Works Minister, Senate Committee on Finance Re-Affirm Commitment Towards Implementation of Tax Credit Scheme   The Honourable Minister of Works, Sen. Engr. Nweze David Umahi, CON and the Senate Committee on Finance have re-affirmed their commitment to continue with the implementation of the tax credit scheme as contained in Executive Order 07 issued by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019.   This was the position taken this Thursday at the end of the interactive session between the Senate Committee on Finance; chaired by Senator Mohammed Sanni Musa, the Federal Ministry of Works and Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority, (NSIA) on the funding of critical roads, NNPC Funding and Infrastructure Development & Refurbish Investment Tax Credit Policy Initiative. The Honourable Minister who expressed the determination of the Tinubu administration to complete the designated road projects under the tax credit scheme, told the Committee members that “we have not initiated new projects, because the President has not granted permission to do that.” Speaking further, Sen. Umahi noted that there was the challenge of inadequate funding especially the non-release of funds by NSIA as expected for the implementation of the scheme. The Honourable Minister assured that the Ministry is up to the task of actualizing the objective of the scheme as he announced that starting from next March, the Ministry would begin publishing details about ongoing projects. He said, “I can assure you that from the month of March, we will be publishing in the dailies the cost of projects, progress made for that month and other necessary information.”   In his own remarks, the Senate Committee Chair on Finance, Senator Mohammed Sani Musa disclosed the support of the Committee for the scheme, stating that the objectives of the scheme were commendable. While lauding the initiative and the need to sustain the scheme, he averred that the Senate was not against the continuous implementation of the scheme as contained in the presidential, He thus “appeal to NNPCL, the Federal Ministry of Works and the contractors handling the projects covered by the scheme to ensure those projects are completed.” Commenting on the role of NSIA in the funding of the scheme, the Senate Chair remarked that “the Committee will recommend to the Senate to pause that initial agreement between the Ministry and NSIA; “so then NSIA can now concentrate more on other investments. Let them leave the issue of road projects because road projects is an emergency and requires emergency attention,” he affirmed. Pledging the support of the Senate for the Federal Government initiative, Senator Musa, said “however you will be able to get the funding on the side of the Senate, appealing that “I want to appeal to the Federal Ministry of Works to seriously look at the issue of funding; on the side of the Senate I hope we will be able to do everything to get funding for the projects,” he reassured. The Honourable Minister was accompanied to the interactive session by senior government officials from the Ministry. ...

Civil Servants in the Federal Ministry of Works Celebrate Sen. Umahi For Quality Leadership and Commitment to the Welfare of Workers   1. It was a day of joy, eulogies and encomiums as civil servants in the Federal Ministry of Works, Mabushi-Abuja rolled out their drums to celebrate and honour the Honourable Minister of Works, His Excellency Sen Engr Nweze David Umahi CON for his quality leadership and sense of devotion to the welfare of the workers of the Ministry. The workers under the aegis of Joint Union, Federal Ministry of Works took the Honourable Minister by surprise as they converged at the Ministry’s Main Hall on Tuesday, 20th February 2024 and sought an audience with him through their Permanent Secretary, Dr. Yakubu Adam Kofaramata.   2. The Honourable Minister, in his usual unassuming mannerism and deep sense of responsiveness, came down to see his workers and behold it was a mammoth crowd of over 1500 workers in the Ministry's headquarters who were seated to thank him for the quality leadership and devotion to the workers well-being which they have continued to enjoy since he came on board as Hon. Minister of Works.   