By Favour Nnabugwu
National Insurance Commission, Naicom has commenced the sensitization programme in Katsina State for top government functionaries, traditional rulers, Khadis, Ulamas, Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC; Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners, NARTO; market trader association, law enforcement agencies and relevant shareholders.
Also in attendance were managing directors of Takaful companies.
CAPTION
L- Hajia Zainab Aliyu, NEPZA Director of Monitoring & Compliance(left), Engr. David, Engr.David Balami Asst.Director Project & Procurement (NEPZA) middle, and Mr Martins Odeomenem, Director, Procurement ( Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment listening to a contractor during visit to the Calabar Free Trade Zone.
By Favour Nnabugwu
The Joint Projects Monitoring Committee of the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) has concluded inspections of 112 approved projects for the Authority.
These projects, captured under the NEPZA Tender Board of 2017-2021, direct Federal Executive Council approval and the Ministerial Tender Board of Capital Projects are located at Calabar Free Trade Zone (CFTZ), Kano Free Trade Zones (KFTZ) and the newly approved Lagos and Kwara Special Economic Zones respectively.
In a statement released by Head Corporate Communication, Mr Martins Odeh that out of the 112 ongoing projects, a total of 76 have been completed with the CFTZ accounting for 28; KFTZ 38; Lekki SEZ 5; and Ilorin SEZ 5 while others are at different levels of completion.
Some of the projects include: Erosion Control Works & Rehabilitation of Collapsed Perimeter Fence at CFTZ; Construction of Emergency Exit Gates & Access Road to the Jetties at CFTZ; Re-Asphalting of the Exiting Dual Carriageway Road Network at CTFZ; Consulting Services for Masterplan & Architectural Design at Kwara SEZ; Consulting Services for Engineering & Infrastructure Design at Kwara SEZ; Quantity Surveying for Feasibility Studies at Kwara SEZ; and the Development of initial 5MW Power Plant & Electrical Reticulation within the Ilorin SEZ.
They also include: The Construction of Roads with Associated Drainage Work at KFTZ; Construction of Four Standard Size Factory Building & Associated External Works at KFTZ; The Purchase of Property at No.38 Kofo Abayomi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos; The Re-furbishing & Furnishing of the Newly acquired NEPZA new Lagos Zonal Office among others.
Speaking at the end of the tour in Calabar, Hajia Zainab Aliyu, NEPZA’s Director of Monitoring & Compliance, expressed satisfaction with the level of projects execution across the four zones, adding that the Federal Government had always ensured value-for-money in the execution of its contracts.
Hajia Aliyu, the Authority’s Team Lead, said that the approval for the projects’ inspection tours indicated government priority toward adequate provision of infrastructure in the free trade zones and Prof. Adesoji Adesugba led-management relentless commitment to the interpretation of President Muhammadu Buhari’s policy for a profitable and competitive zone scheme.
“As part of the statutory responsibility of NEPZA as provided in Section 4 of the Authority’s Act 63 of 1992 is the provision that ensures that all zones provide some of the basic infrastructure. We are also obliged to constantly monitor and evaluate both new and old infrastructure.
“The reasons for these monitoring and evaluation exercises were to ensure the right quality of materials were used and the the right quality of jobs are done, just as we also checked the percentage of work done in line with the amount assigned for the project.
“To this end, the Managing Director, Prof. Adesoji Adesugba decided to set up this committee to access all the projects that have been earmarked from the period he assumed leadership of the Authority.
“ The Authority has, however, decided to carry out the task jointly with our supervising Ministry, which is the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment. So far, we were encouraged by the progress of executions.’’ She said.
Meanwhile, Mr Martins Odeomenem, Director of Procurement, who led the team members from the Ministry of Industry, Trade & Investment, described NEPZA as a serious agency of government that had always displayed uprightness in the conduct of its affairs.
Odeomenem explained that the ministry was, however, mostly concerned with those projects approved through the Ministerial Tender Board, adding that most of projects under the above category had been completed.
“It is not all about awarding contracts and executing contracts. There is also the need for every office that has the duty of awarding contracts to know that government is seriously after value-for-money.
“The inspections were aimed at ascertaining if the contracts the government awarded within the period under review are achieving the purpose for which they were awarded and executed. This is the essence of our assignment.
“I am fully aware that NEPZA is a serious establishment that abhors shoddy execution of its projects because of the strategic nature of the free zones in attracting foreign investment. We have gone around and I can say with all sense of responsibility that we are satisfied with what we have met on ground so far.’’ Odeomenem said.
The committee is, however, expected to submit a detailed technical report of its evaluation within 21days.
In a related development, members of the House Committee on Commerce who are embarking on their Mid-Term Inspections of projects at free zones across the country concluded a two-day tour of the Kano Free Trade Zone on Monday.
Hon. Richard Gbande, Deputy Chairman of the committee expressed satisfaction on how the Authority had so managed the special economic ecosystem, describing it as a vital economic gateway that should fast track the industrialisation of the Northern region.
Gbande explained that the zone was lucrative going by the presence of 75 enterprises functioning night and day to increase production for the country’s highly competitive markets.
“We are sure production and competition among the enterprises in the zone would increase significantly if the Federal Government finally divests its equity to the private sector as planned. Doing so will help open the space more for job creation.’’ The Lawmaker said.
By Favour Nnabugwu
By Favour Nnabugwu
National Pension Commission (PenCom) has simplified the process on retirement and terminal benefits for immediate implementation.
The Commission had comprehensive review of the regulation since its initial issuance in the year 2007.
The regulation guides the process of accessing retirement and terminal benefits by pension contributors and retirees under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).
In line with its consultative approach, PenCom obtained input from key stakeholders in order to ensure a more efficient retirement benefit administration.
The commission disclosed the new development on it’s verified twitter handle.
The revised regulation contains several new provisions on pension enhancement, voluntary contributions, temporary access to RSA due to loss of job, payment under the Micro Pension plan, administrative sanctions for violations by Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs), amongst others
The new regulation introduces salient amendments to several existing provisions while providing more clarity on others.
While the old regulation outlined the documents required for retirees to access benefits, the revised regulation has simplified the documentation process.
The new regulation mandated PFAs to make efforts to ensure that all documentation preparatory to the retirement of the Retirement Savings Account (RSA) holder be provided and concluded within a period of four months prior to the date of retirement.
In order to ensure that prospective retirees are duly educated on the modes of accessing their benefits, PFAs have also been mandated to advise prospective retirees to check their websites and be acquainted with the CPS retirement pack containing features of Programmed Withdrawal (PW) and Retiree Life Annuity (RLA) at least three months to date of retirement.
The pack also contains other salient issues that would guide the retirees towards a smooth retirement process.
By Favour Nnabugwu
National Insurance Commission, Naicom and Katsina State government inuagurate Technical Committee on sensititation, implementation and takaful insurance chaired by the Commissioner for Commerce in the State Alh. Muktar Gidado Abdulkadir and the co-chairman is the Executive Chairman, Katsina State Internal revenue service Mal. Mustapha Mohammed Sirajo.
Other members of the Committee are representatives of the NAICOM, Office of the SSG, Office of the Head of Service in the State, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Health and other relevant agencies.
The Executive Governor while inaugurating the Technical Committee states that the initiative to introduce Takaful insurance is a welcome development that will serve as an alternative especially to attract people of the state who are left out due to religious or cultural barriers.
He assured the NAICOM of Katsina State Government’s full support in the development of insurance in the State.
CAPTION:
Naicom team was in Katsina for the inuaguration. Photo shows: R- The Executive Governor of Katsina State HE Aminu Bello Masari, Naicom’sHead Corporate Communication and Market Development, Mr AbdulRasaaq Salami and his Deputy Alh. Mannir Yakubu during the inauguration of the Technical Committee on the Sensitisation/Implementation of compulsory insurances and Takaful in the state in his office on Tuesday 6 September, 2022.
