Gov. Akpabio Says His Administration’s Free And Compulsory Education is Not Only for Akwa Ibom Children. Akwa Ibom State Governor, His Excellency, Sir (Dr.) Godswill Obot Akpabio (CON) says his government’s free, qualitative and compulsory education policy is not only for Akwa Ibom children but for all Nigerian children. The Governor stated this while declaring open the ninth Annual Conference of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) in Uyo. Governor Akpabio was represented at the occasion by his Deputy, Noble Lady (Barr.) Valarie Ebe. Chief Akpabio said the State Government has constructed several classroom blocks and renovated dilapidated ones to ensure a conducive environment for teaching and learning. The Governor pointed out that to ensure effective compliance in the free and compulsory education policy, hawking during school hours has been declared a criminal offence as enforced by the education task force monitoring team. Chief Akpabio commended the association for contributing to the education’s development in the Country and wished them peaceful deliberations. The Commissioner for Education, Prof. Atim Antai, said that education was the responsibility of everyone and urged Proprietors to deliberate on issues that would improve the education sector and transform the nation. Prof. Antai said in order to ensure compliance, the State Government has provided education facilities to schools to meet the approved standard and commended efforts of Private Schools Proprietors for providing qualitative education in their schools. The National President of NAPPS, Dr. P. C. Oko said it is apt as it will help Proprietors of Private Schools to cross pollinate ideas that would improve private schools in the Country. The conference featured presentation of an award to Gov. Akpabio as the Most Valued Education Friendly Governor by the National President of NAPPS as well as cultural dances.

Gov. Akpabio says No Shaking on the Defection of Some PDP Members to APC. The Akwa Ibom State Governor, His Excellency, Sir (Dr.) Godswill Obot Akpabio (CON), and Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, has advised the People Democratic Party (PDP) faithfuls in the state not to be shaken by news of members of the party who defected to other political parties. Governor Akpabio gave the advice yesterday when he graced the funeral service of Late Sergeant Christopher Sam Akpan, father in law of Deputy Chief Whip, Mr. Emmanuel Akpan of the State House of Assembly. Speaking at the gathering that was more of the political class, Governor Akpabio said though the dust raised by those that defected to other parties is yet to settle, there was no shaking in PDP. Governor Akpabio who is the chairman of PDP Governor`s forum said the PDP is a party that ensure party discipline, and assured that those who defected to other parties will surely return to PDP at the end of the day. He advised the party members to continue to be loyal to the party.

Special Duties Boss Charges Construction Companies to Deliver Quality Jobs According to Specification. The Commissioner for Special Duties, Barr. Emmanuel Enoidem, has charged construction companies operating in Akwa Ibom State to deliver quality jobs by executing them to specification. Barr. Enoidem gave the charge when the management of Harmacorp Construction Limited led by Mr. Achim Notanjo paid him a visit. The General Executive Director of the Company, Mr. Hans Creeks, thanked Barr. Enoidem for his warm reception saying his company, Harmacorp Construction Limited, which came into Nigeria in 1991 engages in Civil Construction, maintenance and fabrication, environmental and sewage treatment, heavy structural fabrication, inspection and maintenance activities. Mr. Creeks said his company can handle jobs of any magnitude and specification and promised to do its utmost if given an opportunity to perform in the State. Also speaking, the Public Relations Officer of Harmacorp, Mrs. Abigail Okon, said the company is happy to identify with the developmental strides in the State and expressed the hope that the company will be given a chance to contribute its quota. She congratulated the State Chief Executive, Sir (Dr.) Godswill Akpabio (CON) for his uncommon transformation drive in the State and Barr. Enoidem for his unalloyed support to the development of the State.

Immunization Against Yellow Fever Ongoing in Uyo Metropolis. Immunization against yellow fever is ongoing in Uyo Capital City. The exercise, which is jointly powered by the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF and the State Ministry of Health, is free of charge and will last till Wednesday 4th December, 2013 and those eligible to take the yellow fever vaccine are those from nine months to forty-five years. The vaccination will protect the human body from yellow fever for 10 years. Yellow fever is a disease transmitted to human bodies through female mosquito bites, which makes the host to suffer from fever, chills, amnesia, muscle pain and headache. According to World Health Organization, yellow fever causes 200,000 illnesses and 30,000 deaths annually in an unvaccinated population and 90% of the infections occur in Africa. It is against this back drop that immunization becomes necessary to curtail the disease in the society. Pregnant women, high fever children, diabetics, sicklers and HIV positive patients are not qualified for the exercise. A full Scientific Officer in St Luke’s Hospital Anua, Mrs. Udeme Esiwan who is in charge of registering people that are vaccinated said a total of 1,884 people have been vaccinated.

