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‘Selfish Politicians’ Delay Passage Of FOI Bill –Rep
A member of the House of Representatives, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa (AC-Lagos), has blamed those she describes as “selfish individuals” in the National Assembly for the delay in the passage of the Freedom of Information (FOI)Bill.
She said in a lecture delivered at the 2010 Press Week of the Oyo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Ibadan on Monday that such individuals were working against the passage of the law because of their selfish interests.
Dabiri-Erewa, represented by her Personal Assistant, Mr Lekan Sanni, urged the National Assembly to reconsider its stand and work diligently to facilitate the passage of the bill, which she said would strengthen the country’s democracy.
She also said that it was a sad commentary on the country’s national integrity that 11 years of practicing democracy, Nigeria was still searching for how to conduct credible elections.
Dabiri-Erewa commended the media for their relentless efforts at ensuring the survival of democracy by adequately informing the public about happenings in government.
She noted that poor remunerations had made journalists to become vulnerable to “money bag politicians,” and urged practitioners to work in concert to discourage the trend.
The lawmaker appealed to employers of journalists to work out better welfare package for them to enhance their potential in the task of nation-building.
The NUJ National President, Malam Garba Mohammed, had earlier promised that the proposed enhanced salary package for the union was receiving attention from the Federal Government.
He said that if approved, the package would be the bench mark for negotiations with the private employers of journalists in the country.
Mohammed announced that a new insurance policy that would provide adequate coverage for members of the union while in service was being worked out.
He commended the Oyo State chapter of the union for its support, and urged members not to succumb to the intimidation of corrupt politicians who were out to destroy the nation.
Mohammed appealed to journalists to preserve democracy by reporting events accurately for the benefit of the generality of Nigerians.
The Chairman of Oyo State NUJ, Mr Ayoade Solomon, decried the killing of innocent members of the union by hired assassins nationwide.
He said that such trend was not good for the nation’s cherished democracy, and urged security agencies to be more vigilant in the performance of their duties.
Solomon also urged the National Assembly to urgently pass the FOI Bill to reduce corrupt tendencies among Nigerians and enhance the flow of information without hindrance.
He appealed to the state government to assist the union in the provision of essential facilities at the NUJ House in Ibadan.
In his message at the occasion, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Odulana Odugade I, represented by High Chief Emiola Adesina, commended journalists for their efforts at ensuring good governance in the country.
He assured the union of his royal support, and advised journalists to always stay on the path of truth at all times.
Meanwhile, union leaders on Monday urged the National Assembly to pass the Freedom of Information Bill (FOI) without further delay.
The leaders told the newsmen in Lagos that the passage of the bill would ensure a free flow of information and also protect journalists in the country.
Their comment came against the backdrop of a report that 59 journalists were killed across the world between January and June this year.
Mr Wahab Oba, Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Lagos State Council, said the passage of the bill would enhance the performance of journalists.
“It will ensure a better performance by journalists and give them access to information,’’ he said.
According to Oba, the non-passage of the bill has further endangered the lives of media professionals and their news sources.
“It is very unfortunate and frightening that many journalists had been killed in the performance of their constitutional duties.
“The incident poses serious danger to the profession as well as the lives of practising journalists in Nigeria,’’ the union leader stressed.
Oba deplored the killing of journalists particularly in Nigeria, saying “it is a bad omen for democracy and the country’s future’’.
He called on media organisations to provide insurance scheme and security for their workers.
Mr Raphael Akinyanju, General Secretary, Nigeria Union of Railway Workers (NUR), reiterated that FOI bill would help with the risks associated with journalists’ job.
He urged the government to ensure an enabling environment for media professionals to practice their trade.
Our correspondent recalls several Nigerian journalists were killed in the last 10 years including Guardian’s Bayo Ohu and Tunde Oladepo and Thisday’s Godwin Agbroko and Abayomi Ogundeji, as well as Omololu Falobi, formerly of Punch Newspaper.
Countries which have the highest figures of journalists killed are Mexico, Pakistan, Russia, Iraq, Nepal, Columbia and The Philippines.
Vice President Kashim Shettima has arrived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for an official State visit at the invitation of the Prime Minister, Dr. Abiy Ahmed.
Upon arrival yesterday, Shettima was received at the airport by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, Dr. Gedion Timothewos, and other members of the Ethiopian and Nigerian diplomatic corps.
Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Communication, Stanley Nkwocha, revealed this in a statement he signed yesterday, titled: “VP Shettima arrives in Ethiopia for official state visit.”
During the visit, Vice President Shettima will participate in the official launch of Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Programme, a flagship environmental initiative.
The programme designed to combat deforestation, enhance biodiversity, and mitigate the adverse effects of climate change targets the planting of 20 billion tree seedlings over a four-year period.
In line with strengthening bilateral ties in agriculture and industrial development, the Vice President will also embark on a strategic tour of key industrial zones and integrated agricultural facilities across selected regions of Ethiopia.
News
RSG Tasks Farmers On N4bn Agric Loan ….As RAAMP Takes Sensitization Campaign To Four LGs In Rivers
The Rivers State Government has called on the people of the state especially farmers to access the ?4billion agricultural loans made available by the State and domiciled in the Bank of Industry.
This is as the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) of Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP), a World Bank project, took its sensitization campaign to Opobo/Nkoro, Andoni, Port Harcourt City and Obio/Akpor local government areas.
The campaign was aimed at enlightening community dwellers and other stakeholders in the various local government areas on the RAAMP project implementation and programme activities.
The Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Agriculture, Mr Maurice Ogolo, said this at Opobo town, Ngo, Port Harcourt City and Rumuodumanya, headquarters of the four local government areas respectively, during the sensitization campaign.
Ogolo said apart from the ?4billion, the government has also made available fertilizers and other farm inputs to farmers in the various local government areas.
The Permanent Secretary who is the Chairman, State Steering Committee for the project, said RAAMP will construct roads that will connect farms to markets to enable farmers and fishermen sell their farms produce and fishes.
He also said rural roads would be constructed to farms and fishing settlements, and warned against any act that will lead to the cancellation of the projects in the four local government areas.
According to him, the World Bank and Federal Government which are the financiers of the programme will not condone such acts like kidnapping, marching ground and other acts inimical to the successful implementation of the projects in their respective areas.
At PHALGA, Ogolo asserted that the city will benefit in the areas of roads and bridge construction.
He noted that RAAMP was thriving in both the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja; Lagos and other states in the country, stressing that the project should also be given the seriousness it deserves in Rivers State.
Speaking at Opobo town, the headquarters of Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area, the project coordinator, RAAMP, Mr.Joshua Kpakol, said the programme would reduce poverty in the state.
According to him, both fishermen and farmers will maximally benefit from the programme.
At Ngo which is the headquarters of Andoni Local Government Area, Kpakol said roads will be constructed to all remote fishing settlements.
He said Rivers State is lucky to be among the states implementing the project, and stressed the need for the people to embrace it.
Meanwhile, Kpakol said at PHALGA that RAAMP is a project that will transform the lives of farmers, traders and other stakeholders in the area.
He urged the stakeholders to spread the information to their various communities.
However, some of the stakeholders at Opobo town complained about the destruction of their farms by bulls allegedly owed by traditional rulers in the area, as well as incessant stealing of their canoes at waterfronts.
At Ngo, Archbishop Elkanah Hanson, founder of El-Shaddai Church, commended the World Bank and the Federal Government for bringing the projects to Andoni.
He stressed the need for the construction of roads to fishing settlements in the area.
Also, a former Commissioner for Agriculture in the state and Okan Ama of Ekede, HRH King Gad Harry, noted that storage facilities have become necessary for a successful agricultural programme.
Harry also stressed the need for the programme to be made sustainable.
In their separate speeches, the administrators of Andoni and Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Areas, pledged their readiness to support the programme.
At Port Harcourt City, the Administrator, Dr Arthur Kalagbor, represented by the Head of Local Government Administration, Port Harcourt City, Mr Clifford Paul, said the city would support the implementation of the programme in the area.
Also, the administrator of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Dr Clifford Ndu Walter, represented by Mr Michael Elenwo, pledged to support the programme in his local government area.
Among dignitaries at the Obio/Akpor stakeholders engagement is the chairman, Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council and paramount ruler of Apara Kingdom, HRM Eze Chike Wodo, amongst others.
John Bibor
President Bola Tinubu has ordered the commencement of personnel audit and skill gap analysis across all cadres of federal civil servants.
The president gave this directive in Abuja, yesterday, while speaking at the International Civil Service Conference, reaffirming his resolve to achieve efficiency and professional service delivery in the civil service.
“I have authorized the comprehensive personnel audit and skill gap analysis across the federal civil service to deepen capacity. I urge all responsible stakeholders to prioritize timely completion of this critical exercise, to begin implementing targeted reforms, to realize the full benefit of a more agile, competent and responsive civil service,” the president announced.
Tinubu further directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), to prioritise data integrity and sovereignty in national interest.
He called for the capture, protection and strategic publication of public sector data in line with the Nigeria Data Protection Act of 2023.
“We must let our data speak for us. We must publish verified data assets within Nigeria and share them internationally recognized as fruitful. This will allow global benchmarking organisation to track our progress in real time and help us strengthen our position on the world stage. This will preserve privacy and uphold data sovereignty,” Tinubu added.
President Tinubu hailed the federal civil service as the “engine” driving his Renewed Hope Agenda, and the vehicle for delivering sustainable national development.
He submitted that the roles of civil servants remain indispensable in modern governance, declaring that in the face of a fast-evolving digital and economic landscape, the civil service must remain agile, future-ready, and results-driven.
“This maiden conference is a bold step toward redefining governance in an era of rapid transformation. An innovative Civil Service ensures we meet today’s needs and overcome tomorrow’s challenges.
“It captures our collective ambition to reimagine and reposition the civil service. In today’s rapid, evolving world of technology, innovation remains critical in ensuring that the civil service is dynamic, digital” the President said.
Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack in her welcome address told the President that his presence and strong words of commendation at the conference has renewed the morale and mandate of public servants across the country.
Walson-Jack described Tinubu as the backbone of driving transformation in the Nigerian civil service, and noted that the takeaways from past study tours undertaken to understudy the civil service in Singapore, the UK and US under her leadership, is already yielding multiplier effects.
Walson-Jack assured Tinubu that her office, in collaboration with reform-minded stakeholders, will not relent in accelerating the implementation of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan, FCSSIP 25.
She affirmed that digitalisation, performance management, and continuous learning remain key pillars in strengthening accountability, transparency, and service delivery across MDAs.
Walson-Jack reaffirmed that the civil service is determined to exceed expectations by embedding a culture of innovation, ethical leadership, and citizen-centred governance in the heart of public administration.