Re-Order revenue allocation formula says Fayemi - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has stressed the need for the Federal Government to allocate more fund to the states in order to make them more responsible and responsive to the yearnings of the people, reports ITREALMS.

Fayemi who expressed his displeasure on the present revenue sharing formula where the larger chunk is allocated to the Federal Government, leaving the federating states and local governments with low allocation, said approval of the new minimum wage by the Federal Government required that government make moves to increase states’ funding to enable them effectively take up the responsibility.

The Governor, who spoke on a Television/Radio network programme in Ado-Ekiti on Monday evening, however, assured workers that his colleagues in the Nigeria Governors’ Forum are committed to the payment of the new minimum wage as soon as the Federal Government releases the template.

He reiterated the need for government at all levels to diversify the economy and think of ways to generate more revenue to enable them effectively address the socio-economic challenges facing them.

“We have a bigger issue, which does not necessarily apply to workers, it’s about re-ordering the revenue allocation formula in the country, because you cannot continue to impose on states a tyranny of unfunded mandate. If you want us to take responsibility for certain things then it’s only fair that we are funded to take responsibility for them. So, right now, 52 percent of the Nigerian resources goes to the Federal Government; 26 percent to state governments; and 20 percent to local governments. We feel that this ought to be revisited and the allocation formula needs to be reviewed.

“The ability of the Federal Government and the federation account to also respond to this would depend largely on the capacity of the Nigerian state to generate more resources, so everybody has a role to play in baking the pie if we want the pie to provide the resources that would be available to all Nigerians particularly workers”. Governor Fayemi said.

On the issue of minimum wage, Fayemi said “Governors were part of the negotiations, there is no uncertainty around government’s commitment. It’s been signed into law, so, governors definitely would honour the law as it is. The issue that needs to be addressed fundamentally by workers and employers is one clear issue, is a minimum wage review also a general wage review?

“What do I mean by that? Minimum wage apply to anyone earning anything less than N30,000 now. It should not apply to people who are earning above that. However, because the increase is going to have an implication on those who already earn above N30,000, there necessarily ought to be some adjustment to make provision for that shift, that is where the sticky point is. From what I gathered, Federal Government that is supposed to provide the template for the implementation of the minimum wage review has offered a general increase of, I think, 5 percent to workers that may not fall within the minimum wage category but who might be affected by the increase that the junior workers would benefit from.

“ I have reassured the union leaders in Ekiti that once we get the template, difficult as it might be for us, we are committed to honouring the minimum wage review that we have signed up to at the Governors’ Forum and I can assure you that my colleagues in the governors’ forum are also committed to doing this”.

While assuring workers that his government would continue to ensure prompt payment of their salaries, the governor urged them to improve on their level of productivity to justify the huge resources government was expending on them

He further assured that his administration would fulfill its promise to pay all outstanding arrears owed by the immediate past administration within one year.

He said, “A labourer deserves his wage and that is why we’ve made it a duty to ensure that workers earn their salaries as at when due so that they can plan their lives, part of the problem that we met on ground when we came to office was that workers had not received their salaries in some cases for about ten months, so how do you plan your life if you don’t even know when your next salary is going to come, but that has become a thing of the past now.

“In the course of that period, we also said we would clear the outstanding arrears owed workers by the previous administration and we are on course to doing that. I gave a year of clearing arrears and we are working assiduously to ensure that we would clear the arrears We’ve made sure that workers earn their salaries every month since I came into office. But I don’t think this is extraordinary anyway, that is what it should be. I know Ekiti people are appreciative because this was a problem in the past, but really, if you work, you should be paid, it’s not something to praise the governor for frankly and I’m not being modest about it, I just think it’s a duty, it’s not a favour done to workers.

“What they need to do in response is to ensure that the level of productivity increases so that Ekiti people can also feel the impact of the improvement in the regular payment of their salaries, to whom much is given, as they say much is expected” he said.

Ayo Midele/Editor

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OrderPaper vs Tony Nwulu: MRA condemns threat to publisher, demands Police investigation - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has condemned the harassment of Mr. Oke Epia, publisher of the online newspaper, OrderPaper Nigeria, by a former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tony Nwulu,over fraudulent constituency project, reports ITREALMS.

MRA also called on the Nigerian Police to thoroughly investigate the alleged threat to the life of the journalist.

