News
EFCC Puts More Govs Under Watch over Looted Funds
The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Abdulrasheed Bawa, has said the number of governors being monitored by the agency for possible money laundering arising from the redesign of the naira is rising.
Speaking to correspondents after a meeting with the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Thursday, he, however, declined to give the exact number of state chief executives involved.
The anti-graft agency had previously revealed that three governors were being watched on the suspicion that they might attempt to launder stashed cash in their possession which they might not be able to lodge in the bank before the deadline by the Central Bank of Nigeria to return old notes for redesign.
Bawa commended the apex bank’s initiative to redesign some naira denominations, describing it as a significant process in the country’s fight against financial crimes and other forms of corruption.
He said, “On the issue of the governors that we are monitoring, in fact, the numbers have even increased. We are monitoring everything; Nigerians are helping. Well, I don’t want to give you the figures so that you will not go and speculate whether they are in the north or in the south, but it’s important that Nigerians key into it.”
Commending the redesign initiative and how significant the amount of cash out of CBN’s control is, Bawa said, “Oh, it is, it is very significant. You know that there is an obligation of money laundering law that we have, in which an individual is expected to carry out a transaction that is above N5m through the financial institution, there is also the threshold in which a corporate entity is expected to carry out transactions that is above N10m in the financial sector and why is it so?
“It is so because financial institutions are expected to make currency transaction reports, and suspicious transaction reports to relevant agencies. With that, institutions like us will be able to monitor which funds are legitimate and which ones are not legitimate.
“Here we are now, in which 85% of our currency is out in circulation and people are carrying out transactions above the thresholds as provided by this provision over and above that we will not be able to monitor; we don’t know what they’re doing.
“These are the transactions that are creating and giving avenues to other forms of crime that we’re seeing in this country; payment of ransom, banditry, and all of that, payment of bribery to political actors, and the arrest.
“So, it is a good thing for all of us, for the entire country and that is why we are calling on Nigerians to embrace the policy.”
The EFCC boss urged politicians to go about their campaigns without using illegitimate funds.
Speaking on the Eagle Eye, an app recently introduced by the commission, he said the initiative was to ease the reporting of crime.
“Let me use this opportunity to remind Nigerians that Eagle Eye is very important for those that are reporting the holders of these currencies that we know that are out there,” he added.
The Punch
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has fixed January 15 to February 26, 2024, for the sale of its Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) application document.
This was made known in a statement issued by the JAMB spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin, on Wednesday, November 29.
Benjamin noted that the development was based on series of recommendations emanating from a two-day Information Technology (IT) and Management Retreat held between November 26 and 28.
Benjamin noted that March 7, 2024, has been slated for the 2024 Mock-UTME, while the main UTME would hold from April 19 to April 29, 2024.
He, therefore, advised candidates to print their examination slips from April 10, 2024.
The JAMB spokesman added: “Candidates are enjoined to take note of these dates and other advisories issued by the Board in relation to the administration of the examination.
“They are also to visit the Board’s website www.jamb gov.ng for any other information.”
Below is the 2024 JAMB schedule
2024 Jamb Official Timetable:
1. JAMB 2024 Registration Date 14th January 2024
2. JAMB Registration Deadline 14th February 2024
3. JAMB 2024 Registration Fee N4,700
4. JAMB 2024 Novel The Life Changer
5. JAMB 2024 Reprinting Date 29th April 2024
6. JAMB 2024 Mock Exam Date 20th April no 2024
7. JAMB 2024 Examination Date 29th April 2024
The Executive Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has approved the payment of wage award of N15,000 and N10,000 respectively to civil servants and pensioners in the state as a measure to mitigate the impact of subsidy removal.
The Governor, in a statement signed by his spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, stated that the action was in continuation of his avowed commitment to workers’ welfare and a fulfillment of his pledge for the gradual rollout of palliative measures to cushion the effect of subsidy removal.
“On the first day of my second year in office, I unveil this wage award and reaffirm our five point agenda which has workers’ welfare as number one item,” Governor Adeleke noted.
Governor Adeleke’s approval was conveyed in a circular issued by the Ministry of Human Resources and Capacity Building, disclosing that workers in the service of the state will get a N15,000 wage award while pensioners will receive N10,000.
The circular which was signed by Sunday Olugbenga Fadele, a Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, noted that the wage award will run for six months, beginning from the month of December.
“Sequel to the negotiation meetings and interactions with labour movement in Osun state, including the representatives of Nigeria Union of Pensioners, the Governor of Osun State, His Excellency, Senator Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke, has approved the monthly payment of N15,000 to each active worker and N10,000 to each pensioners in Osun state as palliatives to assuage the pains being experienced as a result of removal of petroleum subsidy by the Federal Government of Nigeria. The payment, as approved, is to commence from the month of December, 2023 for a period of six (6) months,” the circular reads in part.
“While acknowledging and appreciating the understanding of Osun state workers and pensioners for their show of understanding regarding the efforts of the State Government in the last one year to improve tremendously on their welfare, being the first on the 5-point Action Plan, the present administration will continue to ensure its commitment to the welfare of workers are met at all times.
“It is expected that this gesture of government will spur workers in the State to be more diligent and committed to their duties.”
Makers of quality beverages and other household items, Nestlé Nigeria, has announced the end to submission of entries for the 2023 Media Awards.
A statement from the Corporate Communications and Public Affairs department, and signed by Victoria Uwadoka, stated that “The highly anticipated Nestlé Nigeria Media Awards 2023 promises to be an exciting edition with an impressive 118 submissions received from a broad range of the media at the time of the official closing of entries on
November 16, 2023.”
Victoria Uwadoka, who is the Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Manager, said, “I want to thank all the participants who have submitted the diverse range of entries, showcasing outstanding creativity and professionalism within the Nigerian media. As the stellar panel of judges commences the process of carefully evaluating each submission to determine the most deserving recipients, we eagerly anticipate the announcement of the finalists at the ‘invitation only’ award event early in December 2023.”
She maintained that the Nestlé Media Awards 2023 ceremony promises to be an elegant celebration of vibrancy, innovation and excellence in the Nigerian media in 2023.
Finalists and winners will be announced in the coming days according to statement.