Uyo Local Govt. Calls Out Staff For Salaries and Biometric Capture Exercise. The Uyo Local Government Council has directed staff to report at the Council Headquarters today for their salaries. A release by the Head of Local Government Service, Obong Emmanuel Udonwa, said the staff should report in person for the exercise from 8 o’clock in the morning. The release urges all concerned to act accordingly as no staff will be attended to in proxy. In a related development, staffs of Uyo Local Government Council have been directed to appear for the biometric capturing exercise from Monday 2nd December, 2013 at the Local Government Council Hall, Uyo village Road. A schedule of the exercise by the Head of Local Government Service, Obong Emmanuel Udonwa, shows that staff of the Administration and General Services Department will be screened on Monday 2nd and Wednesday 3rd December, 2013. Staff in the Finance and Supplies, VDRS, Agriculture and Natural Resources Department will take their turn on Wednesday 4th December, 2013 while those in the Works and Social Department, Information, Sports and Culture department are expected to show up on Thursday 5th December, 2013 for the screening. According to the schedule, Friday 6th November, 2013 is set aside for staff of the Primary Health Care Department in the Local Government Area. The Staffs are to carry with them original letters of first appointment, letter of temporary appointment, letter of ratification of appointment, letter of confirmation of appointment, letter of promotion, first school living Certificate and August 2013 pay slip. Other requirements include birth Certificate and age declaration used at the point of entry into the service, staff identity card, and other educational certificates as applicable, Change of name, Newspaper publication if any and bank detail form.

MTN Donates 5 Security Patrol Vehicles to AKSG. The Akwa Ibom State Governor, Sir Dr. Godswill Akpabio says his administration places great premium on the security of its citizens and investors. Chief Akpabio made the statement when he inaugurated five security Patrol vehicles donated by MTN Nigeria Foundation to the Government. The Governor who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Udom Emmanuel said MTN Foundation has touched the lives of the people by embarking on a project of this nature. He thanked the company for their success story in business and implored the organization to do more to satisfy and retain its subscribers. In an address, the Senior Manager of Sales, Eastern Region, Mr. Onamari Horsfall said the foundation was fulfilling the promise it made to Nigerians when the MTN Foundation was established in 2004 to improve the quality of lives in host communities. According to him, the Foundation has provided 60 security patrol vehicles to the Federal Capital Territory and elevated States including Akwa Ibom. He appreciated the State Governor for always providing support for the various initiatives in the State.

Annual Schools Sports Festival Holds in Etim Ekpo LGA. The annual school sport festival for schools in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area is now in progress. The festival was flagged off with the lighting of the thatched house unity by the Paramount Ruler of Etim Ekpo, Obong Akpan Nkanta. The festival organized by the Local Education Authority in Etim Ekpo was declared open by the Etim Ekpo Local Government Secretary, Mr. Nnamso Ekpo. Before the flag off, pupils and teachers from Uruk, Ikono, Utu and Obong clan took part in different sporting competition including track event, football competition and nsa isong while the grand finale today will feature different activities’ among them are track event, cultural dances and fashion parade. While those expected at the final are Mr. Ofonmbuk Inyang as Chairman, Mr. Mfon Idung as Chief Launcher, Christopher Okorie, Co-Launcher, Nse Ekanem - Co-Launcher, Enobong Ebong Akpan Nkantah - Father of the day as well as Mr. Uduot Jack - Chairman of Etim Ekpo as Special Guest. The Chairman of Committee of Sport, Mr. Nnamso Ekpo and Secretary of the Sport Festival, Sunday Ibanga Jnr, invites all school children, teachers and sport lovers to be part at the sporting event.