3. The Honourable Minister was honoured with a 'Pragmatic Leadership Award' by the Joint Union of the Ministry. The workers also danced a treat with the Honourable Minister in demonstration of their love for his leadership style, which they said was unprecedented in the history of the establishment of the Federal Ministry of Works.   4. Speaking during the event, the Honourable Minister of Works thanked the workers for the surprise reception by the workers and the award of honour given to him by the workers. He particularly thanked the leadership of the Joint Union of the Ministry for their sense of happiness and thankfulness, which they demonstrated through their surprise reception. He promised to continue to serve the purpose of his appointment with the deepest sense of responsibility and in undiluted collaboration with the workforce. He announced the commencement of training programmes for the Ministry's workers from grade level 14 and above and the establishment of the Ministry's Welfare Fund for the staff to enhance their happiness, effective March 2024. He also announced the involvement of the Ministry's staff in the monitoring and evaluation of the projects executed by the Ministry nationwide and the reactivation of the whistle blowers’ desk of the Ministry to assist in reporting jobs not done in accordance with the Ministry's specifications. He urged civil servants all over the country to take Nigeria first in the dispensation of their public duties, adding that the Renewed Hope administration of His Excellency President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR means well for Nigeria and deserves from all the support and cooperation needed for him to achieve enduring solutions to our socio-economic problems. He said, "I want to assure you that Mr. President feels your problems, and he's working out something day and night to give a solution to the teething problems facing the country. You see, the problem of our country is the problem of all of us. We need to bring back to society what we've taken from society. We need to do that. It's not the blame of the President, it's not the blame of the past President. Americans will always say America first".   5. Speaking on behalf of the entire staff, the Permanent Secretary praised the professional and administrative capacities of the Hon. Minister of Works.  The Permanent Secretary described him as a super intelligent, action-packed, and vision -driven Minister who recognizes and values the potential of the workers. He said, “The workers, and indeed, Nigerians, are happy with Mr. President for appointing a round peg to head the Federal Ministry of Works. We assure you that we will continue to work loyally with the core values of honesty, integrity, industry, and objectivity for the good of our Ministry.   6. Presenting the award of honour to the Honourable Minister, the Chairman of the Joint Union, Mr. Omobolanle Kuti stated that the event was organized for all the workers to give honour to whom honour is due. He stated that the Hon. Minister has shown a good example of a compassionate leader who cares for the welfare of his people and the progress of his fatherland.  He continued" You have shown a great difference in the way you care for our welfare, in the way you attend to mails, in supervising the projects executed under the Ministry, in your power of contract negotiations and assuring best standards in the delivery of road projects. You even supervise projects on weekends and public holidays, you come to the office early and go very late. No mail delays in your office for more than 24 hours.  We are proud of you. "   7. In his vote of thanks, the Director, Human Resources Mr. Aliyu Abdallahi appreciated the Hon. Minister for his selfless service and care for the wellbeing of the civil servants in the Ministry and described him as a special breed of politician who works for the good of all persons despite their place of origin. He also described him as a leader who builds the capacities of workers irrespective of their grade levels or competences. He prayed God to continue to prosper the Hon. Minister with greater innovative powers and benevolence of heart as he works to actualize the mandate of the Federal Ministry of Works. ...

