Month: August 2023

Attempts by the “collective West” to preserve its hegemony have had the opposite effect, encouraging the real “world majority” to dismiss and reject the exploitation of their resources by foreign states, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has argued.

“Tectonic shifts are taking place in the world today… We are witnessing the emergence of a more just multipolar world order,” Lavrov wrote in an article for South Africa’s Ubuntu magazine ahead of the BRICS Summit, which opens in Johannesburg on Tuesday.

Lavrov called BRICS a “symbol of true multipolarity” for many like-minded countries, which serves as a “positive force that can strengthen the solidarity of the Global South and Global East and become one of the pillars of a new, more just polycentric world order.”

“The international community is tired of the blac kmail and pressure from the Western elites and their colonial and racist manners,” Lavrov wrote. “That is why, for example, not only Russia, but also a number of other countries are consistently reducing their dependence on the US dollar, switching to alternative payment systems and national currency settlements.”

Russia has “consistently stood for strengthening the position of the African continent in a multipolar world order,” according to Lavrov, who promised that Moscow “will further support our African friends in their aspirations to play an increasingly significant role in resolving the key problems of our time.”

The summit in Johannesburg will focus on such “unconditional priorities” as strengthening the BRICS bank, improving payment mechanisms, and increasing the role of national currencies in mutual settlements, said the top Russian diplomat, who will represent Moscow in person, while President Vladimir Putin will join in via video link.

According to Lavrov, the BRICS partnership is gaining momentum, offering many creative initiatives aimed at ensuring food and energy security, healthy growth of the global economy and conflict resolution – although the group does not aim to replace existing international mechanisms, much less to become a new “collective hegemon.”

“That is why we launched the expansion process,” he noted. “It is symbolic that it has gained such momentum in the year of South Africa’s Chairmanship, a country that has joined BRICS as a result of a consensus-based political decision.”

Originally consisting of Brazil, Russia, India and China, BRICS has only expanded once, when it added South Africa in 2010, without any prior conditions. Member states are currently discussing internally what criteria candidates should meet and how the expansion process would work, given that BRICS takes decisions by consensus. Officials from the five nations have expressed hope that by that time the procedure governing expansion will be finalized and ready for approval in Johannesburg.

BRICS members account for some 40% of the world population and, according to experts’ forecasts cited by Lavorv, in 2023 the “Big Five” will account for about 31.5% of global GDP (at purchasing power parity), while the share of the G7 will fall to 30% .

Source: Russia Today

Edo Government has directed that all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to transit into the electronic governance (e-governance) platform of the state latest by Sept. 1.

The Head of Service, Mr. Anthony Okungbowa, gave the directive on Monday in Benin while meeting with staff of the State Sports Commission.

Okungbowa was represented at the gathering by Dr Peter Osagie, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.

The head of service said a transition to paperless governance is an innovation where every worker must be carried along and ensure they key into.

“Some weeks back, Edo State Government announced that we will go paperless by Sept 1. So we want to make sure our people are carried along.

“When you are introducing an innovation, a technology, you also know that the thing is going to be run by people so the people aspect needs to be tackled.

“We want to ensure that we are all running this race together, if not at the same pace, but at a considerable pace so that at the end of the day we will get full benefits of what we are introducing,” Okungbowa said.

E-governance system, the head of service, said would address the case of loss files as well as speed up service delivery.

“When you are using e-gov, you don’t need to move away from your desk. Right where you are, with a click, you get your message seen and of course, the same way they come, you can send it out.

“There is also a module called expense module. The expense module is very unique. It is becoming one of my best modules because it captures the budget of the MDAs.

“Once you are using your money from the expense module, the module tells you what you have left,” he said.

Corroborating the head of service, Mr Goodluck Igbinedion, Managing Director, Edo Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) said the innovation would make governance seamless.

“It takes care of missing files and no file will stay more than 48 hours on any desk. This will not only ensure accountability, but high efficiency in public service delivery

“It’s easy to track whoever leaks public documents. It will aid sincerity and transparency in governance,” said Igbinedion.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Anambra Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Agency, says plans are underway to digitise the state legislative processes to make residents have digital access to the laws and other legislative instruments.

Mr Chukwuemeka Agbata, Managing Director, Anambra ICT Agency, made the disclosure when he visited the Speaker of the State Assembly, Mr Somtochukwu Udeze, in his office on Monday.

Agbata said that since Gov. Chukwuma Soludo’s administration kick started the ‘Everything Technology and Technology Everywhere’ vision, the ICT agency had taken initiatives to bring other arms of government on board.

He said that the agency had identified areas of improvement in the online presence of the State House of Assembly.

“We want to see how we can ensure that proceedings of the Assembly are digitised to enable constituents have a feel of the efforts of their representatives in the House.

“Lagos State House of Assembly has a portal with pages for the legislators, their works, motions and Bills they have sponsored, all captured for easy access by the constituents.

” This is a positive model we can borrow as a forward-looking state. We will also get for our legislators a domain name and email addresses, to ease communication among themselves.

“We want to work with the House to reproduce all the laws and bye-laws of the state in digital formats, so that in the event of any mishap, we will not be losing so much, as they must have been backed up in the cloud,” he said.

Agbata sought the collaboration of the assembly to achieve the project.

“Gov. Soludo has that vision of a liveable and prosperous smart city and as an agency, we are playing our part effectively but we need every support we can get, “Agbata said.

