The Federal Government of Nigeria has
announced on Sunday that over 23,846 ghost workers were being removed
from its monthly payroll, saving the government N2.293 billion from the
total salary bill for the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs)
for February 2016 when compared to December 2015 when the BVN audit
process commenced. Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun,Speaking
on the matter, the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, said the ghost
workers were uncovered in payrolls of various MDAs during the ongoing
bank verification number (BVN)-based staff audit and enrolment to the
Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).
The BVN is a unique number that identifies each bank’s customer for “Know Your Customer” (KYC) purposes.
The
use of BVNs, rather than physical appearance of workers for biometric
capture at the initial stage of verification, has significantly
simplified and accelerated the progress of the payroll audit process and
reduced the cost of implementation.
It was also gathered that the
BVN platform to audit and sanitise the salary payment system, ministry
of finance, has so far checked the details of about 312,000 civil
servants currently enrolled on IPPIS.
Consequently, the development has led to the discovery of high level irregularities in salary payment.
The audit is part of an anti-corruption campaign introduced by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Corruption
and mismanagement have long been a challenge to Nigeria’s growth, and
the government has promised to cut costs to face an economic slowdown.
Justice A.I. Chikere of a Federal High Court in Abuja today ordered
former Interior Minister, Abba Moro, former Permanent Secretary in the
Ministry of Interior Anastasia M. Daniel-Nwaobia and a deputy director
in the ministry F. A. Aleyebami to be remanded in Kuje prison custody
till March 2nd when their formal bail application will be heard.
Moro and two others are being arraigned on an 11 count charge ranging
from the abuse of procurement process and diversion of public funds.
More pics after the cut...
The most anticipated show for the month, Love Like A Movie 3, took place last night at the Eko Convention Centre.
The show, which was put together by Nigerian singing sensation, Dare Art Alade, had international act, Ciara, in attendance.
So many Nigerian celebrities attended the musical show of the month, looking regal in their outfits.
The likes of Cobhams, Yemi Alade, Genevieve Nnaji, Rita Dominic, to mention a few, were in attendance.
See photos from the red carpet:
Wicked producer, Young John is the latest victim of this foul act called impersonation.
A certain miscreant out there has hijacked the profile of
the producer, using it to engage in fraudulent activities under his
mononym (alias). While it is too bad that some persons have already
fallen victim of this evil perpetration, we’ve thought it necessary to
draw the public’s attention to this.
Sources have it that the victims are being asked to meet up
at the Lekki roundabout, and with a certain amount of money. This said
amount is supposedly the cost of payment in order to be signed by Young
John. Obviously, these are lies directed at the actual person of the
producer, Young John.
Thus, in addressing these scam allegations, we’d like to
let you know first of all that Young John is resident on the Mainland,
not the Island. Secondly, Young John is not in ownership of a
music/record label company, thus it is impossible that he’d be in the
business of signing new artistes (or any artistes at all).
This disclaimer also serves an appeal to all music fans
that they be extremely careful in their dealings with people so as not
to fall a victim of scam. If you must get in touch with Young John for
any reasons whatsoever, look up the bio/contact info section of his
social accounts (Facebook, Twitter & Instagram).
Yesterday. February 28, 2016, the most anticipated concert of the
year, Love Like A Movie 3, took place at the Eko Convention Centre, with
Grammy Award winner,, Ciara, Headlining the event.
Just as expected, Ciara, wowed the crowd, as she performed hit after
hit, with the crowd singing along with her. She ended the night with an
even bigger hit, inviting Nigerian dance queen, Kaffy, on stage to teach
her some of the kost popular dance moves in the country.
As expected, Olamide’s shakiti bobo, Iyanya’s, Kukere and Tecno’s
Duro dance, were among the three that made the cut. Ciara, as we all
know and trust did not disappoint, as she danced with grace, getting the
highest uproar for the night during the three minutes she showed just
how good of a dancer she is.
See some of the photos from the event as Ciara danced to the three most popular dance steps in Nigeria.
Wizkid, has signed a new Dj to his label.
The ‘Babanla’ crooner, took to Instagram some hours ago to announce that he has signed US based Dj Tunez to his record label.
Star Boy Records, which already houses Maleekberry and LAX, welcomed the young man today.
Dj Tunez, has worked with the likes of Davido and Asa.
Congrats to him.
MistaGizzy who recently drop his hit single " Jah Mi " is back with another touching vibes " On Ma Mind " featuring Adam & DhiemexWax .. This song was produce by TerryDon .... Download and Share
Fire outbreak at late Audu Abubakar’s plaza in Abuja
Part of the late Prince Abubakar Audu’s house called Millennium Plaza in the Central Business District Area (CBD), Abuja, was gutted by fire today, Friday 26.
