News
FG to recover millions of naira wrongly paid to 588 Doctors
The Federal Government will recover millions of naira wrongly paid to 588 medical doctors across the country.
Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige, stated this when he fielded questions from State House correspondents in Abuja.
He explained that affected doctors wrongly benefitted from Medical Residency Training Fund meant for particular category of doctors.
He said the names of the doctors were uncovered after a thorough scrutinization of the 8000 names submitted by Chief Medical Directors of Federal Government health institutions for the training programme.
The minister, however, revealed that a substantial amount of the money had been refunded by some of the affected doctors while efforts had been intensified to recover the remaining balance.
He maintained that the delay in making the refund by the affected doctors was holding back the Residency Fund payment by the government.
” Ministry of Health has gotten the list of doctors who supposedly are to benefit from the Medical Residency Training Fund.
”Total submission of about 8000 names were gotten and the Ministry of Health is scrutinising them.
”We have done the first round of scrutinization and they will now compare what they have with the Post-Graduate Medical College and the Chief Medical Directors who submitted the names.
“The Association of Resident Doctors, in each of the tertiary centres, worked with the CMDs to produce those names, but now that the names are being verified.
”We discovered that about 2000 names shouldn’t be there because they don’t have what is called Postgraduate Reference Numbers of National Postgraduate Medical College and (or) that of the West African Postgraduate Medical College.
“So, this is it and that is the only thing holding back the Residency Fund payment because it is there already for… incurred expenditure has been done by the Finance Minister and an it’s in the Accountant-General’s office.,” he said.
”So, once the verify they authenticity of those they are submitting, the Accountant-General will pay.
“We are doing that verification because we do not want what happened last time in 2020 to reoccur.
”In 2020, the submitted names didn’t come through the appropriate source, which is the Postgraduate Medical College and payment was affected and it was discovered that about 588 persons, who were not resident doctors benefited from such money.
”They are now finding it difficult to make the full refund. But they have to refund that money. Some are refunding, but there is no full consideration of the account.
”That account has to be reconciled to enable the accountants pay the next round of funding for 2021,” he said.
On the ongoing strike by Resident Doctors, Ngige expressed the readiness of the Federal Government to withdraw the case it instituted against them, if they would go back to their duty post.
He, however, insisted that the ‘no work, no pay’ policy of the government would be observed because ”it is a global practice which is also captured in Section 43 of the Trade Dispute Act under the International Labour Organization, ILO.” (NAN)
News
Updated: NNPC blames fuel scarcity on panic buying, hoarding, marketers disagree
Updated: NNPC blames fuel scarcity on panic buying, hoarding, marketers disagree
The Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has attributed the ongoing fuel scarcity in the country to panic buying and sharp practices by some petroleum marketers. But the marketers have refuted the claim, asserting that inadequate supply is the primary cause of the persistent scarcity.
The NNPCL assured the public that the fuel queues across the country would disappear by next week.
It stressed that it had sufficient fuel reserves to resolve the scarcity issue. This statement came in response to concerns raised by the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) and other stakeholders regarding the scarcity.
The NNPC spokesperson, Femi Soneye, had earlier indicated that the corporation had over 1.5 billion litres of petroleum products, enough to last for at least 30 days.
But some individuals were allegedly exploiting the situation for profit.
Petroleum marketers maintained they were not responsible for the fuel scarcity, as they are not importers of petrol. According to the National Vice President of IPMAN, Hammed Fashola, blaming marketers for hoarding petrol was unfounded as they could only divert the product if available.
READ ALSO:
- FG threatens to stop funding tertiary institutions with poor performance
- Don’t impose assistants on Finidi — Udeze warns NFF
- Lagos issues 48hr quit notice to Ikoyi Towers’ illegal squatters
Furthermore, Chinedu Ukadike, the National Public Relations Officer of IPMAN, emphasized that independent marketers operate their businesses to maximize profit and return on investment. He highlighted the challenges faced by marketers in ensuring product availability and dismissed allegations of sharp practices.
Similarly, the Executive Secretary of the Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria, Clement Isong, acknowledged the existence of sharp practices within the oil sector but argued that it is too simplistic to attribute the fuel scarcity solely to such practices.
To address the fuel scarcity effectively, stakeholders emphasize the need for increased distribution of petroleum products by regulatory authorities. They also call for the involvement of security agencies to deter profiteering and ensure fair distribution to consumers across the country.
