FAAN inaugurates Anti-Corruption, Transparency Unit

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Murtala Muhammed International Airport

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), says it has inaugurated its Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) to ensure transparency, accountability and good ethical practices.

Mrs Henrietta Yakubu, FAAN’s Acting General Manager, Corporate Affairs said this in a statement in Abuja on Sunday.

Yakubu said the assignment of an 11-man committee, inaugurated in Lagos, was to ensure the domestication of the key tenets of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

She quoted the Managing Director of the organisation, Mr Saleh Dunoma, as having enjoined the committee to act as compliance and ethics officers in FAAN.

She said that Alhaji Sadiku Rafindadi, Director of Commercial and Business Development, represented the managing director at the occasion.

According to her, the committee has the responsibility of educating and enlightening management and staff on the need for adherence to rules and regulations and upholding of good ethical practices in FAAN.

“The management is passionate about the virtues of accountability and transparency.

”This informs its seamless collaboration with the ICPC in the recently concluded Critical Risk Assessment to eradicate low level corruption at the nation’s airports.

“In our quest to consolidate on our relationship with the ICPC, the Authority has painstakingly nominated some of its outstanding personnel to work in collaboration with the ICPC,”
the managing director said.

Yakubu said that Head of Service, Chairman of ICPC and other stakeholders were represented at the event.

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2lsWd1X

Bodies of 74 migrants wash up on Libya beach…Read full details

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The bodies of 74 migrants who drowned in the Mediterranean trying to reach Europe have washed up on a beach west of the Libyan capital, the Red Crescent said Tuesday.

Residents of the village of Harcha, outside Zawiya, 45 kilometres (30 miles) from Tripoli, alerted the emergency services after finding a wrecked boat on the beach with bodies inside, the Red Crescent said.

More were discovered elsewhere on the beach and still more were feared to be in the sea.

Photographs posted by the Zawiya Red Crescent on Facebook showed a long row of black and white body bags lined up near the water’s edge.

“We don’t have an appropriate vehicle to transport the bodies or a cemetery for unidentified bodies to bury them in,” the group said.

“Some bodies are still on the beach and others that we can’t reach are still floating in the water.”

The International Organization for Migration said the boat was reported to have foundered on Sunday, leaving as many as 100 people dead.

“Traffickers reportedly stole the engine and left it to drift,” the agency said.

“A survivor, reportedly in a coma, was transferred to hospital.”

The agency said that if confirmed, the deaths would bring the total number of migrants killed trying to cross the Mediterranean so far this year to more than 365.

It said that 187 migrants were rescued off Zawiya on Saturday, and were currently being held in a detention centre.

The agency said migrant arrivals in Italy had risen sharply this year compared with the same period of 2016.

As of Sunday, 10,120 had arrived compared with 6,589 between January 1 and February 18 last year.

People smugglers have taken advantage of the chaos gripping Libya since the 2011 revolution to greatly boost their lucrative trade.

Most departures take place from the west of Libya, usually heading for Italy 300 kilometres (190 miles) away across the Mediterranean.

Europeans are considering measures aimed at blocking the arrival of thousands of migrants, alarming NGOs which fear that those stranded in Libya may suffer mistreatment.

In the absence of an army or a regular police force in Libya, several militias act as coastguards but are often accused themselves of complicity or even involvement in the people-smuggling business.

Vía Uzomedia http://ift.tt/2lqRcU1

Women named to head Saudi bourse, major bank

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PHOTO:AFP

Women have been named to head Saudi Arabia’s stock exchange and a major bank, the institutions announced, despite the kingdom’s social restrictions on females.

Samba Financial Group on Sunday said Rania Mahmoud Nashar had begun work as chief executive officer.

The announcement came three days after the Saudi stock exchange, known as Tadawul, named Sarah al-Suhaimi as chairman of its board.

While other Saudi women have already assumed corporate leadership positions, their rise comes against some of the world’s tightest restrictions on women.

The kingdom is the only country in the world where women cannot drive.

Under the “guardianship” system a male family member, normally the father, husband or brother, must grant permission for a woman’s study, travel and other activities.

Although the government no longer requires guardian permission for women to work, activists have said many employers still demand guardian consent in order to hire a woman.

In a notice to the Saudi stock exchange, Samba said Nashar had almost 20 year’s experience in banking and had followed an “executive career” programme at Samba.

Samba also said that Nashar was the first Saudi woman certified as an anti-money laundering specialist by a respected American association of experts who combat financial crime.

Her appointment as CEO followed the resignation of general manager Sajjad Razvi for personal reasons.

Tadawul’s Sarah al-Suhaimi is the CEO of NCB Capital, the investment banking arm of National Commercial Bank.

She was the first female head of a Saudi investment bank when named to that post in 2014, according to Bloomberg News.

It said she is expected to remain at the bank while leading Tadawul, the Arab world’s largest bourse.

As part of a wideranging social and economic reform drive to cope with fallen oil revenues, Saudi Arabia is trying to get more women working.

In the third quarter of last year the unemployment rate for Saudi females was 34.5 percent, compared with 5.7 percent for Saudi males, according to figures cited by the firm Jadwa Investment.