Federal Government and Cement Manufacturers Meet Over Escalating Price of Cement, Brainstorm on Challenges Facing Cement Manufacturing, Agree on a Price Range of N7,000- N8,000/ 50 Kg Bag   1.  The Federal Government has agreed with the cement manufacturers on the modalities to tackle the escalating price of cement in Nigeria. This was the outcome of the meeting of the Honourable Minister of Works, His Excellency, Sen. Engr. Nweze David Umahi GON the Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, the cement manufacturers and the Cement Producers Association. The meeting held closed door at the office of the Honourable Minister of Works. Mabushi, Abuja, had in attendance, the representatives of Dangote Cement Plc, BUA Cement Plc, Larfage Africa Plc and Cement Producers Association.   2.  In their separate remarks, the Honourable Minister of Works said the meeting was aimed at addressing the concerns of Nigerians on the escalating cost of cement in Nigeria marked by the disparities between the ex-factory price and the market price of cement. He expressed hope that the meeting would proffer enduring solutions to the unabating increase in cement price.   3.  Also in her remarks, the Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment said it was worrisome that the price of cement was surging despite her Ministry's regulatory policies and the Backward Integration Programme (BIP) introduced to manage cement price and development, and expressed surprise that the whole idea of the BIP on the management and development of cement manufacturing industry is not bearing the desired fruit.   4.  A communique was issued after the meeting and was read by the Honourable Minister of Works as contained in the appendix hereunder. The two Honourable Ministers also used the opportunity to re-assure Nigerians that the Renewed Hope Administration of His Excellency, President Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, GCFR is committed to addressing the economic challenges facing the country and shall leave no stone unturned in addressing the escalating prices of commodities, including the price of cement in Nigeria.   5.  Confirming the communique as the true reflection of their deliberations, the spokespersons to the cement manufacturers and the Cement Producers Association thanked the two Honourable Ministers for their  sense of devotion to the  cause of national development and expressed their confidence  in the timely  intervention  of the Federal Government  to the  challenges facing cement manufacturing in Nigeria. The spokesperson of Dangote Cement Plc and GMD/CEO, Mr Arvind Pathak added, "the Honourable Ministers gave us a kind hearing, and we have agreed for a window of 30 days in which we re-assemble and see how best we can move on that." The spokesperson of BUA Cement Plc and Group Executive Director, Mr. Kabiru Rabiu said. "And another thing that I need to also add is that BUA is committed to bringing an additional 6 million tons of cement in the next few weeks, and that will seriously dampen the pressure of supply in the market, and we will continue to commit to this engagement." The spokesperson to Lafarge Africa Plc and Commercial Director Mr. Gbenga Onimowo said " it was very timely, honestly, listening towards the challenges that we all face as manufacturers, I think we appreciate that, and we do look forward to the solutions coming, the support they're going to give within the next coming days."   The President of Cement Producers Association, Prince David Aweta, added. "I am actually here to advocate for the six other players to join in the industry because practically, we can feel that the operators in the cement industry at the moment are so few and that is why we are having this perennial problem of cement hikes particularly during dry seasons."   DETAILS OF THE COMMUNIQUE  Meeting of Cement Manufacturers – Dangote Cement Plc, Bua Cement Plc, Larfarge Africa Plc & Cement Producers Association with the Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade & Investment, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite and the Honourable Minister of Works, Sen. Engr. Nweze David Umahi, CON Held at the Office of the Honourable Minister of Works, Mabushi, Abuja on Monday, 19th February, 2024 1. The meeting noted the challenges of the manufacturers like:     a.    Cost of gas;     b.    High import duty on spare parts;     c.    Bad road network;     d.    High foreign exchange; and     e.    Smuggling of cement to neighbouring nations. 2.    The government noted the challenges and reacted as follows: a.    Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment to seek some remedies from Mr. President on cost of gas and import duties. b.    Federal Ministry of Works to give more attention to fixing of the roads, especially around the locations of the manufacturers. c.    On the issue of smuggling cement, the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment to deepen the already started engagement with the National Security Adviser on how to stop the smuggling. 3.     The cement manufacturers and the Government noted that the current high price of cement is abnormal in some locations nationwide.  Ideally, cement retail prices should not cost more than ₦7,000.00 to ₦8,000.00/ 50kg bag of cement.  Therefore, the three cement manufacturers: Dangote Cement Plc, BUA Cement Plc and Larfarge Africa Plc have agreed that cement cost will not be more than between ₦7,000.00 and ₦8,000.00/50kg bag depending on the location.  4.    Going forward, Government advised cement manufacturers to set up a price monitoring mechanism to ensure compliance, and manufacturers have willingly accepted to do so and to sanction any of her distributors or retailers found wanting. 5.    Government expects the agreed price to drop after securing government's interventions on the challenges of the manufacturers on gas, import duty, smuggling, and better road network. 6.    The meeting agreed to reconvene in 30 days to review progress made. ...