JUST IN: UNIABUJA ANNOUNCES EXPULSION OF 100 STUDENTS OVER MALPRACTICES, RESTICATE SOME

The senate of the university of Abuja have announced the expulsion of one hundred  students over involvement in examination malpractices.

In a statement on sunday December 22, 2019  by Head of information and University Relations of the university, Habib Yakoob said the university authority also approved the rustication of eleven students.

The statement said their expulsion and or rustication was approved by the Senate of the university following the consideration of the report and recommendations of the Central Examination Misconduct Committee.

The statement reads: “Those expelled comprise 72 undergraduate and 28 postgraduate students. Five (5) undergraduate students were rusticated for One Academic Session, Three (3) were rusticated for One Semester, while three (3) had no case.

“Three (3) postgraduate students were also rusticated for One Academic Session.

“Senate at its 174th Regular Meeting held on Wednesday, 6th November, 2019, had considered the report and recommendations of the Central Examination Misconduct Committee, and after due diligence, approved the expulsion/rustication of the students.

“Among the undergraduate students expelled, 27 were in 400 Level; 19 in 300 Level, 16 in 200 Level, Two students in 100 Level, 5 others in their 5th, 6th, and 7th Session.

“The breakdown also shows that 47 of the expelled students were from Faculty of Science, 23 from Faculty of Management Sciences, 20 from Faculty of Social Sciences, while 10 others cut across various Faculties.

“The affected students have since been directed to handover any University property in their possession, including identity card, to their heads of department and unit. They were also advised to vacate the campus immediately.

“The University of Abuja wishes to reiterate that it is determined to ensure academic discipline among its staff and students, and that those who violate the rules and regulations of the institution would be appropriately disciplined.”

ABUJA HORROR: POLICE INSPECTOR SHOOTS POLICEMAN AND KILLS SELF

The Commissioner of police FCT  Command Bala Ciroma says the command regrettably condemns the unfortunate incident that took place at Dutse Alhaji Division on 21st December, 2019  involving the murder of a Police Corporal by an  Inspector of Police. 

He condemned the action in an official statement signed by the police public Relations officer of the command Mariam Yusuf. The statement says Preliminary investigation reveals that the deceased Inspector fired a shot at the Corporal leading to his death and injuring a Deputy Superintendent of Police before he committed suicide.

While commiserating with the family members of the deceased, the Commissioner of Police has ordered a discreet investigation into the incident and put measures in place to forestall the reoccurrence of such incident.

The Command urges residents to remain calm while reiterating its commitment to provide adequate security during the Christmas/New year Celebrations

IMSU Vice Chancellor, Professor Victoria Adaobi-Obasi Advocates Better Welfare For University Workers

The Vice Chancellor, imo state university, professor Victoria Adaobi-Obasi has challenged her felliw vice-chancellors not to toy with the welfare of all workers in their university 

The vice chancellor who was speaking on the sidelines of a conference on education by non-academic staff union of Educational and associated institutions, said premium must be placed on workers welfare to increase productivity

Professor Obasi Also asked both federal and state governments to go beyond increasing education budget but to ensure the monitor implementation of the allocations

Professor victoria Adaobi-Obasi was among eminent Nigerians who were honoured by NASU at its conference in Abuja

Others honoured are the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki And JAMB Registrar, Professor Is-haq Oloyede

TRADEGY: Police Inspector Opens Fire On Colleague, Self in Abuja

A police inspector Saturday opened fire on his colleagues killing one and injuring another before killing himself at a divisional police station in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

According to @Dimensions_Live,  The FCT Commissioner of Police, Bala Ciroma who confirmed the incident in a statement signed by the Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Mariam Yusuf says the shooting occured at about 4.30am in the Dutse Alhaji Divisional Police Station located in Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory.

Though no names were given, the statement explains that the “inspector fired a shot at the corporal leading to his death injuring a Deputy Superintendent of Police before he committed suicide”.

No further details have been provided but the Police Commissioner has “ordered a discreet investigation into the incident and put measures in place to forestall the reoccurrence of such incident”.