Programme Director at MRA, Mr. Ayode Longe, reminded the Police that  as a journalist, Mr. Epia has a constitutional right and duty to hold the government and government officials accountable to the people.  

"The Police is duty-bound to protect him as a citizen and as a journalist as well as to refrain from harassing him or interfering with the performance of his professional duties, while thoroughly investigating any threat to him or any attempt by any individual to harass him with a view to bringing the culprit to justice,” he said.

Mr. Epia and his colleagues at OrderPaper are reported to have received a series of telephone calls from Hon. Nwulu and other “strange persons”, some of whom refused to identify themselves, threatening to hunt down Mr. Epia and his colleagues at all costs.

Mr. Longe noted that the report published by OrderPaper regarding the collection and expenditure of funds meant for the execution of constituency projects in Hon. Nwulu’s constituency and the allegation that the project was not implemented is well within the professional duties and obligations of the online newspaper and its publishers, adding that if the former legislator feels that the story had defamed him or in any way unfairly portrayed him in bad light, he has recourse to the courts in a civil action for defamation.

He said: “We are shocked that the former legislator, who ought to know that as an elected official, he is accountable to the public,  has chosen to include the Police in his arsenal of tools for harassing and intimidating a media organization and its publisher rather than explaining to the public what has happened to the funds in question and demonstrating that the project for which the money was meant was actually implemented as specified.  It is even more shocking to us that Police are allowing themselves to be used to harass and intimidate a media organization, its publisher and staff for carrying out their professional and constitutionally mandated duties.”

According to him, if Hon. Nwulu is alleging that he is being blackmailed by the news organization, then it seems very likely that he has done something wrong that he is trying to prevent from coming out. Otherwise, a simple explanation from him on whether the constituency project has been implemented and details of how it was implemented, the cost and satisfactory proof of these would show if the report by OrderPaper was inaccurate or completely false and would likely lay the matter to rest.

Mr. Longe observed that “Rather than provide the public with a credible explanation, Hon. Nwulu is leaving the substance of the issue and trying to use his power as a politician to silence the media while throwing up a lot of smoke in the process.  It will not work; we can see through these antics.”

He added: “Mr. Epia says given the rate of attacks against journalists in Nigeria in recent times, he is fearful for his life as a result of the threat by Hon. Nwulu to hunt him down.  We share his concern and call on the Nigerian Police to protect the journalist from an obviously angry individual who is determined to punish the publisher of the media outlet that dared to examine his performance in office.  Hon. Nwulu feels that because he was once elected to the National Assembly, he is above the Law and cannot be questioned or asked to give account of his performance in office.  Any demand on him to be accountable is viewed as blackmail.”

Nenye Dom/Editor

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FBN Holdings Plc records N294.2bn earnings @ H1’19 - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

Parent company of First Bank of Nigeria Limited, the FBN Holdings Plc, has recorded gross earnings of N294.2 billion for the six months ending June 30, 2019; first half year (H1’19), reports ITREALMS.

This represents 0.3 percent growth when compared with the N293.3 billion recorded as gross earnings in the corresponding period of 2018 (H1’18). 

The company disclosed this on Monday, saying its financial results for the six months period ending June 2019, showed that the company recorded profit before tax of N39.9 billion in H1’19, up by 2.6 percent from N38.9 billion in H1’18. 

A press statement from the company made available to ITREALMS indicated that FBN Holidings recorded "Profit after tax however dropped by 5.4 percent to N31.7 billion in H1’19 from N33.5 billion in H1’18."

The Group Managing Director, FBNHoldings, Elder Urum Kalu Eke, was quoted as saying that despite the difficult operating environment, they remained resolute in delivering guidance across key metrics, including commitment towards a single digit Non Performing Loans (NPL) ratio by the end of year, as evidenced by the reduction in NPLs from the last quarter.

“Essentially, Atlantic Energy, our largest NPL, was written off, translating into a decline in the NPL ratio from 25.9 percent in December 2018 to 14.5 percent as at June 2019, a step that brings us closer to our full year 2019 target and create more headroom for quality asset growth," Eke said.

Ayo Midele/Editor

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NITDA extends deadline for initial data audit - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has held series of consultations with various industry and government stakeholders on the implementation of the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR), reports ITREALMS.