Also speaking, Mr Jude Emesim, a Digital Investment Lead, said that the digitisation would allow constituents’ inputs in the legislative processes and bridge the gap between the elected members and their constituents.

Responding, the speaker said the 8th Assembly under his watch is committed to doing things differently in line with the governor’s vision.

Udeze lamented that everything done in the assembly is still in analogue form compared to other states.

“Having the documentation of the state laws in digital format, will give the people access, reduce duplication of legislative efforts and ensure absence of conflict of motions and laws.

“I want to assure you that the 8th Assembly will embrace technology to ease its processes and ensure it is effective in fulfilling its obligations as an arm of government,” Udeze said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Newly appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar has pledged to unveil Nigeria’s new foreign policy that would reposition the country at the pinnacle of visionary and global decision making.

Tuggar said this in Abuja on Monday when he assumed office as foreign affairs minister following his inauguration along with 44 others by President Bola Tinubu.

He said the new “Four Ds” Foreign Policy for the country would be centered on; Development, Democracy, Demography, and Diaspora geared towards bringing modern solutions to address some complex challenges.

According to Tuggar, the Foreign Ministry is at the forefront of promoting Nigeria’s interest and protecting citizens abroad, pledging his commitment to serving the country and Nigerians.

“It is the highest honor to be asked to serve as Minister of Foreign Affairs by his Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“As a historically important Ministry, Foreign Affairs has long represented the highest standard of excellence. It is therefore our job to ensure those standards will never fail.

“These are turbulence times. From the unfolding political crises in Niger Republic, to the regional insecurity and economic insecurity, we have a lot of work to do.

“In due time, we will also be unveiling a new vision for Nigeria’s foreign policy, four D’s diplomacy.

“Through this doctrine centered on development, democracy, demography and diaspora, we hope to find modern solutions in other to address complex modern problems.

“I will be counting on your cooperation and partnership. And by the special grace of God and with your support, I am sure that we can place Nigeria where she belongs, at the pinnacle of visional and global decision making,” Tuggar said.

Amb. Adamu Lamuwa, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry pledged the support of all staff to the minister to implement Nigeria’s foreign policy.

“We are here to work for you and the government to articulate and implement Nigeria’s Foreign policy.

“We are happy to have a leader who is not new to the field and who understand everything about diplomacy and foreign policy.

“We should thank Allah and President Bola Tinubu for bringing him to us because we have been praying for a minister who would hit the ground running.

“We are here pledging our determination and support to moving Nigeria’s foreign policy forward,” Lamuwa said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Tuggar was appointed to serve as Nigeria’s Ambassador to Germany from 2017, and recently in 2023, concluded his second tour as Ambassador.

As Ambassador, Tuggar initiated the repatriation of lost Benin artefacts from the German government leading to the return of 22 Benin Bronze looted artefacts valued at over 100 million pounds.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Muhammed Idris says his office will truthfully disseminate programmes and activities of the federal government to engender people’s trust.

The Minister said this on Monday while briefing newsmen after the inauguration of 45 new ministers at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He said that the management of government information was vital for the progress of the country nationally and internationally.

‘’As a minister of Information and National Orientation, I have the duty of telling Nigerians the true picture of what transpired about the various programmes and projects of the administration in all sectors.

“Being truthful and effective as minister of Information is essential to engender the trust of the people on various programmes and projects of the administration.

“I cannot say that it is a thankless job because the minister is only expected to truthfully disseminate the activities of the government.

“If you do that, then you are free with God and the people,’’ he said.

On his part, the Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Zephaniah Jisalo, thanked the president in realising the dreams of the Federal Capital Territory citizens to have a minister.

‘”All I want to say is thank you to Mr President, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, for making our dream comes true in the Federal Capital Territory.

‘”As Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, I will not disappoint Mr President and Nigerians.

“I will contribute my quota towards achieving the renewed hope agenda of the administration,’’ he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports Tinubu inaugurated 45 new ministers into his cabinet on Monday with a charge for them to serve as federal officials rather than regional or sectional ones.

“You are not a minister of a particular state, colony, region, or ethnic nationality, you are a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

‘’It is an honour to be chosen to serve as a minister in the federal executive council, and such a high honour comes with tremendous responsibility,” he said

The President further charged the new ministers to hit the ground running because Nigerians are eagerly expectant of excellence in service delivery, accountability, and transparency.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The New Minister of Interior, Mr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has urged the paramilitary chiefs under the ministry to discharge their duties in line with the mandates that established them for effective service delivery.

The minister gave the advice on assumption of duty on Monday in Abuja.

Tunji-Ojo added that he would hold them accountable for any infraction during the course of their duties.

The minister added further that he was in the ministry to work but in doing that, there must be a good working environment.

He reminded them that the work of the ministry affected everyone, whether rich or poor, senior or junior.

“I don’t lead from the back, I lead from the front. We will try to do our best to provide leadership, built on the foundation of your support.

“I do not inherit enemies and I do not inherit friends. I make my own enemies and I earn my own friends.

” I am here to make a change and I am here to deliver results and I need you to help me to achieve that.

“Just as Mr President will hold me accountable for whatever happens here in the ministry, I will never hold your subordinates responsible for anything.

“Therefore, it is you people that I will hold responsible for anything that goes wrong in the ministry,” he stressed.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr Oluwatoyin Akinlade promised to work with the minister harmoniously to take the ministry to greater heights.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria