, particularly Nigeria, to channel borrowings and other resources into health, education and social protection.
He said that it was important to work toward stronger institutions for proper management of loans.
According to him, when loans are properly channelled, they will remove a lot of people from poverty.
“In furtherance of our work on six target states of Adamawa, Akwa lbom, Bauchi, Ebonyi, Gombe and Sokoto states, we are supporting them on developing strategy for managing public debts, medium term strategy and fiscal responsibility framework.
“The primary interest of our project is primary health, education and WASH and the success of our activity is tied to improvement in those sectors.
“For instance, education is a game changer. When people do not go to school or they leave school and there is no job and there is no social protection, it will be a huge problem.
“That is why states need to manage their resources better and create jobs.
“This workshop is to further train them so that every month and every quarter, they are able to keep good record of their debts,’’ Onyeukwu said.
He said with Nigeria was already spending so much of its revenue on debt servicing, adding that proper resource management was critical.
Onyeukwu said trainings had been organised on how the states could increase their Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
“The only other way for most governments to be able to reduce social challenges of development is by borrowing.
“As citizens, we may not have the final say if the legislature approves a loan but we hold them accountable for the loan that has been collected and every debt that the states gets into.
“So, that is what State2State is helping states to do as a public finance management activity.’’
Onyeukwu said as part of efforts to achieve result, the State2State was working with the Governors Forum to ensure state governments budgets came through a new national framework called New Charts of Accounts.
He said that this was to ensure more details in the content of budgets, adding that plans were being concluded on an audit training to provide support specific to auditing.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the State2State project is a five year project meant to run from 2020 to 2025.
The project is being executed in six focal states of Adamawa, Sokoto, Ebonyi, Bauchi, Akwa Ibom and Gombe.
It is aimed at helping them to manage accountable financial in systems for quality service in basic education, primary healthcare, WASH, among other sectors.
A popular General Overseer of a new generation Church, Elijah has been arrested by the Octopus (C41) Strike Force unit of Rivers State Police Command for investigation over homosexual allegations.
It was gathered that a video of the Pastor was leaked indulging in the homosexual act to the police by a member of his church.
The member who alleged that the General Overseer attempted sleep with him against his will.
The member who revealed his name simply as Patrick now a complainant said, he wanted to play along after the General Overseer made sexual advancement and captured the nude video of pastor attempting to have carnal knowledge of him.
Armed with the intelligence report, the police traced the General Overseer who is from Rivers State to one of his relaxation spots in Port Harcourt and arrested him.
Sources revealed to our correspondent that the General Overseer has reportedly confessed to other numerous acts of homosexuality involving both male adults and minors within and outside Port Harcourt.
Public Relations Officer for the Rivers State Police Command, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the incident, adding that investigation was ongoing.
Against government ban on rallies and organised reception under whatever guise by Kogi State Government, constituents of the Central Senatorial District troop3d out enmasse to receive Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan on Tuesday in Okene.
According to the pictorials released by the Media office of Senator Natasha, creme-de-la creme could be seen waiting in a scorching sun, not minding the effect.
The massive turn out followed assurance from Senator Natasha ‘s media team that the lawmaker has arrived from overseas and would make it to Okene on Tuesday for Sallah celebrations with her constituents.
A statement obtained by CAPITAL POST in Lokoja on Tuesday, pointed out that the purported ban on rallies and the cancellation of the visit were mere rumours, hence, the embattled lawmaker would pay a visit her constituents.
Part of the statement read: “We are pleased to confirm that Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s Sallah visit to Kogi Central senatorial district will proceed as planned.
“Despite rumours circulating online, there has been no official announcement from our office regarding the cancellation of this visit.
“As the senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan remains committed to engaging with her community and fostering a spirit of unity and cooperation.
“Her dedication to the people of Kogi Central is unwavering, and she looks forward to celebrating Eid-el-Fitr with her constituents.
“We would like to assure the public that all necessary arrangements are in place to ensure a successful and joyous event. We invite all members of the community to join us in marking this special occasion.”
On Monday, CAPITAL POST reported that Kogi State Government issued a statement which was signed bybthe Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Femi Fanwo asserting security concerns, hence, the proposed homecoming of Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District should be put off.
He stressed that there security breaches in parts of Kohi West Senatorial District, thus the security was so volatile that Government cannot guarantee peace for now and abused that the proposed reception at Okene should be cancelled.
Also, Kogi State Police Command earlier on Tuesday issued a statement banning any rally within the State, stating that intelligence reports available to it indicated that crisis may spur.
The statement which was signed by Police Public Relation Officer, SP William Ovye Aya and made available to CAPITAL POST, stressed that intelligence reports was indicative of peace and the rally which was organised by Natasha’s constituents should be cancelled.
The statement said: “Following the intelligence report on security threats in Kogi State and the subsequent ban on all forms of Rally and procession by the Kogi State Government, the Nigeria Police Force, Kogi State Police Command has called on the organisers of planned rally at Okene to cancel such event in the interest of the peace in Kogi State.
“The call for cancellation becomes necessary, noting that intelligence reveals that some hoodlums plan to hijack the process and cause disturbance of peace in the State. The Command cannot afford to jeopardize the existing peace the State is currently enjoying.
“In view of the security threat received on the planned rally, the Kogi State Police Command is therefore advising the organisers to cancel the event so as to avoid any breakdown of law and order in the State. As the Command will not hesitate to apply the full wrath of law on any one who causes disturbance of peace and order in the State.”
Constituents trooped out displaying placards demanding justice for Senator Natasha.
It was recalled that Natasha was suspended from the Senate for six months over breach of Senate Standing Orders.
The lawmaker also alleged that the Senate President, Godswill Obot Akpabio was harassing her sexually.
TEHRAN, Mar. 30 (MNA) – The Yemeni Armed Forces Spokesman Yahya Saree said that Yemeni forces successfully hit the Israeli Ben Gurion Airport with ballistic missiles on Sunday.
Saree said that the Yemeni Armed Forces struck the Israeli Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv using Zolfaqar missiles.
“By carrying out this operation, we proved that the US has failed to prevent Yemen from supporting the oppressed Palestinian people,” he stressed.
“American airstrikes do not prevent us from fulfilling our religious, moral, and human duties.”
“With the help of God Almighty, we will continue the anti-Zionist operations until the aggression and siege against the Gaza Strip stop.”
Yemenis have declared their open support for Palestine’s struggle against the Israeli occupation since the regime launched a devastating war on Gaza on October 7 after the territory’s Palestinian Resistance movements carried out a surprise retaliatory attack, dubbed Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, against the occupying entity.
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