Day: April 7, 2023

Minister of Heath and Population Khaled Abdel Ghaffar attended on Friday a ceremony for signing a cooperation protocol with the higher committee of health specializations, an affiliate of the health ministry, and the Egyptian Health Council.

The protocol is part of integration programs between the two sides for making use of their potential with the aim improving the performance of medics.

Abdel Ghaffar said the protocol organizes cooperation between the two sides in the fields of education, training programs and expertise exchange to hone the skills of medical professionals.

Source: State Information Service Egypt

In recent times, the media has been awash with news about the huge debt burden that the incoming government would inherit from the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

This started after Buhari signed the 2023 budget of 21.83 trillion Naira into law in December, 2022, and said the country could pay N1.8 trillion in extra interest on borrowings.

Nigeria’s external debt is considered to be the biggest in sub-Saharan Africa. It has already been rescheduled several times.

In spite of the rescheduling and refinancing by creditors who were either members of the Paris Club (governments), London Club (banks) or independent creditors, arrears of this debt kept accumulating over time.

The President, however, justified government borrowing to finance infrastructure, asserting that his government took loans in the interest of the country to solve infrastructure deficit.

“We have so many challenges with infrastructure. We just have to take loans to do roads, rail and power, so that investors will find us attractive and come here to put their money,’’ he told members of the Presidential Economic Advisory Council.

He regretted that the failure to provide the infrastructure for effective transportation deprived the country of its well-deserved status as the West African hub for air cargo transportation and trans-shipment of goods.

The Debt Management Office (DMO) recently announced that Nigeria’s total public debt stock as at Dec.31, 2022 was 103.11 billion dollars.

DMO is the federal government agency established to centrally coordinate the management of national debts.

It explained that the Debt Stock was made up of the domestic and external debt stocks of the Federal Government, the 36 state governments and the Federal Capital Territory.

A breakdown of the public debt stock showed that 37.82 per cent was external, while the balance of 62.18 per cent was domestic.

Findings by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) revealed that the comparative debt stock for Dec. 31, 2021 was 95.77 billion dollars.

According to the DMO, in terms of composition, total domestic debt stock stood at 61.42 billion dollars, while total external debt stock was 41.69 billion dollars.

It is noteworthy, however, that the debt figure, excludes the N22 trillion Federal Government’s indebtedness to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), through Ways and Means Advances.

Finance experts say Ways and Means Advances is a loan facility used by the apex bank to finance the government during temporary budget shortfalls. It is, however, subject to limits as prescribed by the constitution.

The Ways and Means Advances are presently awaiting securitisation by the National Assembly, and can only be added to the country’s public debt after such securitisation.

According to the Director-General of DMO, Patience Oniha, the reasons for the increase in total public debt stock were new borrowings by the Federal Government and sub-national governments, primarily to finance budget deficits and execute capital projects.

“The issuance of promissory notes by the Federal Government to settle some liabilities also contributed to growth in the debt stock,’’ she said.

Oniha, however, assured that on-going efforts by the Federal Government to increase revenue from oil and non-oil sources through initiatives like the Finance Acts and the Strategic Revenue Mobilisation Initiative are expected to support debt sustainability.

She said the recently introduced Medium Term Debt Management Strategy (MTDS) provided a guide to the borrowing activities of government in the medium-term.

She explained that MTDS adequately reflected the current economic realities and the projected trends, adding that its preparation involved the consideration of alternative funding strategies available to the government.

“It seeks to meet its financing needs, taking into consideration the cost of borrowing and the associated risks, while ensuring debt sustainability in the medium to long-term,” she said.

Experts say in spite of the seeming high debt rate, there is no cause for alarm for the economy. The country’s debt-to-GDP ratio of 23.20 per cent remains within the 40 per cent limit self-imposed by Nigeria and the 55 per cent limit recommend by World Bank/International Monetary Fund (IMF).

It is also within the 70 per cent limit recommend by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

According a study conducted by the World Bank, a debt to GDP ratio that exceeds 77 per cent for an extended period of time may result in an adverse impact on economic growth.

Records show that Nigeria’s external debt remained low until the middle of the 1970s. It was 1.5 billion dollars in 1970 and 2.5 billion dollars in 1975.

The situation began to get out of control around 1977 when an outstanding growth rate in the country’s debt became manifest.

The outstanding debt reached 7.5 billion dollars in 1979 and 8.9 billion dollars by 1980.

This was due to excess borrowing from international agencies and countries at non-concessional interest rate as a result of the decline in oil earnings.

It also followed the emergence of high trade arrears due to inability of the country to either produce or foot the bills of importation of needed goods and services.

By 2005, the nation’s debt had ballooned to about 30 billion dollars, mostly borrowed from the Paris Club of creditors.

Nigeria and the creditors’ club then went into series of negotiations on a mutually acceptable relief on the 30 billion dollars debt with the Paris Club.

In October 2005, Nigeria and the Paris Club announced a final agreement for debt relief worth 18 billion dollars. The creditors had cancelled 18 billion dollars and Nigeria repaid 12 billion dollars. Most of the 18 billion dollars was registered as aid.

The deal was completed in April 2006, when Nigeria made its final payment and its books were cleared of any Paris Club debt.

Some Nigerians opined at the time, that it did not make economic sense to pay such huge amounts of Foreign Exchange in one fell swoop just to enjoy debt relief.