Disclosing this to ITREALMS, the Director General/CEO, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim-Pantami, said that it has been an overwhelming consensus of all stakeholder groups that, the NDPR is an appropriate regulation that would help provide clarity for data controllers and processors on the rights of data subjects, basis of processing personal data and transfer of data outside Nigeria among others. NITDA is pleased to note that stakeholders including other Sector Regulators, Government, Banks, Industry groups, Private Sector players among many others, have shown tremendous willingness towards compliance with the NDPR.

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 NITDA investigates banks, fintech, NIS over data breaches ... - ITREALMS

Consequently, he noted in a press statement made available to ITREALMS that Article 4.1(5) of the NDPR requires Data Controllers to submit an initial audit report within six months of issuance of the Regulation (which lapsed on 25th July, 2019). Several Data Controllers have appealed for an extension of time to meet this obligation.

“Therefore, NITDA is hereby granting a three-month extension for the conduct of the initial audit report for every data Controller and Processor. This extension period would elapse on Friday 25th October, 2019,” he revealed.

This extension, he said, for the purpose of audit filing does not limit NITDA’s right to investigate and enforce other allegations of breach made against any Data Controller or Processor pursuant to the NDPR and the NITDA Act 2007.

He recalled that NITDA is a Federal Government Agency established in 2001 to implement the Nigerian Information Technology Policy as well as coordinate general IT development and regulation in the country. Specifically Section 6(a,c) of the Act mandates NITDA to- create a frame work for the planning, research, development, standardization, application, coordination, monitoring, evaluation and regulation of Information Technology practices, activities and systems in Nigeria and develop guidelines for electronic governance and monitor the use of electronic data interchange and other forms of electronic communication transactions as an alternative to paper-based methods in government, commerce, education, the private and public sectors, labour, and other fields.

Remmy Nweke/DoP

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Perm Sec Mourns Akinloye Oyebanji, says he is quintessential sports journalist

ITREALMS:

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, Deaconess Grace Isu-Gepke, has condoled with the management of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), and the family of Mr. Akinloye Oyebanji over the death of the veteran Sports Journalist, reports ITREALMS.

In a Letter of Condolence addressed to the Director General of the NTA, Mallam Yakubu Ibn Mohammed, the Permanent Secretary said the Late Oyebanji distinguished himself as a sports journalist, who displayed uncommon enthusiasm and passion during his meritorious service to the station, which spanned over three decades.

“I received the news of his death with shock and profound sadness. His death has definitely robbed Nigeria of one of its finest Sports Journalists, who would be remembered for the enthusiasm and passion he exuded while discharging his duties.

“Mr. Oyebanji was a role model and a quintessential reporter, who acquainted himself creditably as a Sports Journalist and Commentator. His sudden death is a monumental loss not only to his family and the sports industry but to Kwara State and the nation in general,” she said.

Deaconess Gekpe urged his family to take solace in the fact that the deceased lived an exemplary life of service to the nation, which is worthy of emulation.

She prayed God to repose the soul of the deceased and grant his family, friends and colleagues the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

Banji Bayo/Editor

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BREAKING! Chijioke cries out: My picture is wrongly used in place of late Precious Owolabi - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

Original photo: Chijioke and friends @ITREALMS

A serving member of the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC), Oraeki Chijioke, has cried out over the wrong use of his picture in the Nigerian media since the death of late Precious Owolabi, reports ITREALMS.

He declared that “I am not demised but alive.”

Chijioke who is currently serving in Agbara, Ogun State, told ITREALMS, he has been inundated with calls from relatives and friends over the wrong picture usage.

“For this, I have had to deal with streams of calls coming in from the early hours of Tuesday, 22nd July, 2019 to this moment to be sure it was a misplaced image identity,” he lamented.

According to him, “I commiserate with the family of the late Corp member (Precious Owolabi) incidentally, I have discovered that my picture is being used instead by some media houses."

Chijioke explained that he noticed that his photo was cropped off a group picture with some two other friends.

This, he said, was initially on Instablog9ja (@instablog9ja)  and has since escalated even though the initial users were contacted and had since stepped down the material.

The latest, he said was that of The Nation Newspapers on July 26 and 28, 2019 and The Punch of 28.

