General
Unemployment: Atiku Suggests Payment of N5000 Stipend
By Dipo Olowookere
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has advised the federal government led by President Muhammadu Buhari to consider paying a N5000 stipend to every family in Nigeria.
However, he emphasised that the beneficiary family must be the one with at least one school-age child and earning less than $800 (N328,000 at I&E rate of N410/$1) per annum.
In a statement issued by the media team of Mr Atiku over the weekend, it was suggested that the N5,000 stipend should be paid by the government to the families “via their BVN and NIN on the condition that they verifiably keep their children in school.”
The former Vice President noted that if this is done, as he earlier advised last year, the country would be solving the twin issue of youth unemployment and a high rate of out of school children, which currently stands at 13.5 million.
“If we do not do this, then the floodgates of unemployment will be further opened next year, and in the years to come,” he warned.
Mr Atiku further stressed that the unemployment rate, which the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) recently put at 33 per cent, is the root cause of the “unprecedented insecurity Nigeria is facing.”
“Idleness is the worst feature of unemployment because it channels the energy of our youth away from production, and towards destruction, and that is why Nigeria is now the third most terrorized nation on earth,” he noted.
But he said “the fastest way to bring down a world record unemployment rate is via incentivised education. An educated citizenry is more employable and more self-employable.”
“Increased education has been scientifically linked with lower rates of crime and insecurity, along with lower infant and maternal mortality, and a higher lifetime income.
“We must then incorporate those youth who are above school age into a massive public works programme.
“There was talk of 774,000 Special Public Works jobs for the youth, which was to have started in January of 2021. This is a commendable step, but it must be done with proper agenda, rather than propaganda,” he submitted.
Policy already exists
Business Post recalled that in the build-up to the 2015 general elections in Nigeria, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), then an opposition party, promised to pay N5,000 monthly to poor Nigerians. This was hailed by many and caused the party to be massively voted for by the electorates.
A year after it gained power, the administration of Mr Buhari announced that N65 billion has been approved for the payment of N5,000 monthly stipend to Nigerians under the Conditional Cash Transfer scheme of the National Social Investment Programme of the government.
The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, who was then the Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, had said after a Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting that the N65 billion was part of the N150 billion approved by the steering committee of the programme.
“Focus has been given to the extremely poor and vulnerable in our society and special emphasis is being placed to providing as many as possible in the North-Eastern part of the country where a lot of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs),” she had informed reporters then.
Refinery rehabilitation
While commenting on the proposed plans by the central government to rehabilitate the Port Harcourt refinery with $1.5 billion, the candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 presidential election described it as unnecessary and “ill-advised” because the facility has “failed to turn a profit for years” despite the huge funds sunk into it for turnaround maintenance.
He maintained that, “As a nation, we are better off privatising our refineries and the NNPC (Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation) through the time-tested LNG model in which the FG owns 49 per cent equity and the private sector 51 per cent.”
“Recall that in 20 years ending 2020, the NLNG had delivered $18.3 billion dividends to government irrespective of taxes and other benefit accruals to the country.
“This will not only free the government of needless spending but also clean up the infrastructure mess in the petroleum downstream sector,” he said.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Residents of Nigeria experienced a power outage on Saturday, January 11, 2025, after the national grid collapsed.
It was the first that occurred this year and it happened at about 3 pm today, according to information gathered by Business Post.
Last year, the nation recorded about 12 grid collapse that almost embarrassed the government, which later set up a team to look into the causes of the frequent collapse of the grid.
It was later that today’s incident occurred after power generation went down from 2,111.01 megawatts at 2:00 pm to about 390.20 megawatts by 4:55 pm.
This development caused a cut in power supply in most parts of the country, but the situation has been brought under control, with electricity restored in most affected areas.
By Adedapo Adesanya
President Bola Tinubu on Thursday urged the Chinese government to increase the $2 billion currency swap between Nigeria and the Asian nation to enhance trade between the two countries.
He also called for an upward review of the $50 billion aid package for Africa, which China’s President Xi Jinping announced last year.
Recall that China and Nigeria recently renewed their currency swap agreement, valued at 15 billion Yuan (approximately $2 billion), to enhance trade and investment.
According to a statement signed by his media aide, Mr Bayo Onanuga, the President made this appeal and more while receiving the Minister of Foreign Affairs of China, Mr Wang Yi, at the State House Abuja on Thursday.