By 2020 the Islamic kingdom wants to boost the proportion of women in the job market to 28 percent from 23 percent last year.

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2m0yWEe

Auditor-General plans weekly audit in government agencies

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Auditor-General for the Federation, Anthony Mkpe Ayine

The Auditor-General of the Federation, Mr Anthony Ayine says his office plans to send auditors to do weekly audit in government agencies to improve compliance in provision of reports.

Ayine said this when he visited the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Alhaji Muhammad Bello in Abuja on Monday.

Ayine said that one of the purposes of sending auditors was to ensure completeness and timely rendition of accounts to the office of the Auditor-General.

“Ideally, we expect to receive the Consolidated Financial Statements from government agencies on or before May 31, so that we can work on them promptly for accountability.

“This is because for accountability to be meaningful, timely preparation and submission of financial statement is key.

“We also have a mind of reintroducing internal auditors. The reintroduction will be of mutual benefit to us.

“Internal control is very important and internal audit is a key component of internal control. When you have an effective internal control, it can help to strengthen other controls in place.

“We will encourage that the internal audit be brought in, and will submit internal audit report to you and to us because it will help you to strengthen your internal controls and attention drawn to areas that needs immediate attention,’’ he said.

Ayine also sought the minister’s assistance to create an additional exit point for the Audit House, location of the office of the Auditor-General for safety purposes.

Ayine also sought permission of the FCT minister to convert the open space behind the Audit house into a parking lot for his members of staff.

Responding, Bello expressed the willingness of his office to collaborate with the office of the Auditor-General of the Federation.

“This government has a deliberate policy to give the office of the Auditor-General the ultimate support.

“This is something we have discussed at high levels and we feel very strongly that your office has to be given the full support it needs or else its strength will be wasted.

“If government is able to handle what you suggest, proper internal auditing, internal controls, we can then use all our energies for more progressive work, not trying to go back to what has already been done.

“So you can be rest assured that we are fully with you in respect to resident auditors.

“For the FCT, it is very important because we are not just a Ministry, we are also a territory that has approximately sis million people, which is more than some states.

“It will be welcoming to have your auditors working closely with our internal audit departments so that we work more efficiently and enhance good governance,’’ he said.

Bello said that although the reality was that every land within Abuja had already been allocated, his office would see how the Auditor-General’s request could be accommodated.

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2meOfW1

Buratai urges soldiers to sustain peace as army celebrate WASA in Lagos

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Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai

The Chief of Army Staff, (COAS), Lt.-Gen.Tukur Buratai, has urged army officers and men to remain committed in the discharge of their duties to ensure peace and stability in the country.

Buratai made the appeal at the 2017 West Africa Social Activities (WASA) celebration which ended on Saturday in Apapa, Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that WASA is an annual army event aimed at promoting team spirits and confidence within and outside the barracks.

It is also a forum for informal and social interaction and an avenue for the barrack community to showcase the rich and diverse cultures of the country.

Buratai, represented by Maj.-Gen. Babatunde Oyefolu, GOC 81 Division, said the Nigerian Army must remain focused, dedicated and resilient in order to consolidate the achievements recorded so far.

“As we commence another training circle, I urge you all to remain committed in the discharge of your collective responsibility of ensuring peace and stability across the country.

“You must remain focused, dedicated and resilient in order to consolidate on the achievements so far recorded.

“I also pay my tribute to our fallen heroes who paid the supreme price to keep the country safe,” he said.

The COAS noted that the 2016 training year saw the revival of army activities, hitherto, suspended, and urged the officers and men of the army to remain proactive in the discharge of their duties.

“Such activities include the Nigerian Army Sports Festival which was held last year after a seven-year break.

“We significantly and successfully curbed criminality and other nefarious activities.

“The climax of these exercises and operations was the ‘Operation Rescue Finale’ in the North East which led to the fall of the Sambisa forest and the capture of camp zero,’’ Buratai said.

He urged the army to remain proactive in the discharge of their duties and assured the officers and men that the government would continue to prioritise their welfare.

“We will provide decent accommodation and other social amenities to our personnel and ensure that our troops get adequate logistics in all operational areas in 2017,” Buratai said.

The COAS also commended the efforts of the Senate Committee on Defence for supporting the army in fulfilling its mandate.

Earlier in his opening remarks, the Chief of Account and Budget, (NAFC), Brig.-Gen. Jahadi Jakko, said WASA was customarily observed to mark the end of the training year and usher in a new year.

Jakko said that the Nigerian Army had successfully been operating under the Treasury Single Account to ensure transparency and accountability.

He commended the soldiers for their discipline and dedication during the year and called for peaceful coexistence.

NAN reports that the colourful event featured tug of war, dances by cultural groups as well as presentation of gifts and awards to distinguished soldiers and guests.

Top serving and retired military officers and captains of industry graced to the occasion.