Special Seminar for Tricycle Operators in Uyo Holds Soon. In a determined effort to reduce accident on the highway especially in the fourth coming festive season, a special seminar is to be held for tricycle operators in the state. The seminar which is endorsed by the State Ministry of Transport will be organized by the Akwa Ibom State chapter of Tricycle Union of Nigeria. Already a team of security and safety expert from Canex Resources Limited Abuja, have arrived the state for a-six day intensive training opening in Uyo at the Federal Secretariat Abak Road, from Monday 2nd December to Friday 6th December 2013 from 8.00am daily. The seminar will feature a special paper presentation by officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps, while participants will be exposed to safety tips and measures. A spokesman of Canex Resources Limited, Mr. Ubong Uno, said Keke tricycle riders will be presented with driver’s barge for identification among other side attraction. On his part, an official of the Tricycle Union of Nigeria Mr. Sunday Ebong said that the seminar is mandatory for all tricycle operators in the state. He said failure to participate in the seminar, which will be conducted in batches, will attract sanctions.

Obot Akara People Restate Continued Support for Gov. Akpabio. The People of Nsit Ikpe Village in Obot Akara Local Government Area have resolved to continue in their support for His Excellency Chief Godswill Obot Akpabio. Rising from an enlarged Village Executive meeting, the people said they were impressed by the appointment of their Son, Sir Monday Ebong Uko into the State Executive Council. The people noted with delight the past performances of Sir Monday Uko as the Former Councilor, Vice Chairman and Chairman in Obot Akara, they noted that the appointment will usher in a new dawn for the Ministry of Youths and Sports. While pledging their support to the Youths and Sports Commissioner, the Nsit Ikpe People wished him well in his new appointment. The resolution by the Nsit Ikpe Village Council was endorsed by the Village Head elect, Chief Ime Akpan Umo, Village Chairman, Elder Effiong Udo Ekannem, Village Secretary, Mr. Okon Akpan Owo, and the Councilor representing Obot Akara Ward One, Prince Efre-mfon Umo.

Senate: Bill to Increase High Court Judges Passes 2nd Reading. The Senate has passed for second reading, a bill seeking to increase the number of judges of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory from 37 to 69 towards enhancing speedy trial and administration of cases. Also passed is another bill seeking to address the Engineer’s Registration Act, aimed at among others, getting rid of unqualified expatriates from the nation’s engineering industry. Senator Wahid Riayo who sponsored the bill seeking to increase FCT high court judges said the workload on the present number of judges is unbearable. The bill was unanimously passed for second reading and referred to the committee of judiciary, human right and legal matters for further action. The senate also passed for second reading of Senator Ibrahim Gobere’s bill on engineer’s registration act meant to among others improve local content development in the nation’s engineering industry.

FG Directs All Academic Staff To Resume Work. The Federal Government has directed all academic staff to resume work before the 4th of December 2013 or automatically cease to be staff of the universities. Supervising Minister of Education Nyesom Nwike who briefed journalists in Abuja also directed Vice Chancellors to advertise vacancies internally and externally on their institutions. The commencement of the current ASUU strike on 4th July this year, led the Federal Government to initiate series of meetings headed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation Senator Ayim Pius Ayim. The result was the release of N130 billion for the revitalization of the universities and earned academic allowances. The meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan on the 4th November which lasted 13hours also led to the increase in funds to be released to the universities. However, three weeks after the meeting with the president, ASUU responded by giving new conditions for suspending the 5 months old strike. According to the supervising minister of education, government sees the continuation of the strike by ASUU as an attempt to sabotage all efforts to address the issue. For now, the National Universities Commission (NUC) has been mandated to monitor the compliance of these directives by various universities.

Police Arrest 48 Kidnap Suspects in Rivers. Rivers State Police Command said it has arrested no fewer than 48 suspected kidnappers and rescued 39 victims. According to the command, other suspects include 97 armed robbers, 12 cultists and three sea pirates. This was disclosed yesterday by the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mbu Joseph Mbu. Mbu stated that the feat was recorded by the command between September 1, 2013, till date, adding that four suspected kidnappers were killed and seven armed robbery suspects were wounded. He said further that within the period under review, his men foiled two kidnap attempts and one robbery operation, pointing out that 33 firearms, 404 rounds of ammunition, and 46 cartridges were recovered. The command also recovered 25 stolen vehicles, three boats, 11 handsets and N300,000 cash from hoodlums within the period. The police commissioner commended the synergy existing between the police and other security agencies in the state, warning that there would be no hiding place for criminals in the state.