Condemning the unfortunate incident and commiserating with the family of the deceased corporal, the FCT Command “urges residents to remain calm while reiterating its commitment to provide adequate security during the Christmas and New Year celebrations”.

The last time a policeman in Abuja opened fire and killed his colleagues was in 2014 while they were on duty around a commercial bank along the Nyanya-Karshi Road in Abuja Municipal Area Council. Investigations reveal that the policeman who also killed himself had disagreement with his former girlfriend who was already dating his colleague.

LATE SENATE COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN ON LABOUR: NGIGE, KEYAMO MOURN UWAJUMOGU

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. (Dr) Chris Nwabueze Ngige, and the Hon. Minister of State, Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo (SAN) have condoled with the Senate President, Dr Ahmed Lawan and the family of the late Senator Ben Uwajumogu over his death.

In a statement signed by Deputy Director press, Ministry Of Labour, Charlse Akpan said The two Ministers led the management and staff of the ministry to pay condolence visits to the National Assembly  and to the family home of Senator Uwajumogu who passed on last Wednesday. 

 Find full text below.

PRESS RELEASE                21/12/19

 

 

NGIGE, KEYAMO MOURN SEN. UWAJUMOGU

 

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige, and the Hon. Minister of State, Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo(SAN)  have condoled with the Senate President, Sen. Ahmed Lawan and the family of the late Sen. Ben Uwajumogu over his death.

The two Ministers led the management and staff of the ministry to a condolence visit to the National Assembly  and to the family home of Sen. Ben Uwajumogu who passed on last Wednesday. 

Addressing the Senate President and other distinguished Senators at the occasion, Sen. Ngige described late Sen. Uwajumogu  as a patriotic Nigerian, a team player whose integrity robbed off positively on every assigned responsibility.  

Ngige recalled,  “ Ben’s death is tragic and  dreadful not because death has ceased to be a debt commonly owed by mankind ( ominbus moriendum– all must die) but because he dropped dead, alive!  The Distinguished Senator  had just left my office on Monday, December 16, after over two hours of engrossing discussions as the Chairman of Senate Committee on Labour and Employment. He came with his counterpart in the House of Representatives, Engr. A. Wudil, but  Ben betrayed no sign and left no inkling of a foreboding cloud !” 

Later at the house of the late Senator at No. 43 Ebitu Ukiwe Str. Jabi, Abuja, the two Ministers  condoled with the late Senator’s  widow, children and other family members, challenging them not to despair, but to remain steadfast in their faith in God Almighty, declaring that the late Senator’s legacy of integrity, enterprising spirit   and goodwill would guide the bereaved through  difficult times 

They later signed the condolence register. 

 Charles Akpan 

Deputy Director, Press and public Relations   

MUST KNOW: SEVEN TAXES AMENDED BY THE FINANCE BILL 2019 AND THEY AFFECT US

The Finance Bill 2019 is set for the signature of President Muhammadu Buhari after the two versions passd by both Chambers of the National Assembly was harmonised by the Conference Committee for the Bill.

The Finance Bill 2019 is an amendment bill submitted by President Buhari alongside the 2020 budget estimates to the National Assembly.

The bill, when signed into law, will amend seven taxes as presently constituted.

Below are the seven taxes the Finance Bill 2019 seeks to amend and how it may affect you:

1. Value Added Tax

The rate paid for Value Added Tax (VAT) according to the bill will witness an upward movement from 5 percent to 7.5 percent. This, from all intent is to raise more revenue for government.

As more revenue goes into the pocket of government, so also will Nigerians have to spend more than they currently do, as prices are bound to go up since manufacturers and service providers are bound to pass the extra 2.5 percent to consumers.

2. Petroleum Profits Tax

The Finance Bill 2019 as passed by the National Assembly has repealed Section 60 of the Petroleum Profits Tax Act, introducing Withholding Tax (WHT) of 10% on dividends paid out of the profits of companies engaged in petroleum operations in Nigeria. 

