Month: July 2023

The Registrar, Chartered Institute of Treasury Management (CITM), Mr Olumide Adedoyin, has called on the National Universities Commission (NUC) to compel universities to engage professional in developing curriculum in treasury management

Adedoyin said in a statement on Monday in Abuja that the conventional curriculum, though invaluable, often neglects the nuances of treasury management.

He said of all the universities running Treasury Management Courses at masters level only Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) had been able to get it right.

He said institutions like Bayero University, Kano, Nasarawa State University, University of Maiduguri and University of Abuja had not been able to get the curriculum in standardising to meet global bench mark.

According to him, NUC should compel universities offering courses in Treasury Management to look beyond their current curriculum that only contains elements of finance and accounting.

This he said should include collaboration with the institute who would help develop such curriculum as the case with ABU, Zaria.

He said by integrating treasury management into the masters curriculum, it would empower students to shine in a competitive global economy.

According to him, treasury management possesses a unique allure that sets it apart from accounting and finance, while accounting and finance focus on tracking and analysing financial data, treasury management delved deeper.

This he said was by aiming to optimise the organisation’s financial resources, mitigate risks, and maximise profitability.

He said such omission could leave aspiring professionals ill-equipped to tackle the challenges that lied ahead, adding that recognising such disparity, the institute could provide expertise to help the nation’s institutions.

According to him, with a deep-rooted commitment to excellence, CITM offers a transformative pathway to harness the full potential of treasury management in our nation’s institutions

Adedoyin said the institute would be willing to partner with NUC to bridge the gap between theory and practice by equipping individuals with specialised skills and knowledge required in treasury management.

This according to him will help to navigate the complex world of financial management with finesse in an era where financial landscapes evolve at breakneck speed, collaboration, and continuous learning are paramount.

The registrar said it would further help to gain access to cutting-edge materials, world-best practices, and the professional touch that the institute would bring.

He said by doing such, it would pave the way for a new generation of financial professionals, armed with a comprehensive understanding of treasury management principles.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The ICPC has dismissed a report that the Department of State Services carted away files implicating President Bola Tinubu and close aides from its office

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) dismissed the report in a statement by its Spokesperson Azuka Ogugua.

She said that the report was fake and baseless, adding that ICPC never had such files in any of its offices across the country.

“The Commission hereby state unequivocally that there were no files implicating President Bola Tinubu or his close aides at its headquarters or offices across the states.

“And, therefore, the alleged carting away of such imaginary files is unfounded and should be disregarded by the public,” Ogugua stated.

She said, while the commission did not dispute the role of the media to inform the public, it was however necessary to adhere to the tenets of the journalism profession in the discharge of such role.

According to her, for the umpteenth time, the Commission wishes to urge media organisations not to allow the use of their medium to propagate lies and unfounded reports by subversive agents.

“The Commission’s channels of communications remain open for clarification and confirmation, ” she said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Gov. Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti on Sunday directed the Police, DSS and Amotekun Corps to free the abducted State Chairman of the APC in Ekiti, Mr Paul Omotoso and two others from captivity.

Oyebanji, represented by his Deputy, Mrs Monisade Afuye, gave the directive on Sunday, when he visited Omotoso’s family at Imesi-Ekiti, Ayekire Local Government Area of the state to sympathise with them on the devastating incident.

He stated that Omotoso shouldn’t only be rescued unscathed, that the perpetrators of the dastardly act be nabbed and made to face the full weight of the laws.

The former Commissioner, Omotoso, and two others, were abducted by gunmen along Agbado-Imesi road on Saturday and whisked to an unknown destination.

According to information from family members, Omotoso is said to have attended a wedding at Ikare Akoko, in Ondo State, and was returning to Ado-Ekiti when the evil men struck.

Similarly, the governor, who was received by the victim’s family, also visited the Onimesi of Imesi-Ekiti, Oba Olatunji Olatunde, to register his displeasure over the disturbing incident.

