HEDA calls for transparent implementation strategies, monitoring - ITREALMS

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A leading civil society organization, the HEDA Resource Centre, has responded to the recent announcement by the Federal Government to provide 5 billion Naira as financial support to the 36 states, aimed at mitigating the impact of the removal of petrol subsidy, reports ITREALMS.

HEDA stressed the importance of transparent implementation frameworks and robust strategies to ensure accountability and effective utilization of these funds.

Governor Adeleke harps on transparent national census - ITREALMS

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The Executive Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke has called on the National Population Commission (NPC) to ensure a truly transparent conduct of the 2023 national census.

Addressing a team from the NPC led by its National Commissioner, Senator Mudashiru Hussein, Governor Adeleke who commended the NPC for the ongoing preparation for the 2023 National Census said all eyes are on the commission to deliver.

Nigeria 2019: U.S, U.K insist on genuine free, fair, transparent elections - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The duo of United States of America (USA) and United Kingdom (UK) have insisted on free, fair, transparent exercise in the forthcoming general elections in Nigeria, reports ITREALMS.

In join press statement made available to ITREALMS, both USA and UK affirmed their support for a credible election beginning with the presidential election till the last exercise.

U.S. Statement read in part:

“The conduct of the upcoming elections in Nigeria is important not only for Nigeria, but for the African continent.

“The United States government does not support any specific candidate or party in Nigeria’s upcoming elections. The United States supports the Nigerian democratic process itself. We support a genuinely free, fair, transparent, and peaceful electoral process.

“We, and other democratic nations, will be paying close attention to actions of individuals who interfere in the democratic process or instigate violence against the civilian population before, during, or after the elections. We will not hesitate to consider consequences - including visa restrictions - for those found to be responsible for election-related violence or undermining the democratic process. Under U.S. immigration law, certain violations may also lead to restrictions on family members.

“We welcome the signing of peace pledges by Nigerian candidates and their commitment to a peaceful electoral process.

According to the United Kingdom, yesterday, “23 days to the Presidential and National Assembly elections and 37 days to the Gubernatorial and State Assembly elections, the British High Commission in Abuja would like to reaffirm our strong support for free, fair and peaceful elections in Nigeria.

“We and our international partners remain committed supporters of Nigeria’s democracy. We do not support any party or individual and believe that the Nigerian people should be able to choose their leaders in an environment free from hate speech and insecurity.

“We continue to provide significant support to Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission and to Nigerian civil society to help them deliver credible elections. We also regularly engage with actors across the political spectrum to encourage them to respect electoral rules and maintain an atmosphere of peace and calm. We will be deploying an extensive observation mission for the forthcoming elections, including coordinating with the EU’s Election Observation Mission. 

"Our monitors will in particular be looking out for any attempts to encourage or use violence to influence the elections, including on social media. We would like to remind all Nigerians that where the UK is aware of such attempts, this may have consequences for individuals. These could include their eligibility to travel to the UK, their ability to access UK based funds or lead to prosecution under international law.

“The UK is a friend and partner of Nigeria. We hope our continued support will play a role in helping Nigeria take a further step towards consolidating the progress made since democracy returned in 1999.”

Chuks Egbune/DoP

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Kwara 2019: APC governorship will be rigorous but transparent - Minister - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said the choice of the APC Governorship candidate for Kwara state will be made through a rigorous and transparent process, as the party is set to win the state's governorship election in 2019, reports ITREALMS.

The Minister, who is the leader of the APC in Kwara State, stated this in Ilorin on Wednesday, at a parley organized for the APC governorship aspirants in the state to present their vision and mission for the state.

He described as unprecedented the parley that saw 12 of the 13 governorship aspirants under the auspices of the APC present their manifestos to the state APC stakeholders at a well-attended and well-organised session in the state capital.

''This parley is one of a kind, perhaps unprecedented in the history of our dear state. It signposts our determination to conduct a transparent and hitch-free primaries, to do things differently from the past so that we can move our state forward and raise the living standards of our people. After all, governance is all about the people,'' Alhaji Mohammed said.

He said all eyes are on Kwara State because of the level of interest that has been shown in the governorship ticket of the APC in the state and the fact that the party is set to occupy the seat of power in the state in 2019.

The Minister said the parley will go down in history as the first time any political party in Kwara State will be organising such a forum as a platform to analyze the vision and mission of its aspirants.

Explaining the process, he said each aspirant was required to present his vision and mission to party stakeholders, in an open, transparent and organized manner.

''If you become the Governor of Kwara State under the APC flag, what can the long-suffering people of our dear state expect from you? How do you intend to ensure that the government serves the people rather than just one man? How can what has become a one-man rule be transmuted to majority rule for the betterment of the people? The answers to these and other questions will give us an insight into your plan of action for the state,” Alhaji Mohammed said

Ayo Midele/GEE

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Paris Club refund disbursement, transparent – Adeosun

ITRealms:

The Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, has reiterated that disbursement of the Paris Club refunds is transparent, reports ITRealms.

Clarifying the seeming misunderstanding on the disbursement pertain, Adeosun, insisted that the Federal Government has consistently complied with all extant rules and regulations in the disbursement of the Paris Club refunds to State Governments.

“The Federal Government's disbursement process is transparent and targeted at the attainment of specific  economic objectives. The inability of some sub-national governments to meet salary and other obligations was considered inconsonant with the Federal Government’s economic stimulus programme.   Claims with regard to over deductions had been made to the Federal Government, consistently since 2005,” she said.

According to her, the Debt Management Office (DMO) initially requested for a period of 22 months to complete the reconciliation and facilitate disbursement.

She also said that however, President Muhammadu Buhari, considering the plight of salary earners and pensioners and the need to stimulate the economy, directed that the exercise be completed within 12 months.

The media adviser to Ministry of Finance, Mr. Festus Akanbi in a press statement made available to ITRealms, quoted Mrs. Adeosun as saying that Mr. President, Muhammadu Buhari, gave an express Anticipatory Approval for the release of  up to 50 per cent of the claim of each state, pending  final reconciliation.

“That reconciliation is undertaken by the DMO, Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) and the relevant State Governments. Accordingly, the disbursements are staggered in batches and payments are only made when the claims of each state have been reconciled with the facts at the disposal of the Federal Government,” she said.

ITRealms recalls that specifically, information was available that some states had been paid either in full or in part, under previous administrations, which necessitated a more detailed review, for the states in question.

Ayo Midele/GEE

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