“I will appreciate an apology, and retraction in requisite measure that the picture was used as soon as possible, both offline and online. Also, I will appreciate if editors of concerned media houses could review their posts and publications by editing out my picture and better still bring it down when such update is made soonest,” he appealed in a letter to the President, Nigeria Guild of Editors.

Uj. N. Dominic/Editor

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2yr after: Amanda Chinwe Aguh still in our hearts - ITREALMS

Tribute@ITREALMS:

Today, Monday, 29th July, 2019 marks the second remembrance anniversary of Mrs. Amanda Chinwe Aguh. 

Each passing day, we remember her; for her level of joviality, her level of frankness, her promptness & dedication towards her commitments can't be over-looked.

As we remember her today, praising what is lost makes the remembrance dear. Remembrance is the only paradise out of which we cannot be driven away. We remember her, as she is ever present in our minds.

Sweet is the memory of our loved ones! Like the mellow rays of the departing sun, it falls tenderly, yet sadly, on the heart.

The entire members of Catholic Women Organisation (CWO), Cardinal Newman, the Parishioners of St. Jude's Catholic Church, Mafoluku-Lagos, her family members & friends still remember her because she was a force to be reckoned with. The key to immortality is first living a life worth remembering.

For us, there are no goodbyes, wherever she is, she will always be in our hearts.

Life is eternal and love is immortal; And death is only a horizon, and a horizon is nothing as per the limit of sight. The tide recedes, but leaves behind bright seashells on the sand. The sun goes down, but gentle warmth still lingers on the sand. The music stops, yet it echoes on in sweet refrains ... for every joy that passes, something beautiful remains.

Those we love can never be more than a thought away, for as long as there's a memory, they live in our hearts to stay.

Amanda, we love you, we remember you today, thought of you yesterday and days before. We think of you in silence, we do mention your name and what we have now is memories and your picture frame.

Losing one of our own is never easy, especially one who offered such unconditional love.

We won't forget your face, your smile, your wisdom, your unconditional love. You left shoes too large to fill & pain in our hearts that only God whom you served faithfully can take away. In all, we have been comforted that you did not leave us helpless.

Out of sight, but you are never out of our minds.

There is a link death cannot sever, love & remembrance last forever.

I won't forget to mention here that she loved St. Maria Goretti passionately as a result of the group she belonged to in CWO. 

The feast is celebrated every 6th July, a date she always looked forward to. She followed her way of life closely by showing love to people and also showed compassion in her dealings.

Amanda, your memories sneaks out of our eyes, and roll down our cheeks. The greatest treasures are those invisible to the eyes, but found by the heart. Remembrance is a golden chain, death tries to break it all in vain.

The song is ended, but the melody lingers on. Happy trails to you, until we meet again.

May her soul continue to rest in peace, Amen!

*Chris Uruakpa contributed this from Lagos.

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DSO: A win-win for consumers, TV industry & Govt – ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Questech Media Consulting Limited and former Director-General, National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Mr. Emeka Mba has prescribed that proper implementation of the Digital Switch Over (DSO) scheme as a win-win for the three tiers of the stakeholders in the broadcast industry, reports ITREALMS.

The three tiers of stakeholders, he said, include consumers, TV industry and the government.

Speaking recently on “Nigerian Broadcasting Industry: How Digital and Industry Structure is shaping growth on trends and developments: Impact on Business Models and Evolving Media Landscape” Mr. Mba said that with revolution ongoing in the industry, that television is now out of the box.

On driving Nigerian DSO, he said, that massive new distribution channel for Nollywood would involve Netflix style kind of push Video on Demand (VOD) service in development.

As part of the win-win for all stakeholders, he said, DSO would create a massive new distribution channel for Nollywood straight to the consumer rather than via Digital Video Disk (DVD)

Mba said that some estimated N60 billion per annum increase is expected in Nollywood income by reducing piracy and increasing Nollywood’s per cent on every sale.

According to him, about $350m DSO budget in place which was self-funding as a result of auction of the spectrum freed-up by DSO.

This, he said, leads to some $170m raised so far, in addition to N1000 per annum Digital Access Fee anticipated to be paid by each consumer (like the BBC TV licence), paving the way for technology platform expected to complete for November launch and digital transmitter network being built out.