Updated: NNPC blames fuel scarcity on panic buying, hoarding, marketers disagree
News
Lagos issues 48hr quit notice to Ikoyi Towers’ illegal squatters
Lagos issues 48hr quit notice to Ikoyi Towers’ illegal squatters
Lagos State Government has issued a 48 hours ultimatum to illegal squatters at abandoned Ikoyi Towers, Lagos Island to evacuate.
The State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, gave the notice on Saturday, during an inspection of some identified sites, including the abandoned Federal Government property, Ikoyi Towers.
The Ikoyi Towers, located behind the abandoned Federal Secretariat, Ikoyi, comprise of three blocks of 12 floors, tagged: A, B and C.
Wahab said the quit notice has become necessary to protect lives which is the primary function of any responsible and responsive government.
According to him, “Apart from constituting an environmental nuisance, they are security risk to the state which can be used as hideouts for criminal elements to perpetrate their nefarious acts.
READ ALSO:
- Measles outbreak kills 42 in northern Nigerian state
- Delta lady dies after 2 friends pushed her into pot of boiling pepper
- My wife slept with our plumber, connived to dupe me — Man tells court
“Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu is passionate about the well-being and safety of all citizens and would spare nothing to ensure these ate achieved.”
The occupants of the building, who are largely security personnel, appealed to the commissioner to give more time inorder to make proper arrangement for relocation as they have no place to go immediately.
One of the occupants, who simply identified himself as Mallam Abubakar, from Ilorin, Kwara State, said he is a Police Spy, and moved into the building in November 2023.
According to Abubakar,”The agent collected N200, 000, one off rent from each of the occupant, numbering hundreds of us.
“We have our families here. Our children are in schools. Where do we go from here? Government should have compassion on us this harsh economy.”
Lagos issues 48hr quit notice to Ikoyi Towers’ illegal squatters
News
Give Nigerians affordable, quality vehicles, Tinubu challenges auto manufacturers
Give Nigerians affordable, quality vehicles, Tinubu challenges auto manufacturers
President Bola Tinubu has urged the Nigerian Automotive Manufacturers Association to devise ways of producing vehicles that would be affordable for all categories of Nigerians.
He said this is necessary as the government rolls out consumer credit for millions of Nigerians to purchase vehicles and other important goods and services.
He also urged the delegation to ensure that locally manufactured vehicles are of the highest standard that would stand the test of time, and complement the government’s efforts in revitalising the automotive industry.
Tinubu said this when he received a delegation of the African Association of Automotive Manufacturers and the Nigerian Automotive Manufacturers Association in Aso Rock presidential villa on Friday, according to a statement by presidential spokesman Ajuri Ngelale.
The President, represented by his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, met the members led by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Ms Doris Uzoka-Anite, on Friday in Abuja.
READ ALSO:
- Rivers man Prince Onyeoziri bags 7-year jail term for internet fraud
- Lawyer demands JAMB to disclose top UTME scorers
- Terrorist attack claims 24 lives in Katsina community
The delegation had earlier notified the President of their efforts to start manufacturing vehicle and spare parts in Nigeria.
He said that a legislative bill to drive the automotive industry was being drafted and reviewed by the Federal Ministry of Justice.
They emphasised the need to develop the industry, which would create massive employment for youths and ease the burden on the much-needed foreign exchange.
The delegation consisted of the Director-General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Mr Oluwemimo Osanipin.
Others are the representatives of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), as well as Executive Directors of Stallion Group, Toyota/CEAO and NISSAN.
Give Nigerians affordable, quality vehicles, Tinubu challenges auto manufacturers
(NAN)
Updated: NNPC blames fuel scarcity on panic buying, hoarding, marketers disagree
FG threatens to stop funding tertiary institutions with poor performance
Don’t impose assistants on Finidi — Udeze warns NFF
-
metro3 days agoSecurity forces, vigilantes arrest kidnapper terrorising communities in Kogi
-
metro3 days agoNeighbour, son beat mother of four to death in Edo
-
metro3 days ago19-year-old boy convicted for impregnating 14-year-old sister
-
News3 days agoDrama as Delta workers boo Gov Oborevwori over minimum wage
-
International2 days agoUS students slam Biden’s comments on Gaza encampments
-
News3 days agoAdopt quarterly exchange rate for Customs duty, economist advises FG
-
metro2 days agoBREAKING: EFCC, Cubana Chief Priest agree to settle out of court
-
metro3 days agoLondon sword attack leaves British-Nigerian teenager dead