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2m0zpmu

Nigerians take to streets to protest economic policy

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Protesters face-off with men of the Nigeria Police Force in Abuja during anti-government demonstration on February 6, 2017.
Dozens of people march on February 6, 2017, to protest against the prevailing economic hardship, high cost of living and government handling of economic crisis in the country. PHOTO: GUARDIAN/NAJEEM RAHEEM

Protesters hold placards and banners during anti-government demonstration in Lagos, on February 6, 2017.
Dozens of people march on February 6, 2017, to protest against the prevailing economic hardship, high cost of living and government handling of economic crisis in the country. AFP PHOTO / PIUS UTOMI EKPEI

Protesters face-off with men of the Nigeria Police Force in Abuja during anti-government demonstration on February 6, 2017.
Dozens of people march on February 6, 2017, to protest against the prevailing economic hardship, high cost of living and government handling of economic crisis in the country. PHOTO: GUARDIAN/LADIDI LUCY ELUKPO

Hundreds of Nigerians took to the streets in major cities on Monday to protest against the government’s handling of the country’s economic crisis and demand solutions to a crippling recession.

Some 500 people gathered from early morning at the National Stadium in the commercial capital, holding signs including “The unemployed are hungry and angry” and “I will not be silent.”

The protestors then marched through the streets to the rhythm of drums and trumpets, singing “enough is enough”.

“Everything is very expensive today: the price of food, the price of gasoline has increased. We suffer but politicians do not care,” student Elias Ozikpu told AFP.

“Two years ago we elected a new government because the previous one was corrupt but we don’t see any change, it’s even worse now.”

The protestors were accompanied by police, who had earlier warned Nigerians not to assemble because of fears of a “breakdown of law and order with attendant loss of lives and property”.

On Sunday, the initiator of the protest, leading Afro-pop star 2Face, announced he had pulled out of the rally because of security concerns.

But his call to action — a rare event from a celebrity in Nigeria — had received widespread popular support and several civil society organisations vowed to carry on with the protest.

In the administrative capital of Abuja, dozens of people also turned out and marched to the presidential villa in protest at President Muhammadu Buhari’s economic policies.

Nigerians have been suffering after a fall in oil prices since mid-2014 slashed government revenue, pushing up inflation to more than 20 percent and weakening the naira currency.

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2kiXyGr

LASPOTECH resumes as ASUP strike ends

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LASPOTECH

Lecturers of the Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH), Ikorodu, on Monday returned to work as the one-week national warning strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) ended.

‎Mr Uthman Olayinka, General Secretary, ASUP, LASPOTECH Chapter, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that his members were back in the classroom.

ASUP had, on Jan. 30, commenced a one-week warning strike to press home some demands it was making on the government. It had said that the warning strike would end on Feb. 5.

Olayinka told NAN that lectures had commenced on Monday, though the outcome of the negotiation between the union’s national body and the Federal Government had yet to be communicated to the chapter.

“As directed, we resumed today, just as the strike elapsed,’’ the union’s scribe said. According to him, a report of the negotiation between the government and the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) will still be sent to the chapter.

Olayinka said that the strike was effective in the university while it lasted, as the union members complied fully as directed. ‎NAN reports that ASUP, in calling the strike, said it was unhappy with the state of polytechnic education in the country.

According to the union, the government had failed to commence re-negotiation of the ASUP/Government agreement of 2010, on the review of the Federal Polytechnics Act.

‎The union had threatened to embark on an indefinite strike if the government failed to resolve some pending issues during the one-week strike.

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2kyVo3R

The Biography Of John Dumelo [Age, Life Profile & Net Worth]

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John Dumelo (born February 3, 1984) is a Ghanaian actor. He was nominated for categories Most Promising Actor and Best Actor in a Supporting Role at the 6th and 7th Africa Movie Academy Awards respectively. On 1 April 2014, he became the first Ghanaian citizen to hit a million likes on Facebook.

Dumelo attended Christ the King School in [Accra] for his basic education. He had his secondary education at Achimota School and further studied at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and
Technology , where he studied Civil Engineering.

John Dumelo’s net worth is estimated US $650, 000 (net worth estimated in 2017).

• An Uzomedia Biography

Vía Uzomedia http://ift.tt/2jNuMe6

Niger begins payment of N490m benefits to 404 retirees

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Minna – The Niger State Government has begun the payment of N490 million retirement benefits to 404 retirees in six local governments, according to Alhaji Usman Mohammed, Director-General, Niger State Pension Board.

Mohammed said on Sunday in Minna, that the payment was being carried out in batches.

“Currently, we are paying those whose retirement and death benefits are less than N55 Million‎.

“In that category, we have 404 beneficiaries from six local governments,” he said.

He appealed to the retirees to be patient with the governor who, he said, was aware of their plight and was looking into their cases, one after the other.

“The governor is ready to pay the entitlements of our retirees after their diligent service. That is why he approved approved the payment of N490 million for us to start,” he said.

‎He affirmed the board’s readiness to support retirees whose claims were being evaluated by their Pension Fund Administrators.

“As soon as the back log in the old pension scheme is cleared, we shall fully embark on the ‎payment of the retirees in the Contributory Pension Scheme,” he said.

The post Niger begins payment of N490m benefits to 404 retirees appeared first on Vanguard News.

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