He pointed out that 13 local Set-Top Box (STB) manufacturer licences established, just as 1m STBs have been ordered for initial launch

“10,000 jobs, would be created,” he said, even as there is plan to implement and make STB affordable at only N1500.

Further, he said, there is anticipation that heavy marketing plan in place with channels committing 10 minutes advertising airtime a day.

“Digital and internet have changed everything!” he declared, maintaining that on digital disruption and battle for relevance, have created new ecosystems in the broadcast industry with new business models and monetization.

On traditional media versus new media, Mr. Mba said that the more content is out there, the more important context becomes.

The need to protect intellectual property rights, he also said, promotes intellectual capital, emphasised that nowadays, the “Anything that can be disrupted will be disrupted by digital.”

For the media and entertainment industries, he said, have continually been impacted by digital technology, resulting in new products and services.

The pattern of disruption will ebb and flow depending on developments in broadband cum digital media, giving rise to market and industry re-alignment and convergence, affecting incumbents, insurgents, and neo-cumbents, while competition will come from many directions in many forms.

“Everyone becomes a potential rival or a potential ally … or both!” he said.

Remmy Nweke/DoP

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2019 SheCreates ready for quartet camps, unveils speakers - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The 2019 SheCreates has concluded plans to host its two-week quartet camps across the country, including Awka in Anambra State, Ilorin in Kwara State and two in Lagos via Lekki and Mainland camps respectively, reports ITREALMS.

The organisers of 2019 SheCreates informed ITREALMS that the camps will hold in Lagos, Kwara and Anambra States between the month of July and September.

ITREALMS gathered that SheCreates 2019 Camp at Lagos-Mainland Camp, will be a Residential Camp, while other SheCreates 2019 will be non-residential camps.

Others, include Lekki Camp slated for July 29th – August 9th, while Awka and Ilorin Camps are for August 26 through September 6, simultaneously.

Also, the 2019 SheCreates speakers, ITREALMS gathered include the founder and CEO of BellaNaija, Uche Pedro, founder of Sebeccly Cancer Care, Dr Omolola Salako; ICT consultant, Naheed Vadsaria; Chief Operating Officer at Flutterwave Incorporated, Bode Abifiran; Co Founder / COO at Piggy Bank.ng (Piggy Tech Global Ltd ), Odunayo Eweniyi; the Founder and Executive Director, Women's Rights and Health Project, Bose Ironsi; Finance Director at Etihad Airways-Nigeria, Yejide Aina; Dr Princess Olufemi-Kayode is the Executive Director of Media Concern Initiative and a Senior Minister at Regal Robes Ministries; Ommo Clark is the Founder / CEO of iBez; Tracy Ezebuike is a Software Developer at Andela - Nigeria; Emeka Okoye is the Snr Semantic Web Architect at Cymantiks Nigeria Ltd.

ITREALMS recalls that She Creates Camp programme for Girls is an initiative of Women’s Technology Development Centre (W.TEC) designed to help Nigerian secondary school girls between the ages of 13 and 17 years to develop an early interest in computer science, information technology and related careers.

The camp programme, holds annually from its inception in 2008, providing an avenue to increase the numbers of women working and using technology by dispelling stereotypes of gender-appropriateness of technology, providing information about technology careers and practical applications of technology, presenting female technical role models and providing access to mentorship and emphasizing the importance of education.

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Zenith Bank eases Dubai visa application online - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

Zenith Bank Plc has introduced a new feature on its internet banking platform that allows customers apply for Dubai Visa and make the associated Visa fee payment effortlessly, reports ITREALMS.

According to the bank, the new offering is aimed at creating a more convenient and efficient way for Nigerians to apply for Dubai Visa, as a large number of people travel there several times each year.

Customers simply need to log on to the Zenith Bank Internet Banking Platform, select the Dubai Visa tab under the payment menu, fill out their personal information, upload a passport photograph, 6 months bank statement and international passport data page with a minimum of 6 months’ validity from proposed travel date and submit their application.

The Visa fees would be instantly charged to the customer’s account and he/she would be notified of the status of his/her visa application within 36 hours.

Zenith Bank Plc is recognized as one of the most innovative financial institutions in Nigeria and was voted the most customer-focused bank in Nigeria for the Retail and SME segments in the 2018 KPMG Annual Banking Industry Customer Satisfaction Survey (BICSS).

Chuks Egbune/Editor

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