Nation
NASS Mulls Adoption Of Eletronic Voting
Chairman, Senate Committee on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Sen Kabiru Gaya, says the National Assembly is looking at the possibility of adopting electronic voting in the country.
Gaya, who represents Kano South in the 9th Senate and a former governor of Kano State, said this at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) forum in Abuja.
He, however, said that the main focus of the National Assembly presently was to ensure that elections in the country were transparent, free and fair.
He added that Nigerians should have confidence in the country’s electoral process.
The lawmaker said just as the card readers were introduced into the country’s electoral system, the National Assembly was exploring the possibilities of adopting electronic voting.
“Now we are trying to introduce electronic voting, so we are also working on that process, we have also agreed that INEC can decide to do electronic voting,’’ he said.
He explained that INEC could not embark on such venture initially because there was no approval.
He expressed optimism that in the nearest future, electronic voting would be adopted in the country.
“We should have a designed system that should be able to work for us to do electronic voting where an ordinary woman or man in the village will know where to touch to vote for a party,” he said.
Gaya said that just as the card readers had been accepted by Nigerians for voting, electronic voting would also be accepted when it was eventually introduced.
He decried the numbers of political parties on the ballot papers, noting that most of the parties do not even have elected councilors.
He said the new law will ensure that any political party that does not have a seat at the House of Assembly, Senate or Local Government will not be on the ballot paper.
Gaya stressed that such parties should be deregistered to reduce the size of the ballot paper.
The lawmaker said there was need to cut down the number of political parties in the country, especially as most of them do not even have offices.
“Even though the parties are not happy and have gone to court to challenge INEC.
“I believe that we will continue to exercise our powers in making sure that we have few political parties than this number of mushroom political parties,’’ he said.
He maintained that a political party that does not have elected representative has no business being on the ballot paper.
He decried the current criteria for registering political parties in the country, saying that the process of amending the Constitution to change the criteria was in place.
He said a political party must have a wide spread membership and must have presence in all parts of the country and not a state or local government area.
“I believe there is a need to look at the Constitution to review the criteria for registering political parties,” he said.
The Rivers state Government has identified six local government areas with the highest burden of maternal and Neonatal mortality in the state.
State Commissioner for Health Dr Adaeze Chidinma Oreh said this in an interview with newsmen at the Maternal and Neonatal Reduction innovation initiative ( Mamii)Rivers state activation workshop and state engagement meeting in Port Harcourt.
The event was organized by The Federal Ministry of Health in conjunction with its Rivers state counterpart in Port Harcourt.
Dr Oreh also restated the preparedness of the state government to support current efforts by the federal government towards the reduction of maternal and infant mortalities in the country.
She mentioned the affected Local Government Areas to include, Andoni,Akuku Toru and Ahoada West
The rest according to the Commissioner are, Bonny, Etche and Emohua Local Government Areas.
She said the workshop will enable the team from the federal ministry of health and social welfare to brainstorm with the view to finding solution to the problem.
The Commissioner also gave reasons why the Mamii initiative was the best as far as finding solution to maternal mortality was concerned.
“The uniqueness of the Mamii initiative driven by the federal ministry of health and social welfare was that we used evidence to elicit the reasons for this deaths, so that the solutions will be context specific and tailored to the particular environment where those deaths are occuring
“For us in Rivers state we have six Mamii LGAs , nationally we we have 172 local government areas “the Commissioner said.
Earlier in her opening remarks,Dr Oreh said the state government is prepared to work with the federal ministry of health and social welfare to check the rate of maternal mortality in the state.
She commended The Minister of Health and Social welfare Professor Ali Muhammad Pategi for driving the Mamii initiative across the country and expressed optimism that the programm will see to the end of maternal mortality in the country.
Also speaking the National Coordinator Nigeria health sector Renewal Initiative Dr Adam Ahmed said Rivers state is the last state among Mamii states in the country to host the team.
He said the team will visit the affected Local Government Areas with the view to interacting with the people on how to check the trend.
He expressed the hope that with continuous efforts, maternal mortality will be checked.
Also speaking the permanent secretary Rivers state Ministry of Health Professor Justinah Jumbo said the government is not leaving any stone unturned towards reduction in maternal deaths.
The permanent secretary said Governor Siminalaye Fubara is a health friendly Governor who is desirous in improving the quality of health of Rivers people.
John Bibor
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Rivers state has declared a one day fasting and prayer to seek divine intervention on the political crisis rocking the state.
The Association said this at a media briefing in Port Harcourt.
State chairman of the Association,Most Rev. Dokiboeriya B. Kaladokubo said the fasting and prayer which holds February 5th at the Ecumenical center Abonnema wharf was in furtherance of the Association peace, advocacy, good governance and political stability in Rivers state.
He said the Association has observed with disappointment the dangerous trend and and gradual descent of governance in Rivers state into uncertainty and near oblivion, adding that the trend has exposed Rivers citizens to insecurity, economic hardship, loss of livelihood and the destruction of lives and property.
Kaladokubo said the association has also watched with dismay the unfolding political crisis in the state, stressing “what we see today is not merely a disagreement among political actors,it is a dangerous drift that threatens the very foundation of governance, peace, security and the collective well-being of our people”
According to him,”as the custodians of the spiritual and moral conscience of Rivers state,we can not remain silent while the state is pushed steadily towards chaos, institutional breakdown and avoidable suffering
“We are not oblivious of the fact that Rivers state like some other states in the federation often experience tension between the Executive and the Legislature “adding”when disagreement escalate they can hinder governance, delay budgets ,erode public trust and impede peaceful, constructive development”
The Christian body stressed the need for parties involved in the conflict to seek for peaceful resolution, stressing that as Christians and children of God “we should seek the path of peace and reconciliation as Christ Himself taught us”it said
The Association further encourage the both arms of government to imbibe the spirit of forgiveness and prioritize good governance in Rivers state
“We also advised all the parties in these conflict to call their supporters to exercise restraint in all their utterances and de-escalate tension in the interest of peace in Rivers state ”
CAN also described as disturbing the role some elder statesmen and individuals in the state have played and continue to play in the crisis when they should have serve as voices of wisdom, restraint and unity
“Rather than guiding the process towards peace, some have taken sides,fueled division and encouraged instability becoming more dangerous than those currently holding power”,it said.
John Bibor
-
Niger Delta5 days agoPDP Declares Edo Airline’s Plan As Misplaced Priority
-
Sports5 days agoSimba open Nwabali talks
-
Nation5 days agoHoS Hails Fubara Over Provision of Accommodation for Permanent Secretaries
-
Niger Delta5 days ago
Stakeholders Task INC Aspirants On Dev … As ELECO Promises Transparent, Credible Polls
-
Niger Delta5 days ago
Students Protest Non-indigene Appointment As Rector in C’River
-
Rivers5 days ago
Fubara Restates Continued Support For NYSC In Rivers
-
Oil & Energy5 days agoNUPRC Unveils Three-pillar Transformative Vision, Pledges Efficiency, Partnership
-
News5 days agoDiocese of Kalabari Set To Commence Kalabari University