409 Nigerians Serving Jail Terms in South Africa. The House of Representatives, yesterday, has condemned the ill-treatment and discrimination against Nigerians living in South Africa, stressing that at least more than 409 were currently serving jail terms in the country. Chairman of the House Committee on Diaspora, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, disclosed this in a statement issued after the committee’s visit to two prisons in South Africa. She described the increasing number of Nigerians in foreign prisons as “ridiculously embarrassing.” Dabiri-Erewa, representing Ikorodu Federal Constituency in Lagos State, who visited the prisons alongside two members of the committee, Ajibola Famurewa and Umaru Shidanfi, consular officers of the Nigerian Embassy and executives of the Nigerian Union in South Africa, disclosed that over 400,000 Nigerians were currently living in South Africa. However, during her interaction with some inmates, the lawmaker explained that some of them confessed that they had been denied their freedom, despite completing their jail terms.

New Auto Policy: Car Importers Demand 2-Year Deferment.  Ahead of the implementation of the new auto policy, car importers in Nigeria have petitioned the Senate asking for two years deferment. The importers based their demands on the allegation that the Stallion Group had prior knowledge of the new policy and therefore, imported substantial quantity of vehicles that would last for three years. The Federal Government had announced a new car policy that would come on stream next year, which would lead to the increase in vehicle prices to as high as 250 per cent. Meanwhile, industry observers have faulted the attempt by the importers to seek the deferment, which would let them enjoy prolonged importation of cars and thereby draining the country N1.05 trillion every year. Investigation revealed that the claims of the petitioners seemed frivolous simply going by the fact that formulation of the policy started in March 2012, when the Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga, stated that a new policy would be sent to the Federal Executive Council (FEC), during a meeting with officials of General Motors, led by the Managing Director, GM South Africa and President of GM Sub-Saharan Africa, Mr. Edgar Lourencon, in Abuja. In November 2012, the FG again announced that the draft automotive development plan was ready and would be proposed for approval.

Put Govs’ Defection Behind You, Anenih Tells PDP Faithful. Chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Tony Anenih, yesterday admonished the party’s faithful not to be worried over Tuesday’s defection of four governors and chieftains of the PDP to the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC). Anenih said he regretted their action despite the trouble-shooting efforts of President Goodluck Jonathan to address their grievances. Recall that the imposition of a list tagged: “The Unity List”, allegedly by Chief Anenih at the special National Convention held last August which disqualified some aspirants informed the action of the G-7 governors and former vice-president, Atiku Abubakar to stage a walk-out from the venue in protest. In a statement, Anenih lauded the President’s efforts and those of former President Olusegun Obasanjo and General Ibrahim Babangida, former National Chairmen, Senators Barnabas Gemade and Ahmadu Ali as well as all those who “invested enough energy, commitment, maturity and sincerity in the collective efforts at reconciliation.” According to him, “indeed, I had expected the governors to stay on in the party which has offered them a unique opportunity to serve their people. Surprisingly, they decided to abandon their home and platform to take up tenancy in an opposition party even when it was apparent that the effort of Mr. President for genuine reconciliation was enough for them to see good reason to show restraint and understanding. However, as adults, the final decision was and remains theirs.”Anenih said.

Govt Opens Bid Round For 31 Marginal Oil Fields. The Federal Government has announced the opening of the second marginal oil field licensing round, promising transparency and accountability in the process. The Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, who declared the bid round open at a news conference in Abuja on Thursday, said it was aimed at deepening the participation of indigenous oil companies in the upstream sector of the oil and gas industry. This, she said, was also aimed at generally increasing exploration and production activities in the oil and gas sector. Giving details of the licensing round, Alison-Madueke stated that a total of 31 fields were on offer with 16 of them located onshore, while the remaining 15 were in the continental shelf. She said the Federal Government was committed to transparency in the bid process and would encourage companies interested in the assets to form consortia that would enable them to leverage upon each other’s strengths.