The fire which started at about 2.00pm was reportedly caused by power surge in one of the offices on the fourth floor. However, no life was lost but but property worth millions of naira got burnt during the inferno.
About two car were burnt while occupant run to save their cars. As at press time, fire fighter are still at the scene of the incident .
When our reporter got to the scene of the incident, fire fighters were still battling to put off the fire as policemen were also seen at the scene protecting life and properties.
A son of the late Audu Abubakar who could not make any comment on the incident was seen making phone calls to help the situation.
In spite of the uncertainties surrounding the new rates of the Nigerian currency against the dollar, the week has ended on a much improved note compared to last week.
At the beginning of the week, the naira leapt from N400/dollar (the rate from last weekend) to a strong N375/dollar on the parallel market, a situation which threw the Bureau De Change (BDC) operators into a state of pandemonium as it was unprecedented.
The naira remained unstable against the dollar this week but is still better than what was obtainable last week.
In fact, speculators had been shocked by the consecutive rise on February 23, as they had predicted an all-time rise from the initial N400 (an all time low) to about 450/500 in the coming days.
But as if it was a planned work, the naira firmed up further against the dollar in the next two days, as it eventually fell to a massive N290/dollar which all but calmed a lot of nerves among Nigerians who are into foreign exchange business.
At the start of the week, Ifeanyi Ubah, the chairman of Capital Oil and Gas, had bragged about being able to turn the fortunes of the naira against the dollar and reduce it to about N20 0, adding that President Muhammadu Buhari should make him his financial stability consultant.
And like a script in a movie, the naira continued to firm up against the American dollar after Ubah’s statement, a situation which made many think he probably made true his intention to ensure the continuous growth of the Nigerian currency.
The dollar may not be able to stand against the naira if the current trend continues.
However, with the demand for the foreign currency on the rise again, BDC operators confirmed that it suddenly became scarce as many of their agents decided to hold back what they had, this resulted in another rise of the dollar in the last 24 hours.
As it stands, the naira is exchanged for between N320 and N332 on the parallel market.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the naira remains at N320, however, Naij.com’s sources at the BDC noted emphatically that, “presently, people are reluctant to sell because they are expecting it to rise further. But, right now, it is goes for about N332 to one dollar.”
Although it is quite disappointing for Nigerians who had started jubilating following the recent rise of the naira, they will take solace in the fact that it is no longer at N400/dollar that the week started with.
And with President Buhari insisting that he would not devalue the naira, especially in the wake of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) asking him to lift the ban on forex, Nigerians may soon heave a sigh of relief with the state of the economy.
Emir of Kano Muhammadu Sanusi
A high-powered delegation constituted by the Speaker House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, to condole with people of Kano state over the recent fire incidents in the state has visited the ancient city.
The delegation, comprising of over three chairmen of House Committees, was led by the Chief Whip of the House, Rt. Hon. Alhassan Ado Doguwa.
Doguwa, on their arrival, led the delegation to the scene of the incident, Singa market, and assessed the damage left by the inferno. They also met with those affected by the incident and sympathized with them.
The Chief Whip promised the affected traders that the House of Representatives would work towards complementing President Buhari’s efforts towards providing succour to them.
Hon. Alhassan Doguwa then proceeded with the delegation to the Kano Chamber of Commerce, where the lawmakers held an interactive session with the stakeholders during which they received recommendations on enhancing commercial activities in the state.
The Emir of Kano, Alh. Muhammadu Sanusi II, also described the 8th National Assembly under Rt. Hon. Dogara as pro-people. The comment was made when the delegation was received by the Senior Councillor of the Kano Emirate – His Highness, Galadiman Kano, Alh. Abbas Sanusi who represented the Emir. He further described the effort of the House of Representatives in reaching out to the Kano people at their trying time as generous.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, and his members were also described as “people’s balm, who are out to proffer ways to relieve the Nigerian people of their difficulties”. The delegation was then thanked for their timely response regarding the inferno.
The leader of the delegation, Chief Whip of the House, Hon. Alhassan Ado Doguwa, stated that the Eighth Assembly shall, at all times, be responsive to the yearnings of people.
The authority of the University of Ibadan has expelled 97 students for their failure to obtain the minimum academic requirements for the 2014/2015 session.
The institution’s registrar, Olujimi Olukoya, said in Ibadan that the Senate of the University had approved the withdrawal of the affected students.
The expelled students were from seven faculties and at various levels, including those in the final year of their studies..
The release stated that some of the students had their studentships lapsed while three voluntarily withdrew from the institution.
The institution has also vowed to rank among the Top five in Africa in next few years.