Oyebanji in his instruction, directed the Police and DSS operatives to comb the sprawling forests along Agbado-Imesi-Irun Akoko in Ondo State and other suspected areas to rescue the victims safely from where they are being held hostage.

The governor branded the incident as very troubling and disturbing, saying his government would continue to step up efforts to tighten noose on those who are ocassionally terrorising Ekiti through senseless kidnapping, and made to face serious resistance.

As part of the ways to stamp out abduction in that axis of Ekiti, he assured that the state forest reserves extending from Agbado-Imesi-Ise would be rescourcitated and put to use, to dislodge those using the area as hideout.

“Let me say that we are saddened by this news because we know the trauma this must have caused to his family members, his town, admirers, members of our great party in Ekiti and Nigeria in general.

“You could all attest to the fact that insecurity like this had been on a downward trend since Oyebanji took over about nine months ago. We won’t allow any evil doer to jeopardise our strategy to make Ekiti safe for investments and habitation.

“I hereby charge the security operatives – the police, DSS, army and other sister agencies to rescue him alive from these evil doers and reunite him with his family safe and sound.

“Please, help us appeal to our youths not to take laws into their hands. They should remain peaceful and calm and I can assure you that he will be released soon to join us,” he said.

During the brief visit to Onimesi, Oba Olatunde said his people were deeply saddened by the incident, saying the town had started organising prayers to ensure the victim’s return safely and reunite with the community.

Oba Olatunde said he had taken steps to calm down frayed nerves to avert any unrest from irate youths and subjects, who became livid by Omotoso’s abduction.

“We are organising prayers and we are hopeful that he will soon be released. Everything points to the fact that he will soon be released because the government and security agencies are deploying every arsenal to ensure that he regains freedom soon.”

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Aero Contractors in collaboration with Umza Aviation Services has assured speedy transportation of all Nigerian pilgrims assigned to it back home within a shortest possible time.

Alhaji Abubakar Maifata, the Chairman of Umza Aviation Services, who is coordinating the 2023 Hajj operation for the two companies, gave the assurance in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Makkah.

NAN reports that Aero contractors is one of the Nigerian air carriers approved by the Federal Government to transport about 7,318 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia and back to Nigeria.

Maifata stated that the airline had since begun the outbound movement of the Nigerian pilgrims despite constraint arising from lack of adequate slots at the King Abdulaziz International Airport, Jeddah.

According to him, the airline has so far done one flight with about 475 pilgrims of Nasarawa State.

“But we are constraint with lack of adequate slots given to us by the Saudi authority to operate within King Abdulaziz International Airport, Jeddah. And this didn’t apply only to the Aero Contractors, it is applicable to all the Nigerian carriers.

“However, we held series of meetings with the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, Saudi Arabian General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) and the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah on how to get out of the situation so that the Nigerian carriers can have adequate slots to transport pilgrims back to home.

“And I think it was agreed at the meeting that slots will be given to the Nigerian carriers and they have promised to do that between now to 15 of this month (July).”

He revealed that presently Aero contractors had secured additional two slots to transport pilgrims on July 12 and 13.

“As I’m talking to you, we were given two slots to operate on the July 12 and 13, and I am sure all the Nigerian carriers were given, some two, three to four slots to operate between now and July 14, and they promised also to make more slots available after July 15.

“We only did one flight on July 8 with 475 passengers from Nasarawa State and we hope to do second and third flight on July 12 and 13, respectively.”

The chairman appealed to all Nigerian pilgrims to exercise more patience and consider their continued stay in Saudi Arabia as an act of worship.

“I want to use this opportunity to, on behalf of all the Nigerian carriers, to appeal to all Nigerian pilgrims to be more patient. I want to assure them that all the problems are being resolved.

“And God willing in the next one to two days they will see lots of movement of pilgrims back home. It’s something that is not intentional on any part from the Nigerian air carriers.

“It’s a situation that we found ourselves and a lot of efforts are being made and solutions are being gotten and in the next couples of hours everything will be ok. I want to assure them that all the Nigerian air carriers are equal to the task,” said Maifats.