They argued that the funds could have been channeled into improving infrastructure and creating enabling environment to attract viable foreign investments for economic growth.

The government of President Olusegun Obasanjo, however went ahead with the payment and exited the country from the huge debt burden of the Paris Club.

The relief, however, turned out to be temporary as, by June 2015, the country’s debt had again jumped to 63.8 billion dollars, representing the country’s highest debt profile since 2007.

An economist, Tope Fasua, advised the Federal Government to improve on the budgeting system to check deficit financing and make the annual budgets more impactful.

“Unfortunately, we have found ourselves in a difficult scenario due to the pandemic and falling crude oil prices and we just have to go borrowing like most other countries in the world.

“Government should ensure that our borrowings are effectively utilised for optimum economic impact,’’ he said.

Laoye Jaiyeola, Chief Executive Officer of the National Economic Summit Group (NESG), said that, though Nigeria’s debt-to-GDP ratio could be considered low, the revenue that went into debt servicing was still on the high side.

“We should all be worried about the rising debt profile of the country.

“Some people say that the debt-to-GDP ratio is still low. It could be low, but servicing debt is still a challenge,” he said.

He suggested a drastic cut in running cost of governance, reduction in recurrent expenditure, as well as removal of subsidies in electricity and petroleum products, as a way of reducing the debt burden.

As Nigerians look forward to the inauguration of a new government on May 29, stakeholders advise the incoming administration to take aggressive measures to improve revenue generation so as to curb dependence on domestic and external borrowings to fund its annual budgets.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Provost, Federal College of Education (FCE) (Technical) Akoka, Lagos, Dr Wahab Azeez, on Thursday assured newly enrolled students of an environment conducive to learning in the institution.

Azeez made the promise during the matriculation of 412 students for the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) and Professional Diploma in Education (PDE) 2022/2023 academic session, at the college. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the matriculants comprise 382 NCE and 30 PDE students.

Azeez described matriculation as a ceremony at which fresh students are fully integrated into the academic community.

He urged them to ensure that they derive the greatest benefits from the resources available in the College.

“My matriculants, this indeed is a pathway to your academic career and development, being among the few to be offered admission into acquiring NCE and PDE from the FCE (Technical), Akoka, Lagos,” he said.

The provost promised to provide for them better facilities and also attend to their welfare matters because they are ‘children which the government has put under our care’.

“Their care is fundamental and we, as a school, must live up to expectations; renovations are going on in the hostels and soon the construction of a new female hostel will commence. “These and many more are part of our efforts, including adequate security, to make them comfortable because these are the youths and our future leaders that will take over from us,” he said.

Azeez said that the college management took the issue of security very seriously, with surveillance 24/7 by its engaged guards and Close Circuit Television (CCTV) to detect criminals.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Balm in Gilead Foundation for Sustainable Development (BIGIF) has called for 35 per cent affirmative action in political appointments at all levels of governance in Nigeria.

Its Executive Director, Ms Oluwatumininu Adedeji, made the call in the foundation’s request for 35 affirmative action in the political appointments in Ekiti, during a courtesy visit to Gov. Biodun Oyebanji.

Adedeji said that with the 35 per cent affirmative action the country would be able to get it right on Women’s Political and Administrative Rights.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a letter titled: REQUEST FOR 35% AFFIRMATIVE ACTION IN POLITICAL APPOINTMENTS IN EKITI, was presented to the newly constituted political appointment committee in Ekiti.

A copy of the letter was also addressed to Gov. Biodun Oyebanji and other stakeholders in the political sector in the state.

Adedeji recalled that BIGIF had, through its campaign, secured the commitment of all candidates at the election to fully implement the Ekiti Women Agenda when elected, which Mr Governor, who was the then candidate of the ruling party, subscribed to.

She said: “For our emerging democracy in Nigeria to be sustainable, all groups within the population must be actively involved in the governance process and their voices must be heard.

“And, their experiences and expertise must be utilised for optimal growth and development of the country.

“We must rise to break the bias that hitherto limit women’s participation in politics and governance process.”

The letter read in parts: “In August 2022, BIGIF presented the Agenda to the transition committee on invitation and the Governor, in his inaugural speech, clearly committed to women empowerment, gender equality and inclusive governance.

“Since inauguration, the Governor has not relented in the pursuit of his promises, particularly by enlisting qualified women into the service of the state through appointments.

“We welcome the constitution of your committee as a single largest and right opportunity to achieve 35 per cent of political appointments for women in Ekiti.

“In line with our mandate to promote women’s rights, we are calling on the committee on political appointments to priotise and facilitate the reservation of a minimum of 35 per cent of political appointments in Ekiti State for women as the Governor has charged during the committee’s maiden meeting.

“This is in consonance with the Governor’s electioneering and inauguration promises and to further implement the existing legal frameworks for gender equalit.”

The executive director said that with this, Ekiti would further set an unprecedented feat, far ahead of other sub-national governments.

According to her, this is after recording another first in women political representation at the House of Assembly election of March 18 where Ekiti emerged with the highest number of female elected lawmakers in Nigeria.

NAN reports that BIGIF is a registered woman-led non-governmental organisation that focusses on enhancing healthy living and promoting the rights of women, youths and children.

It is also a frontline organisation in the advancement of human rights, promotion of women participation in politics and the fight against Gender Based Violence (GBV) in Nigeria committed to partnering with the government for development.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria