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By Peter Egwuatu The proposed plan by the Federal Government to takeover investors’ unclaimed dividends has drawn the ire of capital market operators who are pointing at the adverse effects on investor confidence and future growth of the market. The unclaimed dividend portfolio is projected to hit N200 billion by the end of this year Some critics of the controversial bill see it as one of the options of the government to fund its budget in the face of increasing budget deficit and rising public debt. The Federal Government has in Section 39 of the 2020 Finance Act proposed that unclaimed dividends of less than 12 years be managed on behalf shareholders through Unclaimed Dividend Trust Fund while after 12 years, the money becomes   forfeited to the   Government as   perpetual debt to shareholders. READ ALSO Hoodlums hold Customs officials hostage, snatch gun from soldiers in Ogun Addressing the Investigative Arm of House Committee on Capital Market a...

Nestoil By Gabriel Ewepu and Alice Ekpang – Abuja A Non-governmental Organization, NGO, Joint Mobile Sanitation Agency of Nigeria, JOMSAN, weekend, called the Federal Government to stop multiple taxation and roadblocks mounted on federal highways in order to enhance smooth food transportation and supply across the country. This was stated by the President, JOMSAN, Dr Nnamdi Ogbogbo, at a workshop on ‘Building Partnership for Food Security in Nigeria’, held in Abuja. Ogbogbo explained that the workshop was held in partnership with the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, ALGON, and National Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, whose aim is to eradicate multiple taxations and stop all illegal roadblocks by bringing uniformity among all 774 local government revenue contractors in the Mobile Advert Industry. READ ALSO:  Hoodlums hold Customs officials hostage, snatch gun from soldiers in Ogun He said: “There is a need to introduce policies that can help combat f...

By Henry Umoru—ABUJA Governors of the 36 states in the country, on the platform of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), have described the killing of over 40 rice farmers in Garin Kwashebe, Jere Local Government Area of Borno State, on Saturday, November 28, by Boko Haram terrorists as obnoxious, wicked, unwarranted and morally reprehensible. In a statement, on Sunday, by the NGF Chairman and Ekiti State governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, the governors said the action of the Boko Haram insurgents have brought back what they described as the ugly memories of several dastardly attacks on soft targets in the state. The statement read: “The farmers were attacked while harvesting their produce totally oblivious of the danger that awaits them in nearby bushes. “This method is consistent with the senseless bombings of busy markets, bus stations, schools and abattoirs whenever the terrorists feel overpowered by the security operatives or feel their backs against the wall. “Governors, under the ...

Governor of Plateau State, Simon Bako Lalong (2nd from left); Minister of Women Affairs Minister, Dame Pauline Tallen (left) and Otunba Segun Runsewe, DG, National Council for Arts & Culture, during the opening ceremony of the 2020 Jos Plateau NAFEST. By Osa Amadi Some, if not many of us, left Lagos with trepidation for the 33rd edition of National Festival of Arts and Culture, NAFEST, 2020 in Jos Plateau State. The major concern has been insecurity. What we heard about Plateau State made us fear to go there. For those who wonder why tourism fails even in countries like ours that have so much fun to offer, insecurity is the answer. When we commit, or allow dastardly acts such as killing innocent people, the news filters out to the world, and people become afraid to come to our places. Tourism dies. And if care is not taken, arts and culture die too. And as we may all know, the Dead Sea we hear about is called by that name because the Dead Sea receives water only from the Jor...

Kogi State Council for Arts and Culture (KGSCAC) clinched gold medal at the just concluded 33rd edition of National Festival for Arts and Culture (NAFEST) in Plateau State, Jos as the most enterprising contingent in this year’s event. The medal and certificate of award were presented to the Director, Kogi State Council for Arts and Culture, Mrs Wosilat Owuda during the closing ceremony. The Council distinguished herself in showcasing the abundant cultural heritage, natural and mineral resources in Kogi State. ALSO READ:  We need executive approval to bear arms – FRSC The Director-General, National Council for Arts and Culture, Otunba Segun Runsewe in a chat with the Director, Kogi State Council for Arts and Culture, promised to cap up the award with a visit to His Excellency, the Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello, to discuss ways of harnessing these enormous historical and cultural resources into the income-generating sector. Similarly, Kogi State was applaude...

By Owei Lakemfa THERE is a sickening campaign by some unfeeling persons that those who claim there were killings at the Lekki Tollgate on October 20, 2020 or are searching for missing loved ones who went to the protests, should produce the corpses. To this group, unless corpses are produced, there could not have been killings. This is like taunting the rest of the populace. These Trumpian propagandists are not even being fair to a government that says it wants to unravel the truth about what happened at the protest site. This campaign is shallow and unintelligent. Murders do not necessarily produce bodies nor do massacres have to produce corpses. It depends on the plan, the perpetrators and the execution. This is why in court, circumstantial evidence can be used to convict a murderer even if the corpse cannot be found. Murders and massacres can follow the Italian or American Mafia system of division of labour: those who shoot are different from the group that disposes, while these...

Cassava Some farmers under the aegis of the Cassava Growers Association of Nigeria (NCGA) have allayed fears of an impending shortage of cassava in 2021, due to inability to access government intervention funds. A member of the association, Yemi Williams said in an interview on Saturday in Lagos that farmers’ inability to access government’s N19.7 billion promised in 2019, is projected to cause the anticipated shortage. “As part of the government’s effort in Agricultural development and sustainability programme, N19.7 billion naira was released in April, 2019 by President Muhammadu Buhari through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) towards the cultivation of Cassava in Nigeria. “Sequel to this, the CBN held series of meeting with members of the association in respect of modalities on the implementation of government directive. “The initial step taken by NCGA in March 2019, in Akure, Ondo State, was to direct all the cassava grower across the nation to open an account with the Ban...