African Diplomatic Corps calls for Adesina’s re-election ahead of August election
Following the verdict that exonerated Akinwumi Adesina, president of African Development Bank (AFDB) of any wrongdoing, African Diplomat Corps ( ADC) has endorsed his re- election ahead of the August 27 elections.
On behalf of the ADC, an international development organisation based in Washington, Serge Mombouli, ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of the Republic of Congo Dean of the African Diplomatic Corps in the United State of America said in a letter addressed to the US, the largest non- regional shareholder of AFDB that ADC is in support of Adesina’s re-election of Adesina.
“Adesina is the sole candidate and has received the full endorsement of the Africa Union, said in a letter addressed to United State government, dated July 29 2020,” the letter read.
While commending Adesina for his visionary leadership and outstanding development results attained by the bank under his tenure, Mombouli urged the US, and all other shareholders to “continue to at strongly support the president of the bank and the AFDB group, going forward, especially at this period of global Covid-19 pandemic.”
The special committee set up by governors of AFDB recently cleared Adesina of any wrongdoing in the allegations that were levelled against him.
The committee chaired by former Irish President Mary Robinson sent in its findings on July 28 saying “It has considered the president’s submissions on their face and finds them consistent with his innocence and to be persuasive.”a
Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) says asking courier and logistics firms to contribute two percent of their annual revenue to the Postal Fund will cripple the industry, especially small and medium players in the space.
The chamber is reacting to the provisions in Courier Regulations which mandate logistics and courier firms to contribute two percent of revenue to postal development, and postal services in rural and underserved areas.
The LCCI in a statement on Sunday said that the provision would put too much burden on courier and logistics businesses and make them unsustainable.
“These businesses are already grappling with multitude of taxes and levies in the course of their daily operations. We request that this provision be expunged immediately in the interest of investments and investors in the courier and logistics sector of the Nigeria economy,” said Muda Yusuf, LCC directorgeneral, in the statement.
NIPOST had earlier ordered international courier services to pay N20 million for new licenses and N8 million annually while those offering national services were expected to pay N10m for license and N4 million yearly for renewal. But Isa Pantami, minister of communications and digital economy, had reversed than on public outcry.
The LCCI explained that two percent contribution to Postal Fund would undermine the confidence of investors in the courier and logistics business and should be immediately be repealed.
It further noted that it was a negation of the efforts of the Federal Government to attract investment, create jobs and grow the economy.
The chamber also criticised a provision in the regulations which stipulates that “All courier items/ articles such as right issues, shares certificates, statement of accounts, cheques, letters or offer documents, etc weighing below 0.5kg brought to a courier/logistics service operator shall be recorded and referred to the nearest post office of the Nigerian Postal Service for processing and delivery. Failure to do so will attract payment to Nigerian Postal Service of a penalty of 90 percent of the amount charged on the item by the erring operator.”