Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, has said that Nigerians would get N5,000 per month as a transportation grant after the removal of fuel subsidies.

According to the Minister, the Federal Government will remove fuel subsidies by 2022 and give the poorest Nigerians a transportation grant of N5,000.

Ahmed said this on Tuesday, at the launch of the World Bank Nigeria Development Update in Abuja, stating that about 30 to 40 million Nigerians, who are the poorest in the country, would have access to the grant.

She said, “The subsidies regime in the [oil] sector remains unsustainable and economically disingenuous.

“Ahead of the target date of mid-2022 for the complete elimination of fuel subsidies, we are working with our partners on measures to cushion the potential negative impact of the removal of the subsidies on the most vulnerable at the bottom 40% of the population.

“One of such measures would be to institute a monthly transport subsidy in the form of cash transfer of N5,000 to between 30 – 40 million deserving Nigerians.”

Ahmed also expressed hope that the Petroleum Industry Act 2021, the reactivation of public refineries, and the expected opening of three new private refineries in 2022 would boost economic growth.

She added that the social protection policies presented by COVID-19 allowed the government to safeguard the welfare of the country’s poor.

“We are very optimistic that the recent developments in the oil sector, such as the Petroleum Industry Act 2021, hopefully, the full reactivation of the four public refineries in the country, and the completion and coming on stream of the three private refineries under construction in 2022, would significantly boost contribution from the sector to our economic growth efforts.

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“I agree with the report that with the expansion of social protection policies during the pandemic, the government has an opportunity to phase out subsidies such as the PMS subsidy while utilizing cash transfers to safeguard the welfare of poor and middle-class households,” the minister added.

According to the World Bank update, the poorest 40% of people in Nigeria consume less than 3% of the total available Premium Motor Spirit in the country, noting that the rich benefitted more from the subsidies.

However, the Minister stated that the total number of beneficiaries would depend on the resources available to the government after the fuel subsidies have been removed.

Ahmed also noted that the removal is set for June 2022, but hoped that it would be done before June, to be in line with the PIA.

Source

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and civil society organizations on Monday called on President Muhammadu Buhari to sign the Electoral Act Amendment Bill.

The National Assembly has passed the bill and transmitted the document to President Buhari on November 19 for assent.

While the Executive Director, Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre, Clement Nwankwo, asked Buhari to use the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting to sign the bill, the INEC National Commissioner, Festus Okoye said assent will help improve its preparations for future polls.

“We will appreciate it if the President can sign this particular bill as expeditiously as possible to enable us to prepare the processes and procedures for the coming governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states as well as the 2023 general elections,” he said during an election town hall aired on Channels Television.

On his part, Nwankwo said it is expedient for the electoral act amendment bill to be signed for the overall benefit of Nigerians.

“I think it is expedient to have this bill signed. I will say to the President you have an FEC meeting on Wednesday, that should be the occasion to sign the bill in order to build confidence for Nigerians,” he said.

The bill, which had generated controversies during its consideration, is aimed at resolving issues concerning INEC’s introduction of modern technologies into the electoral process, particularly accreditation of voters, electronic voting, and electronic transmission of results from polling units.

The bill empowered the electoral umpire to determine the use of electronic voting as well as the transmission of results in an election.

It also prescribes the use of direct primaries for political parties in choosing candidates for elective offices.

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https://abntv.com.ng/2021/11/ondo-govt-imposes-24-hours-curfew-on-ikare-akoko/

A member of Nigerian Film and Video Censors Board, NFVCB, Lady Ikodiya Uche has felicitated with the Executive Secretary, Orji Uzor Kalu Foundation, Rev. Jemima Kalu as she marks birthday today.

Lady Ikodiya, a chieftain of Abia APC says Rev. Jemima has maintained humility in service adding that she has shown motherliness to many, not just her biological children.

In a congratulatory message she made available to ABN TV on Tuesday, Lady Ikodiya expressed gratitude to God for using Rev. Jemima Kalu as a vessel to serve humanity even in most difficult times.

According to her, Rev. Jemimah Kalu never hesitates in bringing to bear her years on experience in solving seemingly difficult situations in regards to better and more conducive environment for all.

Lady Ikodiya prayed God to grant her abundance in health, wisdom, prosperity as she continues to offer herself for the service of humanity.