The Bill effectively abolishes the tax exemption granted under the Petroleum Profit Tax Act for such income or dividends.

3. Capital Gains Tax

Under the new Finance Bill 2019, Section 32 and 36 of the Capital Gains Tax Act have been abolished.

With this, exemptions granted companies from paying capital gains tax when transferring assets between two entities during restructuring have been abolished.

Also capital gains tax would henceforth be paid by anyone who receives compensation in excess of N10, 000,000 (ten million naira) after loss of employment.

4. Stamp Duties

Here is where the Finance Bill 2019 will also affect most Nigerians directly outside of VAT.

With the passage and harmonization of the two versions of the Bill from the Senate and House of Representatives and the expected assent by Mr. President, sections 2 and 89 of the Stamp Duties Act have been amended.

Under the new dispensation, payment of stamp duties will now cover electronic documents.

Also, bank transfers from one account to the other from N10, 000 (Ten thousand) upward will attract a one-off stamp duty of N50. You are however exempted from payment if you are transferring from one of your accounts to another in the same bank.

5. Customs & Excise Tariff 

The Finance Bill 2019 has amended section 21 (Fifth Schedule) of the Customs, Excise Tariff, Etc. (Consolidation) Act 1995.

Under the amendment, goods imported into Nigeria have been added to those that must pay excise duty in the country.

6. Personal Income Tax

Another significant aspect of the Finance Bill 2019 is the amendment to sections 33, 49, and 58 of the Personal Income Tax Act. 

Immediately the Bill becomes operational, those without the Tax Identification Numbers (TIN) will be barred from operating any new or existing bank accounts in the country.

Furthermore, the Bill has removed personal income tax reliefs individuals enjoy on account of children and dependent adults.

7. Companies Income Tax

The Finance Bill 2019 amends sections 9, 10, 13, 16, 19, 20, 23, 24, 27, 29, 31, 33, 39, 40, 41, 43, 53, 55, 77, 78, 80, 81, 105, and the Third and Seventh Schedules of the Companies Income Tax Act ("CITA").

Significantly, the amendments mean that companies without their Tax Identification Numbers cannot operate corporate accounts in the country.

Also, foreign companies engaged in digital economy would be subjected to payment of tax in Nigeria. The amendments expect any digital company with significant economic presence in Nigeria, even without any physical presence in the country, to pay tax.

POOR CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION LOOMS FOR UNIVERSITY LECTURERS OVER IPPIS

 Nigeria' s tertiary institutions may soon experience looked up classrooms over the refusal of some academic staff to allow themselves to be captured in the integrated payrol and personnel  information system, IPPIS

But before that strike possibility, they may be having a bleak and cashless 2019 christmas, should government holds back their December salaries over refusal to enrol in the intergrated payroll and personnel information system,IPPIS.

Information from the IPPIS Directorate in the Office Of the Accountant General insist that there is a presidential Directive for all public servants to enroll in the scheme including lecturers

T

his report examines the pros and cons of IPPIS and what is needed to arrive at a meeting point between lecturers and government in efforts to avert another round of strikes in Nigeria's ivory towers

It has been a running battle between the Nigerian government and workers in tertiary institutions over the refusal of the academic staff unions to enrol in IPPIS. 

The unions are those in the universities, Polytechnics and colleges of education.

The crux of the matter is that government sees IPPIS as an instrument to help iďentify ghost workers, check over and double payment as well as tackle corruption, while the academic staff unions believe it's a ploy to stop certain allowances and benefits during sabbatical, as visiting lecturers and a few other peculiarities

For The Universities, it is nothing more than discrediting the 'hard-fought' university Autonomy, which allows university governing boards to employ and pay certain allowances

No wonder ASUU is proposing  the UNIVERSITY TRANSPARENCY ACCOUNTABILITY SOLUTION, UTAS as an alternative to IPPIS .