The President said increasing the level of currency swaps will speed up the infrastructural development in Nigeria and deepen the strategic bilateral relations.
“We still demand more in the area of currency swap. The level you have approved as a government for Nigeria is inadequate considering our programme. If you can increase that, it will be well appreciated. Our bond should grow stronger and become unbreakable,” the President was quoted to have said in a statement
President Tinubu noted that the continent’s infrastructural needs would require more commitment, urging a review of the amount to reflect the continent’s reality.
“I am happy you are part of China’s highest decision-making body. We will want you to use your position to influence improved project funding. First, I say yes to the 50 billion dollar support, and thank you for contributing to African growth.
“The infrastructural needs of Africa are greater than that, and we want to move as rapidly as our other counterparts. All share your vision of rapid development. Africa values the relationship with China, and we seek deeper collaboration for infrastructural development,” he stated.
President Tinubu also called on China to support Nigeria’s bid for a permanent United Nations Security Council seat.
“You are a member of the UN Security Council. We want you to use your influence to ensure Nigeria secures the seat,” the President said.
The Nigerian leader thanked President Xi Jinping for his warm reception during his visit to China last year.
He said Africa, particularly Nigeria, was prepared to meet developmental goals and contribute counterpart project funding
“We are ready to move and reach the various developmental goals. Due to our deliberation, we signed many MOUs and planned many action programmes.
“My visit during FOCAC was a good experience. We signed several comprehensive MOUs during the visit. We planned several programmes of action. As a result of that deliberation, I made sure that immediately after I returned, I appointed one of the best brains available to coordinate Nigeria-China relations, Mr Joseph Tegbe. He will work to actualise various MOUs and promote a greater understanding of developmental programmes.
“It is good that you came at such a critical time. My visit to China was a good experience. Once again, accept my sympathy for the earthquake in Tibet. It was a natural disaster that nobody expected. We commend your government for the rapid reaction to protect lives.
On his part, Mr Yi said Chinese investments in the country would focus on employment generation and infrastructural development. He said the Chinese National Development Bank had started funding some development projects.
He said the Chinese Government would support including an African country in the UN Security Council, adding that “it was a historical injustice by the world that should be corrected”.
“We stand with Africa, and we will not support a country that invades another country,” he stated.
The foreign minister said China would welcome Nigeria’s membership in the BRICS and participation in the global development mechanism.
He said China fully supported Mrs Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Director General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), for a second term in office.
The minister also lauded President Tinubu for his visionary leadership and consistency in projecting Africa’s needs, which require China’s support.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Nigeria has received $52.88 million recovered Galactica assets linked to a former Minister of Petroleum, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, from the United States Government.
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) disclosed this at the formal signing ceremony of the asset agreement between Nigeria and the US in Abuja on Friday.
Delivering his remarks, Mr Fagbemi explained that $50 million of the recovered assets will be deployed through the World Bank to the development of the rural electrification project and the remaining $2 million will be deployed to the International Institute of Justice to expand the Justice system and also counter corruption.
Mr Fagbemi noted that the asset return marks a milestone in the ongoing collaboration between Nigeria and the US in combating corruption and upholding the rule of law
He said the event is also a significant effort by President Bola Tinubu to address the issue of corruption.
Meanwhile, in his remarks, the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Richard Mills called for the monitoring and effectively utilizing the recovered assets by the Ministry of Justice to benefit Nigerians.
Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke has been accused of abusing her power when she was petroleum minister under the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan in Nigeria, including accepting financial rewards for awarding multi-million-pound contracts.
In 2023, the United Kingdom National Crime Agency (NCA) alleged that Mrs Alison-Madueke benefited from at least £100,000 ($127,000) in cash, chauffeur-driven cars, flights on private jets, luxury holidays for her family, and the use of multiple London properties.
Other charges against her also detail financial rewards, including furniture, renovation work and staff for the properties, payment of private school fees, and gifts from high-end designer shops such as Cartier jewellery and Louis Vuitton goods, the NCA said.
Since she left office, she has been dogged by corruption allegations but denies the charges.
The 63-year-old woman has been on bail since first being arrested in London in October 2015.
The US Department of Justice has recovered assets totalling $53.1 million linked to Mrs Alison-Madueke’s alleged corruption.
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