NAN reports that the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), on Saturday said the commission was yet to get additional approval for the outbound movement of pilgrims to Nigeria through King Abdulaziz International Airport, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

The NAHCON’s Commissioner of Operations, Alhaji Abdullahi Hardawa, made this known at a news conference in Makkah, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

He, however, said that the Saudi Arabian General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) had invited airlines responsible for the transportation of Nigerian pilgrims to an operational meeting.

He said the officials of NAHCON were also part of the meeting, adding that at the end of the meeting the commission might have slots approved for the transportation of pilgrims back to Nigeria.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Nigeria Integrated Water Resources Management Commission (NIWRMC), has commenced the review of its laws that would enable it sanction all unlicensed water users in the country.

Mr Magashi Bashir, the Executive Director of the commission, made this known on Monday, at the opening of the Review of Water Use Licence Terms and Conditions Meeting, in Abuja.

According to Bashir, there is need to standardise all documents targeted at repositioning and regulating the water resources sector.

He said the non-passage of the Water Resources Bill however, had caused many irregularities in the sector, saying partnerships between all actors would reduce poor water governance.

“It is important to state that Water Use Licence Terms and Conditions is a critical component in the administration and issuance of Water Use Licence to applicants, as it determines the regime for proper licence usage by various applicants.

“The relevance of Water Use Licence Terms and Conditions can therefore, not be overestimated in anyway.

“Continuous stakeholders’ engagement in the administration of Water Resources in the Country is necessary for effective and result oriented regulations, with particular reference to Water Use Licence Terms and Conditions.”

Magashi noted that the Commission under his watch would leave no stone unturned in ensuring a continuous proper licensing regime.

He said it was his honest expectation that the forum would consolidate on the ongoing engagement between all tiers of government, for the purpose of appropriately managing Nigeria’s water resources, through effective enforcement mechanisms.

The executive director said implementing a comprehensive regulatory regime would benefit the collective interest of the country, saying participants at the workshop could make it happen by contributing meaningfully.

Earlier, the Legal Adviser for NIWRMC, Mr Rotimi Ojegbile, said before now, the legal department had made several efforts to regularise most of the commission’s documents, with little or no progress made.

Ojegbile said with the commitment of the present leadership however, the commission had made that possible, saying it was necessary for all frameworks to stand the test of time.

The legal adviser, represented by Ms. Ikemhe Ekwere-Bello, urged all participants to brainstorm and contribute meaningfully, so that water use was regulated and done properly.

Dr Emmanuel Udoh, delivering a paper on ‘Optimising Water Allocation Through Revised License Terms and Conditions’, said there was need for Nigeria to strengthen its weak and fragile institutions.

Udoh said climate change challenges called for appropriate measures to mitigate them, noting that though section 11 of the Water Resources Act gave individuals access to water use, it must however, be used sustainably.

He said key considerations on Revised License Terms and Conditions must include sustainability and long-term water management, through equity and fairness in water distribution.

“We must adapt to changing climatic conditions and water scarcity by integrating regulatory frameworks, such as the environmental protection and incorporating stakeholder perspectives and public participation into all aspects”.

Mr Chinesonu Okpoko, a legal expert, said currently, there was no effective water resources data management system for the country.

Okpoko said the unavailability of adequate and reliable data, upon which analysis, planning, management and decision-making could be based on, had crippled the water licensing system.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the Water Resources Act 2004, empowers the Minister with responsibility for matters relating to water resources, as the lead in charge of water resources development, licensing, planning, and use.

Sections 11-19 of the Act deals with issuance of water use licences, licensing fees, power to fix rates in connection with the abstraction of water, penalties and the issuing of regulations.

Water licensing plays a pivotal role in the sustainable management and allocation of water resources in Nigeria. It ensures equitable access to water, promotes efficient use, and safeguards the environment.

While challenges persist in its implementation, continued efforts to improve water licensing systems are essential for addressing water scarcity, promoting sustainable development, and protecting Nigeria’s water resources.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria