Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, ASUU President, said this during a news conference at the end of its emergence National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on Wednesday in Abuja.

It was reported that ASUU had embarked on strike since March 23 to press home its demands which include funding for the Revitalization of Public Universities, payment of Earned Academic Allowances (EAA), salary shortfall, state universities.

Others are visitation panels, re-constitution of the 2009 FGN/ASUU re-negotiation committee, University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS), withheld salaries and non-remittance of check-off dues.

According to Ogunyemi, NEC resolves to conditionally suspend the strike action embarked upon on March 23, with effect from 12 a.m. on Thursday.

“However, should government fail to fulfil its own parts of the agreement, ASUU will resume its suspended strike as deemed necessary.

“NEC resolved to accept the agreement reached between ASUU and the Federal Government on Dec. 22 and to also consciously and diligently monitor the implementation of Federal Government ASUU agreements of Dec. 22, in all branches.

“NEC also resolved to ensure that no ASUU member suffered any loss of deserved benefits as a result of participation in the strike,” he said.

He said that NEC would pursue fervently the areas in the Federal Government-ASUU agreement of 2009 and Memorandum of Action (MoA) 2013 that require legislation.

He added that such as the mainstreaming of EAA into the annual budget and the Executive Bill in respect of the National Universities Commission (NUC) Act, 2004.

Ogunyemi also said that ASUU expectation from both state and Federal Government is that government should faithfully implement all the agreements reached and signed with the union.

“Therefore the implementation Monitoring Committee (IMC), which had already been constituted to the satisfaction of government and ASUU, will work diligently to ensure that funds released are used to meet genuine revitalisation needs of Nigerian public universities.

“This is with a strict and disciplined supervision of the implementation processes by the universities themselves. To this end the students and their parents would see the fruits of the struggles of ASUU in their lives.

“The union expects the immediate release of EAA as agreed, the mainstreaming of EAA into annual budget using the agreed formula.

“The union also expects government to immediately engage the universities and other research centres in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic.

”This is one of the challenges that the universities have been asking the government to throw to Nigerian academics,” he said.

The ASUU president also called on government to expedite action on the test processes and ensure the development of UTAS for the payment of salaries in the university system.

He added that this software will assist Government in its fight against corruption and thus play an important role in maintaining a high stand of accountability in the education sector.

He also said that union expects that government and ASUU re-negotiation exercise would be concluded as specified in the timeline agreed by both parties, among others.

“On our part we are going back to rekindle the motivation and aspirations in our members to strive to encourage our students to excel, in all the expectations that government will sincerely fulfil their own part of the bargain,” he said.

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In the petition addressed to Mr. Jonathan Hawkins VP, Communications, CNN Centre Atlanta, Georgia U.S, the government said if the international media organisation failed to carry out its demand, it will “take any action within its laws’’ to prevent CNN from aggravating the #EndSARS crisis.

The petition dated Nov. 23 and personally signed by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed was made available to our correspondent in Abuja.

The CNN in the “investigative” report had alleged that it ”uncovered that Nigerian security forces opened fire on unarmed protesters” at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos, during the #EndSARS protest.

The report entitled ‘How a Bloody Night of Bullets Quashed a Young Protest Movement’ was aired on Nov. 18 by the international news organisation.

“We write to put on record that the report did not just fall short of journalistic standards; it reinforces the disinformation that is going around on the issue.

“It is blatantly irresponsible and it is a poor piece of journalistic work by a reputable international news organization.

“In the first instance, the report did not live up to the most basic of the core principles of journalism – balance and fairness,” the minister wrote in the petition.

Mohammed said the CNN failed to exhibit the journalism ethic of balance and fairness in the report but slanted the story to favour the reporter’s desired conclusion.

“Rushing to air such a momentous story without presenting the government’s side is inexcusable and indefensible.

“CNN said it contacted over 100 protesters and family members, but did not speak to one official of Nigeria’s federal government.

“While CNN said there was no response from the army and that officials of Lagos State would not speak in view of the Judicial Panel that is investigating the matter, it did not say what effort it made to speak with any official of the federal government.

“The truth is that CNN did not even attempt to reach the federal government.