In  a bid to coax the teachers to buy into the IPPIS policy, government threatened to withhold December salary of staff who refuse to enroll

Sources in the IPPIS office say the enrolement of workers is a presidential directive

In spite of ASUU's threats, filers abound that some staff are secretly enrolling in the Scheme

The story about the IPPIS in the university use to be the same with the polytechnics and colleges of education, until the colleges succumbed to presure

ASUU says it has Bankrolled UTAS an alternative to IPPIS to about 40 percent completion.

ASUU succeeded in the past with such moves, for example the creation of  University pension company, outside the numerous licenced and available Pension fund administrators 

Will ASUU succeed this time with UTAS while other public employees enrol in IPPIS or are students going to resume in January 2020 with a strike by lecturers.

It remains to be seen.

Rivers 2020 Budget: Gov. Wike Sets Aside N8bn For Minimum Wage Adjustment, N5bn For New Employment

Workers in Rivers State, South South Nigeria, May be having a complete package of the 30,000 Naira minimum wage signed into law, as the State Governor, Nyesom Wike earmarks 8 Billion naira for civil servants

The governor revealed the good news at the  presentation of a budget proposal of N530.8bn to the State House of Assembly for the 2020 fiscal year, on Tuesday

The Governor also set aside 5bn naira to cover the recruitment of new employees into the state civil service.

The state’s 2020 budget was christened ‘Budget of Reassurance, profound impact for inclusive growth and shared prosperity’.

The state government in 2019 budgeted N480bn for recurrent and capital expenditure.

Presenting the 2020 budget proposal to the State House of Assembly on Tuesday, Wike said that the budget had recurrent expenditure of    N156,659,436,569.00, while capital expenditure would take N374,153,920,743.00.

Wike said, “The capital expenditure for 2020 is estimated to be N374,153,920,743.00, which constitutes nearly 70 per cent of the total budget.

“The summary of sectoral allocations of the capital expenditure are as follows; administrative sector, N15,061,008,000.00; economic sector, N136,444,523,766.60; law and justice, N2,400,000,000.00; social sector,   N138,558,553,322.35; special head, N57,367,124,462.05, and loan repayments                  N24,322,731,192.00.

“The substantial increase in capital over recurrent expenditure, once again, reflects and underscores our commitment to direct more resources to the growth and productive sectors of our economy.

“This administration is poised to fulfill every promise it made to our people. Consequently, various expenditure portfolios have been allocated to all the relevant MDAs to fund capital expenditures and deliver physical and socio-economic infrastructure and development for our people.”

“The sum of N70,227,748,472.32 is earmarked for salaries and wages; N8,000,000,000.00 for the new minimum wage, while N18,429,375,634.45 is for overheads.

“Also, N5,000,000,000.00 is set aside for new recruitments, N3,000,000,000.00 as counterpart fund for pensions, N900,000,000.00 for death benefits and N33,176,728,931.33 as monthly pensions and gratuities.

“Government has also provided over N400,000,000.00 as counterpart contributions for donor programmes.”

Wike stated that the sum of N93.9bn had been provided for the Ministry of Works to continue to fund the strategic road development programme for 2020.

JAMB Registrar insists N100m Allocation to State Offices Stands Abolished

The Registrar, Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), on Wednesday said that the board would no longer give the usual N100 million to its state offices.

Mr Oloyede made the disclosure at the opening of a two-day meeting with Computer Based Test (CBT) centres, Technical Advisors, Service Providers such as MTN, Airtel, Galaxy Backbone and other stakeholders.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting was held at Kongo Conference Hotel, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria.

Mr Oloyede said: “You may recollect that since 2016, we do give at least N100m to state offices for one thing or the other. We want to tell you that this year; no kobo will be released for anybody for anything, because those who are running private CBC centres are making profit.

“And if they can make profit, paying their salaries and doing other things. We are paying salaries of all staff and in addition, we still take care of offices through quarterly allocation.

“We started last year to see how much you bring in, henceforth; I will not go into government coffers to give you money. We can close down any centre that is not useful to us,” he said.