Presidency Slams Lai Mohammed Over Attack on Amnesty For N/Delta Militants. The Presidency, yesterday, berated the interim National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, for dismissing its amnesty programme for repentant Niger Delta militants as a drainpipe. The APC spokesman had on a national television programme last Wednesday derided the amnesty programme currently being implemented by the Federal Government, saying it amounted to a sheer waste of national resources and energy, having failed to curb militancy, oil theft and pipeline vandalisation. Mohammed’s verbal attack on the programme came barely six weeks after a similar assault by the National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, who also wrote off the amnesty exercise as a waste. But the Presidency in a response to the attack, said Mohammed was economical with the truth and had deliberately refused to acknowledge the wonders brought about by the faithful implementation of the amnesty package by Presidential Amnesty Office, PAO, headed by Kingsley Kuku. The statement signed by the Head of Media and Communications of the PAO, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, said it was only those suffering from the twin malaise of amnesia and diarrhoea that would fail to see the success of the programme, which was initiated by the late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua administration in 2009. Alabrah, who acknowledged the rising incidence of oil theft in the Niger Delta, however, exonerated the former militants from the act, blaming it on what he called “international syndicates.”

Why I Resigned As SURE-P Chairman – Kolade. The Chairman of Subsidy Re-investment and Empowerment Programme, SURE-P, Dr Christopher Kolade, yesterday, explained why he resigned from the agency, saying it had nothing to do with the allegation of the missing N500 billion SURE-P fund. Kolade, who made the clarification in an interactive forum in Abuja, noted that he threw in the towel on health grounds. He said: “I am now old and I need to wind down some activities that take some of my energy. By next month, I will be 81, so you don’t blame me for not having youthful energy at the age of 81.”Kolade explained that in his resignation letter to President Goodluck Jonathan dated September 25, there was never any allegation on ground to warrant his forceful withdrawal as the chairman of the committee. The resignation letter dated September 25 and entitled “Withdrawal from Chairmanship of the SURE-P Committee” read in part: “I wish to inform you, respectfully, of my decision to resign from the position of Chairman of the SURE-P Committee”.

South-South, South-East Governors Plan Summit January, 2014. Six governors, three each from the South-south and South-east geo-political zones yesterday met at the Governor’s Lodge in Awka, Anambra State, and announced at the end of their meeting that a summit would be convened in the first week of January next year. The governors, who attended the parley from the two geo-political zones included, Godswill Akpabio (Akwa-Ibom), Liyel Imoke (Cross River), Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta), Sullivan Chime (Enugu) Theodore Orji (Abia) and the host Governor, Mr. Peter Obi of Anambra State. Ebonyi State Governor, Chief Martins Elechi was represented by his deputy, Mr. Dave Umahi. But conspicuously absent at the meeting were Rochas Okorocha (Imo), Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers) Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa) and Adams Oshiomhole (Edo). Imoke, who addressed journalists at the end of the over four hours meeting, said the only issue discussed by the governors was the proposed summit, which he explained would attract prominent leaders from the southern states and offer them a platform to cross fertilize ideas and contribute or input on common needs of the southern zones in particular and the country in general. The ultimate aim of the summit, he said, is to engineer economic and other activities that would be of utilitarian value to the country. The governors, Imoke said, had pledged their total support to the government of President Goodluck Jonathan and called on Nigerians to support him in his efforts to transform and make the country better for all Nigerians. The governors also enjoined Nigerians to emphasize only those things that will lead to national unity and progress instead of promoting divisive issues that create tension in the country.

IFRS Academy to Commence Operations Next Year-Financial Reporting Council. The much awaited trading academy on the newly adopted International Financial Reporting Standards, IFRS, will take off by first quarter of next year. Chairman, Governing Council, Financial Reporting Council, FRC, Hajia Maryam Ibrahim, disclosed this in Lagos at a press briefing. It would be recalled that the implementation of IFRS commenced in Nigeria in 2012. The IFRS Academy is part of measures to help companies build the capacity needed for effective implementation of International Financial Reporting. Though expected to take off this year, Ibrahim said that it was delayed to ensure basic structures were put in place. She said: “As much as possible there are structures to be put in place. You are all aware there are no shortcomings when it comes to infrastructure, we are ensuring that as much as possible within the first quarter of next year, we would be starting the IFRS Academy in Abuja.