“Nima Elbagir, who presented the report and most probably led the investigation, is conversant with the Minister of Information and Culture, who is also the Spokesman for the Federal Government of Nigeria, yet did not say that she even tried to reach the Minister.

“It is therefore strange, to say the least, that she would rush to air such an important ‘investigation’ report without getting the government’s side,” he said.

The minister said the CNN was not present at the Lekki Toll Gate on the night of the incident but relied heavily on unverified footages it harvested from social media.

“Unlike CNN, a reporter from the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Pidgin Service, Damilola Banjo, was at the Lekki Toll Gate on the night in question.

“She was quoted as saying soldiers shot sporadically into the air and not at the protesters – a direct contradiction of the position taken by CNN who relied on second and third-hand information,” he said.

The minister contended that while CNN obtained footage showing when the vehicles carrying soldiers left their barracks and arrived at the Lekki Toll Gate, it could not obtain any footage showing the bodies of those supposedly killed in the ‘massacre’.

He said the government was baffled by the CNN position that it stood by its story and ”our reporting was carefully and meticulously researched” despite all evidence to the contrary.

Mohammed said DJ Switch; one of CNN’s star eyewitnesses in its ‘investigative’ reporting is not credible because her story on the Lekki Toll Gate shooting has changed several times.

“From claiming she counted 78 bodies of protesters who were supposedly killed by soldiers on the night of the Lekki Toll Gate incident, she has twice, at least, changed the casualty figure from 78 to 15 and then to 7, without a shred of evidence.

“In one of social media videos of DJ Switch that was used by CNN (see attached link 1), the lady (DJ Switch) claimed she and some unnamed persons carried dead bodies and dropped them at the feet of the soldiers.

“She also claimed she spoke to their Commander before the soldiers threw the bodies into the vans.

“Curiously, for someone who was streaming live on Instagram during the Lekki Toll Gate incident, there was not a single video or picture of the dead bodies.

“CNN cannot pretend not to know that for anyone to act as a witness, his or her credibility must be unimpeachable.

The minister also faulted another CNN star witness, Godson (Uyi), whose video was also used by the network.

Mohammed said it was shocking that all through its ‘investigation’, CNN did not for once mention the fact that six soldiers and 37 policemen were killed during the #EndSARS crisis, which also left 196 policemen
injured.

He added that with the monumental destruction of government and private properties across the country, the network is fixated on the massacre that never happened.

The minister said it was not the first time that CNN had carried an inaccurate or hoax story about Nigeria.

“In February 2007, Nigeria accused CNN of staging one of its reports from the country’s Niger Delta region, showing gunmen holding 24 Filipinos hostage.

“Of course, CNN and its then Africa Correspondent Jeff Koinange flatly denied the charge, saying the network did not pay for any part of the report.

“Later, in an email reportedly sent to a friend, Mr. Koinange was quoted as saying: “Of course we had to pay certain people to get the story… You do not get such a story without bribing.” So much for denials!

It would be recalled that the Minister at a media briefing on Nov 19, 2020 (NAN) called for sanction against CNN over its report on the hoax Lekki Toll Gate killings.

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The union’s Chairman, Dr Dele Ashiru, gave the commendation while reacting to the development in an interview with our reporter on Wednesday in Lagos.

It was reported that the Federal Government had in August, directed the then Pro-Chancellor of the university, Dr Wale Babalakin and Prof. Ogundipe to recuse themselves from official duties pending the outcome of a Special Visitation Panel set up by the visitor, President Muhammadu Buhari.

It then directed the Senate of the university to immediately convene to nominate an acting vice-chancellor from among its members.

The Babalakin-led Governing Council had on Aug. 12, sacked Ogundipe as the vice-chancellor over alleged financial misappropriation.

However, Babalakin later resigned his appointment.

According to Ashiru, the reinstatement of the vice-chancellor is a huge step to further boost the belief of government’s effort in restoring peace in the entire university community.

“It feels glorious and I want to thank the visitor to the university, President Muhammadu Buhari, through the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, for this very historic intervention.

“This has put an end to tyranny, authoritarianism and dictatorship which characterised the Wale Babalakin-led Governing Council.

“We indeed, thank the visitor for standing on the path of truth, due process and autonomy of the Nigeria university system.

“It is our conviction that this decision by government will return our great university to the path of peace, progress and scholarly excellence for which the university is renowned,” the unionist told our reporter.

It was reported that the announcement of the reinstatement had sent wild jubilation among members of the community as they were seen in small groups discussing and jubilating.

Some members of staff who pleaded anonymity, lauded the Federal Government for the intervention, describing it as a job well done.

“We are happy that it has all ended in praise. Our university will once more experience the peace it has been known for. To God be all the glory,” they said.

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Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, ASUU President said this in a statement made available on Sunday in Abuja that the ongoing strike may still linger if government failed to meets its demand.

It was reported that ASUU had embarked a nationwide strike on March 23 to press on its demands which include revitalisation, Earned Academic Allowances (EAA), renegotiation of the 2009 Agreement, Visitation Panels, among others.

According to Ogunyemi, Nigerians should bear with us. ASUU is doing their battle.

“Our Union is struggling to ensure that the children of the poor, who cannot afford the prohibitive cost paid in private universities or do not have opportunities to study outside Nigeria, get quality education which is not priced beyond their reach.

“This will only happen when government adequately funds public universities and addresses the rot and decay in them.

“ASUU has shifted positions in some respects.

“For instance, our members have reduced their demand of one tranche N220bn of the outstanding revitalization fund by 50 per cent.

“The Union has also agreed that N30bn out of the so far verified arrears of N40bn of the earned academic allowances (EAA) be paid to our members while the balance of N10bn could be spread over the next two tranches,

“We were equally making steady progress on other issues,” he said.

ASUU president, therefore, noted that what had stalled meaningful dialogue was government’s insistence that payment of the withheld salaries and other entitlements of its members would only be effected through the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).

He added that government was punishing university teachers because they rejected IPPIS, which was imposed on the universities against the provisions of the law on autonomy and universal practices.

He however, said that ASUU was at the final stage of the integrity test of the Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).

UTAS was developed locally by ASUU members, unlike IPPIS which was engineered by the World Bank.

Ogunyemi said UTAS had been presented to the Minister of Education and senior management staff, the President and leadership of Senate, and the Office of the Accountant-General where NITDA and Office of the National Security Adviser and other MDAs were fully represented.

“Last Thursday, 5th November, 2020, the National Universities Commission (NUC) facilitated the presentation of UTAS to Vice-Chancellors and Bursars of federal universities.

“All questions raised at the four levels of presentation of UTAS were satisfactorily answered.

“With the full cooperation of the concerned agencies, the final test with NITDA could be completed as a matter of days and UTAS adopted in place of IPPIS in our universities.

“ASUU disagrees with government on the use of IPPIS during the so-called transition period.

“In practical terms, there is no transition period if government is sincere,” Ogunyemi said.

The ASUU president said it would take a longer period to capture more than three-quarters of its members who were not yet on IPPIS than the time required to run through the last stage of the integrity test for UTAS.

He added that the claim by government that the platform used in paying its members’ salaries before the imposition of IPPIS had been dismantled was not true.

He noted that some of its members who had not enrolled in IPPIS were paid part of their withheld salaries last week.

“But, in furtherance of the attack on ASUU, the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF) has illegally seized all the deducted union check-off dues of our members in the last nine months.

“So, government should release all what is due ASUU members and the union without the conditionality of IPPIS.

“That would enable us conclude on the outstanding five demands including revitalisation, EAA, renegotiation of the 2009 Agreement, inauguration of the Visitation Panels.

“Others are proliferation of state universities and governance issues in them of the Union to pave way for the quick resolution of the lingering crisis.

“It is government that is prolonging the matter, not ASUU,” he added.

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Sen. Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment, said this while addressing newsmen at the end of a closed door conciliation meeting between Federal Government representatives and ASUU on Wednesday in Abuja.

“There are three issues and these include the revitalisation fund where government offered ASUU N20 billion, on good faith based on the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) entered into in 2013 as a result of the renegotiation with the then government in 2009.

“This present government is still committed to it, while we are giving them offers of some fund.

“This government is not against revitalisation but this government says that because of the dare economic situation due to COV1D-19, we cannot really pay in the N110 billion which they are demanding for revitalisation.

“We offered N20 billion as revitalization fund. On Earned Academic Allowances (EAA), the government offered N30 billion to all the unions in the universities, making it N50 billion all together.

“ASUU is saying that the N30 billion should be for lecturers alone, irrespective of the fact that there are three other unions. So there is a little problem there. We do not have any money to offer apart from this N30 billion,” he said.

He however, said that the cardinal issue was the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) versus the Integrated Payroll Personnel Information System(IPPIS).

Ngige added that ASUU had submitted its document on UTAS for onward submission to National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).

“As you know last week, the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy had approved that NITDA gets ASUU system (UTAS) and subject it to integrity test.

“This test should be conducted without fear or favour and as early as possible. So today, they have submitted the document for onward transmission to NITDA.

“One other issue that has arisen is the issue of the transition period. How do ASUU get the Earned Academic Allowances that is due to them and any other entitlement that government wants to pay them,” he said.

He, therefore, noted that ASUU wanted an exemption from IPPIS.

According to him, on the government side headed by the Accountant General of the Federation, we have said that IPPIS is the only government approved payment platform.

“So that is where were are for now. So we are all going back to our principals and they will receive via me the irreducible minimum of what Federal Government has to offer.

“The government side will meet on Friday and after that they will communicate to ASUU and in communicating them, if there is a need for a meeting, a date will be fixed for it,” he said.

Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, ASUU President said that the union would wait for the Federal Government to meet on Friday and get back to the union by next week.

The post FG, ASUU yet to reach agreement – Ngige appeared first on NEWSVERGE.

Ehanire said this on Friday in Abuja after inspecting work on the new cancer centre at the National Hospital, Abuja.

“I have heard the challenge of doctors leaving the country.

“We have plans to provide better funding for our hospitals in Nigeria and make such migration unattractive,” he said.

He said that the hospital performed well during COVID-19 pandemic in the country, pledging that the government will do everything possible to ensure that doctors will prefer to remain and work in country, a statement corroborated by the Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Dr Jaf Momoh, who indicated that the hospital has introduced incentives to encourage medical personnel to stay in the country.

On the new cancer centre, the minister advised the hospital management to spend wisely, properly maintain the facilities when completed and seek alternative sources of funding.

He praised the hospital administrators for its prompt services to patients and advised them to be prepared for a possible resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic as other countries are now experiencing.

“Schools are resuming, people are traveling in and out the country so we must be prepared for any emergency,” he warned.

Also speaking, the hospital Board Chairman, Mrs Patricia Etteh, expressed regrets that although the hospital just celebrated 20 years of existence, it was still experiencing lot of challenges.

Appealing for assistance to the hospital, Etteh called on the government to assist in making the National hospital one of the best health facilities available.

Stakeholders report that in the past two decades, there have been a marked growth in the migration of medical doctors.

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Our correspondent reports that Mr Adeoye Fadeyibi, Managing Director, EKEDC, flagged off the programme at the Orile/Ijora Districts in Surulere area of Lagos State.

Fadeyibi said that free single and three phase meters would be installed for 100, 000 EKEDC customers in the first phase of the NMMP initiated by the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

According to him, the move is to bridge the metering gap in the country which stands at 59.6 per cent.

He said the programme was being supported by the Lagos State Government and meter manufacturers, Mojec Asset Management Company Limited and Momas Electricity Meters Manufacturing Company Limited.

Fadeyibi said: “The mass metering programme is a welcome development and a boost to the deepening of the Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).

“The programme couldn’t have come at a better time than now given the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on businesses and household income.

“We are happy for the initiative and acknowledge government’s renewed desire to improve the power supply and bridge the metering gap.

“Electricity as we all know is an important essential need of any society and we all have acknowledged the menace of the estimated billing both on the customers and even us as a business.

“It is my belief that with this mass metering initiative we can begin to say we are on a path to better days ahead.

“In the next 18 to 24 months, over six million meters will be distributed across households in the country and for us at Eko, we will be rolling out over 100,000 meters in the next few weeks in the first phase of the programme.’’

He said that all hands must be on deck to support the industry in stamping out energy theft through meter tampering and free riders.

