Metro

Nigeria to strengthen defence partnership with South Africa

Published

2 days ago

July 2, 2024

The Nigerian government has set plans in motion to strengthen defence partnership with South Africa in a bid to address the multifaceted security challenges bedevilling the African continent.

Nigeria’s Chief of Defence
Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, who made this known during an official visit to the Chief of South Africa National Defence Force, Gen. Rudzani Maphwanya, in Pretoria, called for reinforcement of ties between the Armed Forces of Nigeria and the South African National Defence Force

In a statement by the Acting Director, Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Tukur Gusau, on Tuesday in Abuja, the CDS described the meeting as a “panacea to addressing the multifaceted challenges bedevilling the continent”, adding that the “need for cooperation and reinforcement of bilateral ties were also paramount.”

Musa stated that the meeting with his South African counterpart was focused on various measures to address regional security challenges.

According to the Nigerian Army chief, the exchange of expertise and forging stronger ties between the two countries is for the betterment of the continent were considered.

“During the meeting, the Chief of SANDF highlighted the significance of the meeting between the two largest economies and military powers on the African continent,” the statement noted.

“Present at the meeting were the SANDF Chiefs of Intelligence, Policy and Plans, International Affairs and Joint Operations amongst other departmental chiefs of the SANDF,” he added.

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Metro

Nigerian Senate rates FG below par on 2024 budget performance

Published

6 hours ago

July 4, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The Nigerian Senate has rated the Federal Government below par on the implementation of the capital component of the 2024 national budget.

The lawmakers, who gave the executive arm of government the low score on Wednesday, said there was a need for the government to get Ministries, Department and Agencies of the Federal Government to implement the budget satisfactorily.

The Upper Chamber also urged the government to intensify efforts in funding the capital components of the three national budgets which are running concurrently in the country.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriation, Senator Solomon Adeola who made the charge when the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Wale Edun, along with the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Oluwatoyin Madein, appeared before the panel over the budget performances.

“It is the capital component of the budgets that will showcase this government largely in terms of performances,” Adeola said while lamenting the poor funding of the capital components of the budgets.

“The capital components tend to showcase various projects that will be executed by this government and people can say, oh, the government is doing this, it’s doing that. That is why we are emphasising the performance of the 2024 capital component of the project.

“The N1.84bn achieved so far out of a N9tn capital expenditure component is nothing to write home about.

“I would want you to please look towards this direction. And I want you to do more engagement with the ministries and departments and agencies of the government.”

The Senator however, urged the Minister to engage more with the MDAs because most of them were not aware of the current arrangement regarding funding of capital projects.

“I tell you for free, some agencies will tell you that they have not been given any money for capital when we are fully aware that the process of payment of capital has changed.

“That shows a lot of engagement has to go on from time to time to bring it to their notice that you are no longer in charge of payment to contractors.

“I want you to please do a kind of continuous engagement. It will help so that everybody can come to terms that the system has changed.”

Metro

Zambia: President Hichilema under fire as UKA women accuse him of failing to end nepotism in govt offices

Published

1 day ago

July 3, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema has come under fire following accusations by the United Kwacha Alliance (UKA) Women’s Council that he has failed to eliminate nepotism in government offices.

The National Chairlady of the Council, Faith Muntali, who made the allegations at a press conference in Lusaka on Tuesday, said since 2022, experienced individuals had been losing their jobs due to favoritism towards relatives of government officials.

“This has caused concern in our nation as qualified and experienced people are losing their positions based on tribal lines,” Muntali said.

She further alleged that experienced and qualified citizens were being sidelined, intimidated, and mistreated because they did not belong to the preferred tribes in the country.

“President Hichilema, we call on you to uproot this tree of nepotism,” Muntali said.

She also challenged President Hichilema to review the details of employees in parastatal and public offices, including the names of the employees, date of employment or promotion, and the predecessor in the position.