News

NATIONAL NEWS 04-07-2021

1 year ago Editor

HIGHLIGHTS

SERAP DRAGS BUHARI TO COURT OVER CBN’S 25 BILLION DOLLARS OVERDRAFT.
ANAMBRA GOVERNMENT DECLARES WAR ON REVENUE THIEVES.
GOVERNOR MAKINDE CALLS FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF STATE POLICE.
ON SPORTS, SUPER EAGLES SUFFER 4-0 DEFEAT TO MEXICO IN INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLIES.

NCC/REVENUE

The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, has surpassed its 36 billion naira projected revenue from spectrum license fees for 2021, having recorded over 150 billion naira from the revenue source within five months of the year.

A statement released to newsmen revealed that the figure represents over 400 per cent increase in revenue budget performance of spectrum fees generated by the commission between January 1 and May 31, 2021.

Commenting on the revenue performance, NCC’s executive vice chairman, Prof. Umar Danbatta, hinted that the impressive uptick in spectrum fee was as a result of the favourable turn of events for the telecom sector.

He however disclosed that the 150 billion naira spectrum revenue achieved in the first half of the year has been remitted to the federal government in line with provisions of the Nigerian Communications Act, NCA 2003.

SERAP/CBN

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has dragged President Muhammadu Buhari to court over a 25 billion dollars overdrafts taken from the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN.

In the lawsuit sighted by newsmen, SERAP prayed the court to compel president Buhari to disclose spending details of the overdrafts and loans obtained from CBN since May 29, 2015, including the projects on which the overdrafts were spent and repayments of all overdrafts to date.

The rights group is also seeking an order to compel the president to explain and clarify whether the 25 billion dollars overdraft reportedly obtained from the CBN is within the five-percent limit of the actual revenue of the government for 2020.

The suit reportedly followed SERAP’S Freedom of Information, FOI, request to the president, which sought details of overdrafts and repayments to enable Nigerians to hold the government accountable for its fiscal management and ensure that public funds are not mismanaged or diverted.

ANAMBRA/REVENUE THIEVES

Anambra state government has vowed to leave no stone unturned to flush out revenue thieves in the state.

Chairman of the state internal revenue service, Dr. David Nzekwu, made the vow while addressing reporters in Awka, decrying the illegal activities of some miscreants who pose as government officials to defraud innocent citizens of their hard-earned money

Nzekwu, who frowned at the activities of such impersonators, stressed the agency’s readiness to prosecute persons impersonating the state government in tax enforcement across the state.

He therefore warned that anyone caught in the act henceforth, will not go unpunished, adding that the agency’s enforcement team will be moving around the state to arrest persons indulging in such criminal acts.

OYO/GOVERNOR

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state is asking members of the national and state houses of assembly to join the call for establishment of state police.

Governor Makinde made the call while speaking in Ibadan, that state capital, saying the insecurity in Nigeria must be tackled collectively.

He therefore charged the legislative arm at the national and state levels to make the issue of state police a priority in their chambers.

The governor further advised residents to, irrespective of party affiliations, hold senators, members of the house of representatives and state assemblies, to account in the discharge of their duties and as well expose persons or groups working against their well-being.

ON SPORTS

Mexico continued their dominance over the Super Eagles, thrashing the Eagles 4-0 in a friendly match played at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Sunday morning.

The Super Eagles line, which comprised of mainly players from the Nigerian Professional Football League, NPFL, could not stop the EL TRI of Mexico’s attacking prowess.

Goals from Rogelio Mori and Jonathan Dos Santos and a brace from Hector Herrera sealed victory for the North Americans with 12 minutes of normal time remaining.
The loss extends Nigeria’s winless run in friendly matches to eight games, having won their last friendly game against Egypt in 2019.