The registrar said they brought in NIN as a condition for registering our candidates for this year, adding that they were also collaborating with NIMC.

“With current campaign against NIMC, I’m not saying they are not corrupt but for me, I could see deliberate efforts at running down NIMC, so that we can think of not collaborating with them.

“Those who are benefiting from registration and examination scandals, which have become big industries, are mounting campaign against NIMC.

“I am not saying you should not be vigilant, but, do not let us swallow everything people are saying about them. Based on my interaction with the head of NIMC, they are upright and just last week, five members of their staff were sacked for collecting bribes.

“What else would they do. Will they manufacture those who will work with them. So, as you interact with NIMC, don’t have it in mind that you are interacting with corrupt people, no, they are not,” he said.

He, however, said that it did not mean one should not be vigilant, saying he would be happy if the corrupt ones among the staff were exposed.

“You know, there are infractions during registration and examinations and we have punished infractions we detected. We will not tolerate it, no matter how little.

“Unless I’m wrong, more than 40 per cent of our candidates have obtained their NIN while the remaining ones are running helter- skelter to have theirs,” he said.

The registrar sought the assistance of Computer Professional Registration Council of Nigeria (CPRCN) to pay particular attention to CCTV.

Mr Oloyede said they were aware that some CBT centres were tampering with CCTV camera in collaboration with the JAMB technical officers, adding that they would not have been able to do so if the technical officers had not collaborated with them, as it was in the server room.

“You should also note that, no third party is allowed to make any change on the profile of any candidate. We are having a situation where somebody will want to go out with a particular lady but when such a lady declines, they will mischievously change her examination venue.

“They do that using her password which they must have collected from her to change her examination hall from Lagos to Maiduguri.

“In the day of examination, she will go but her name will not be there. There are also mothers who change courses of their children.

“We have a case of a lady who wanted to study English but her mother insisted she must study Law. Unknown to her, the mother went and used her password to change her first choice to law,” he said.

He said when the said lady got admission to study law, she protested that she didn’t apply for law, adding that the board traced it and discovered that it was her mother who collected her password from her and changed the course.

According to him, there are other instances like that, saying that the board had no business with father or mother of any candidate.

“If your son or daughter cannot manage his or her affairs, then, he or she is not qualified to be admitted into any higher institution,” he noted.

In his speech, Ibrahim Garba, the Vice-Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University, lauded the efforts of JAMB management under Oloyede and urged him to sustain the tempo for the good of the nation’s education system.

Mr Garba, who was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Administration, Zubairu Abubakar, said that the board was being revolutionised to meet the 21st-century challenges. (NAN)

Minimum wage to be increased to $18.90 an hour

  

The government has confirmed the minimum wage will be going up by $1.20 next year.

It's the next step towards the government's plan for the minimum wage to reach $20 by 2021.

Currently the minimum wage is $17.70, but this will increase from 1 April .

Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Iain Lees-Galloway said the new $18.90 rate will mean an extra $48 a week for those minimum wage earners who work 40 hours a week.

"The rise in minimum wage is estimated to boost wages by $306 million a year across the economy.

"That's a good investment in local economies where workers spend their wages," he said.

The Council of Trade Unions (CTU) president Richard Wagstaff was welcoming the move.

"We are thrilled that this government is taking active steps to improve the lives of working people by ensuring that the lowest paid are getting an increase from their employers," he said.

However, Wagstaff added there are other steps the government should take that would also make work better in New Zealand.

"These include the introduction of Fair Pay Agreements and enhanced protections for those working as contractors," he said.

National's Workplace Relations and Safety spokesperson Todd McClay said the increase will cost jobs and impose large costs on small businesses.

"It means employers are less likely to create jobs, less likely to invest in training and development and less likely to replace workers when they leave," he said.

He added it would further add to the rising cost of living and disproportionality effect people on low incomes.

"National is committed to securing high wages for workers, that's why we increased the minimum wage every year in government.

"However we believe the minimum wage should go up in a balanced way that doesn't go too far, too fast."