Fadeyibi said the EKEDC would continue to strive to render better services to customers under its operational network and solicited for their support in actualising the objective.

Also, Mr Olalere Odusote, Lagos State Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, said the government has been working with the DisCos to ensure that the whole of Lagos was metered by the end of the current administration.

Odusote, however, enjoined the people to pay for energy consumed, noting that this would prevent shortfall in the NESI for the benefit of all stakeholders.

On her part, Ms Chantelle Abdul, Managing Director, Mojec Asset Management Company Limited, said the programme would create jobs for Nigerian youths and keep them off the street.

Two community leaders who spoke, Mr Gabriel Omotosho and Mr Awila Banigo, commended the government and EKEDC for initiating the programme.

According to them, the initiative will put an end to disputes caused by estimated billings.

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Dr Okpako Okpikpi, National Coordinator, National Cancer Control Programme, FMoH, disclosed this on Friday in an interview with our correspondent in Abuja at the end of the Cancer week.

It was reported that the week which started on Monday, ended with the approval of 30 papers on cancer related issues, review of draft Chemosafe Policy, Palliative Care Policy, among others.

Okpikpi said Chemosafe Policy has to do with safe administration of medicine to cancer patients.

“First, it addresses safety of health personnel administering the medicine, safety of the patient to which medicine is administered, and safety of other patients and those around the place.

“We will come out with this policy; we will make sure that the practice of administering cancer medicine is standardised all over the country.

“The policy also recommends the creation of specific wards for cancer patients in our tertiary hospitals and all hospitals administering cancer drugs,’’ he said.

Okpikpi said that, the meeting reviewed Palliative Care Policy which according to him, has to do with cancer patients in critical conditions.

“It will ensure that these people have a good quality life, if we know they are not going to survive it.

“These things have been practised but they have not been standardised; we are coming up with a policy that will help to regulate it and standardise the practice across the country.

“We will make sure that what is practised in Sokoto is what is practised in Benin and elsewhere in the world,” he said.

The coordinator told our correspondent he is impressed with the participation of stakeholders and thanked them for their participation at the Cancer 2020 edition of Cancer week.

He said the panel in charge of paper presentation received 40 abstracts and 30 scaled through both in person and virtual presentation.

“Papers were presented by NG0s on how they have carried out screening on patients and suggestions were made on how they should improve on their papers.

“They were also advised on how to synergise with the results of their research and how those they have screened should go to the next point of care.

“Like I said, 30 researches were accepted, some were presented by Nigerians in diaspora comparing the trend we have in Nigeria with the ones abroad on cancer control and management.

“We also had trainings on grant writing that will help the country access grants,’’ the coordinator said.

Okpikpi expressed optimism that all activities and recommendations from the event will take cancer control and management to the next level.

“We will be submitting the report of the recommendations to the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire.

“The outcome will be, better practice, improved practice of oncology practices in our health centres and in the country at large,” he said.

The 2020 edition of the Cancer Week hosted by the Federal Ministry of Health, had “Cancer in Nigeria in the COVID-19 Era and Beyond’’ as its theme.

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Mr Ayuba Wabba, NLC President, said this on Thursday in Abuja at a ceremony to mark the 2020 Global Day of Action on Care.

This year’s ceremony has the theme: “Invest in Care Now!’’

Wabba said that the COVID-19 pandemic had exposed the neglect of the healthcare industry in the country.

Wabba, who is also the President of International Trade Union Confederation(ITUC), said that the theme was apt as it highlights the urgent need for massive investment in the healthcare sector.

According to him, COVID-19 has fully exposed several countries, including Nigeria, as not having invested enough in health care institutions, putting everyone, both rich and poor, at high risks.

”The theme: ‘Invest in Care Now!’ is to drum up demands for heavy investments in the care sector by our government and big businesses, if we must keep a healthy society and productive human resource base.

“Apart from the open fact that our health care sector has been neglected for too long, health care workers have been subjected to unfair treatment for too long.

“Essential workers, as they are often called at crisis times, do not have the necessary personal protective equipment to work with, especially before the outbreak of COVID-19.

“Government waited for the pandemic before it woke up to the reality of the decadence in our health care sector.

“Even now, enough has not been done to properly equip the sector and properly kit health workers across the country,” he regretted.