Senate Panel, FCT Ministry Argue over SURE-P Funds. The Senate Ad hoc Committee on the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) Programme Wednesday joined issues with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) over the N500 million the ministry spent on the rehabilitation of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) camp in Abuja. The committee also sought clarification over the N140 million spent by the ministry to refurbish transit buses under SURE-P scheme in April last year. The committee also queried the payment of N1 billion to Abuja Investment Company since the agency is an income generating firm. The Chairman of the committee, Senator Abdul Ningi, had tasked the FCT to forward the details of the allocations, receipts and payments done with SURE-P funds under its control since 2012. The committee argued that since NYSC was a well-funded programme by the federal government, there was no need spending SURE-P funds on it. But the minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, defended the expenditure, saying he was forced to spend the money in order to raise the standard of the camp in view of its pathetic case which he said was not befitting of the status of the FCT. He said the move was also necessitated by the plights of youth corps members deployed to the camp, promising to forward details of expenditure on the camp to the committee for its perusal. On the N1 billion paid to Abuja Investment Company, Bala said since the firm was registered under the Company and Allied Matters Act, the ministry opted to procure vehicles under the mass transit scheme through it. He promised that the money would be recouped because the beneficiaries of the scheme have accounts and sureties, adding that they had started paying back.

Reps Passes Prevention of HIV/AIDS Based Discrimination Bill. The House of Representatives has passed three Bills including the Prevention of HIV/AIDS Based Discrimination to protect the Fundamental Rights of People living with HIV/AIDS. The Add-hoc Committee constituted has set aside December 4 for a public hearing of some outstanding bills. The bills for the protection of people with HIV/AIDS discrimination and to protect the Fundamental Rights and Dignity of People living with and those affected by HIV/AIDS, the Budget of the Nigerian Communications Commission and Niger Delta Development Commission were read for the third time and passed. Representative Kibu Joseph who sponsored the anti-discrimination bill said ‘it is amazing what science has done because right now, you just have a single capsule of anti-retroviral drugs that contains the three combination of drugs then you take it at night’’ he noted. “So HIV/AIDS is just like malaria which is interesting so all Nigerians should come on board, get tested and take charge of their lives”. Another bill to provide for the Regulation of Air Passenger’s Right, Delay and Cancellation of Flight in Nigeria, sponsored by Representative Yakubu was passed for second reading. According to him, the bill seeks justice for passengers through compensation. In another development, the Ad-hoc Committee on the Alteration of the Constitution has concluded arrangement to hold a public hearing on the 4th of December on 10 outstanding bills referred to it.

5,025 New Lawyers Called to Bar. Five Thousand and Twenty Five New Lawyers have graduated from the Nigerian Law School at its Annual Call to Bar Ceremony in Abuja. The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mariam Aloma Muktah, advised the new Lawyers to uphold the ethics of the legal profession in carrying out their duties. She educated them on their responsibilities as Officers of the court saying their duties require them to assist the court in dispensing justice at all times. She advises them to be punctual and neat in their duties and appearances. Justice Muktah said a lawyer should be attired in a proper and dignified manner and abstain from any apparel or ornament calculated to attract attention.

Reps Decry End of Year Mop Up of Funds Into FG Treasury. The House of Representatives have set in motion ways of encouraging that unspent capital project funds in the fiscal year are no longer mopped up and returned to the treasury. The house committee on appropriation and finance has been mandated to take a critical look on the constitutional stand on the issue and how they should go about it. The decision of the law makers followed the adoption of a motion on matter of urgent public importance by Toby Okechukwu, PDP Enugu, who had wanted the federal government to be compelled to stop the end of the November mop up of funds obligated to contractors. Okechukwu cited the findings of the presidential committee on assessment of capital projects that discovered that as at 2011; over 11,000 abandoned projects littered every part of the country. He explained that the economy being inadvertently affected by returning funds meant for capital projects to the treasury by the end of December and that small release of funds are responsible for poor utilization of obligated funds. The lawmaker added that returning such funds that have been appropriated by December encourages corruption as unexecuted projects were often payed for fear of returning the funds.

FIRS Chairman: Presidential Nomination Suffers Set Back. A controversy trailing the nomination of the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) flared up in the senate yesterday. The nomination of Mrs. Mfon Akpan by President Goodluck Jonathan for appointment as Chairman of FIRS suffered a setback in the apex chamber. The Senate was forced by mostly northern senators to reject the motion to refer the nomination to relevant committee for screening. Although most northern senators insisted that the rejection of the referral was the end of the nomination of Mrs. Akpan. The Chairman, Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Senator Ita Enang said the nomination is still pending on the floor of the Senate. The Senate Leader Victor Ndoma Egba had moved that the constitutional nomination be deferred to another legislative day.