He opined that with the massive resources at government’s disposal, Nigeria could afford to build and effectively equip some of the best hospitals in the world, with global best practices and personnel.

He, however, noted that successive governments had failed to treat healthcare as a top priority beyond mere policy statements.

“We believe that now is the time for our government at all levels to demonstrate keen attention to the health sector.

“The current pandemic has shown how important healthcare is to all sectors and citizens of any country.

“Owing to COVID-19 pandemic, our economy has suffered huge losses both in human and capital investment.

“No country will grow with such avoidable losses.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has also exposed the risks health care workers face daily in the course of their duties as they do not have adequate and appropriate safety gears, access to their own health care, decent pay commensurate with the work they do.

“Healthcare workers also need standard day care centres to keep their children when schools are not open and, or infants that are not of school age, to enable them concentrate on their work.

“It is also important that they are granted paid medical leave that include their immediate families.

“This will also help to curb the spread of airborne diseases they are exposed to at their workplaces,” he added.

The NLC president called for full membership of trade unions by all health workers, including those in private facilities, to give them the coverage to demand for their rights and enable unions monitor safety standards at the care centres.

He added that the measure would form part of the campaign in support of health care workers in both public and private sectors.

Wabba added that the campaigns would be carried out in collaboration with affiliates in the health sector and also in partnership with willing associations or organisations among civil society organisations.

“I also call on the Federal Government to pay the two months salaries owed health workers arising from an industrial dispute in 2018.

“The recent seven days warning strike by the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) to resolve the outstanding issues is yet to receive the attention of government and a social dialogue meeting on this matter is yet to be convened.

“We also demand a quick conclusion on negotiations on salary adjustment for JOHESU members in line with alternative dispute resolution processes of National Industrial Court of Nigeria, which all parties involved in the negotiation are subjected to.

“We also call for an end to all forms of medical tourism, especially by our elected and appointed public officials.

“We reiterate our position that government must be ready to invest heavily in the health sector as no country survives without effective health care,” he said.

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NCC Executive Vice Chairman,Prof. Umar Danbatta said this, when the House of Representatives Committee on Telecommunications, led by its Chairman, Mr Akeem Adeyemi, paid him a legislative oversight visit in Abuja.

Dr Ikechukwu Adinde, NCC Director, Public Affairs said this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.
Adinde said that Danbatta attributed the successes of the commission in the last five years to its harmonious relationship with the National Assembly.

He said that the telecommunications sector’s contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increased from 8.5 per cent in 2015 to 14.30 per cent in the second quarter of 2020.

”Through the support of the lawmakers, especially the Committee on Telecommunications, which the NCC leadership has worked with in the last five years, the commission has been able to generate and remit N344.71 billion into federal government’s CRF.

“The remittance is from spectrum fees and operating surplus.

“In financial value, the 14.30 per cent translates to N2.272 trillion in Q2. The telecoms investment grew from around 38 billion dollars in 2015 to over 70 billion dollars currently,” he said.

Danbatta said that the NCC has also helped promote financial inclusion by encouraging Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), to actively participate in providing financial services towards actualising federal government’s 80 per cent financial inclusion target by 2020.

“Through collaborative efforts with critical stakeholders like the National Assembly, the NCC has been able to increase broadband penetration from 6 per cent in 2015 to 45.43 per cent as of September, 2020.

“Basic active internet subscription grew from 90 million to 143.7 million.

”Between 2015 and September, 2020, active voice subscription has increased from 151 million to 205.25 million with a teledensity standing at 107.53 per cent,as at the end of September, 2020.

“We are also empowering and protecting the consumers and ensuring we are able to sanitise the industry of improperly-registered Subscriber identification Module (SIM) cards through our impartial regulatory approach,” he said.

Earlier, Adeyemi, said the over sight visit was in line with relevant sections of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which empowered the House to carry out its role of checks and balances on the executive.

He commended the leadership of the NCC for its transparency in ensuring remittances to CRF, considering the current revenue drive of the government.

Adeyemi urged the NCC to sustain its current template of ensuring effective regulation of the telecommunications sector, in a manner that would be more mutually beneficial to the industry players, the consumers and the government.

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