Nation
THE STATES
Abuja
Nigeria spends about 120 billion Naira to print security documents and other sensitive materials outside the country.
This was made known by the CEO of International Institute for Training Research and Economic Development, Sani Dawop in Abuja Monday.
He observed that, “Nigeria spends N120 billion to print security documents abroad due to insecure local environment. Fraud related to cash and non-cash financial papers in the region of N300 billion occurs annually in both the public and private sectors of the economy through local and foreign collaborators.”
To this end, the body in conjunction with the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Plc is organising a two day conference to underscore the importance of document protection in order to prevent cash and non-cash paper related fraud. Due to the poor level of printing and insecurity in important document corporations and even individuals.
Dawop also maintained that, the continuous printing of security documents abroad also put the country at risk and in national insecurity, stressing that, the ‘activities of fraudster involved in these nefarious activities have impacted negatively on the image of the country and the economy. We believe therefore, there is need for concerted efforts to put a stop to the menace.’
Adamawa
Former Director-General of Strategy and Research for Dr. Peter Odili Presidential Campaign organisation and a governorship aspirant in Adamawa State, Dr. Umaru Ardo has said hat he does not recognise PDP leadership under Kugama because he is a product of illegality.
On his purported suspension from the PDP, he told journalists in Yola Tuesday that both the state and national secretariats lacked the constitutional powers to suspend or remove him from the party.
The governorship aspirant (Ardo) pointed out that he did not recognise the PDP leadership under Kugama, because he is a product of illegality.
Ardo disclosed that after exhausting all the procedures to address the unconstitutionalities in Adamawa PDP failed, he maintained that article 14 sub-section 5 of the PDP constitution stated that when a vacancy exists as a result of resignation or death, another member of the party from the same area with the former officer should be appointed to take over the vacant office, citing the case of the former National Chairman of PDP, Solomon Lar, he said.
Barnabas Gemade, replaced him because the office was for North Central and that Dr. Ahmadu Ali, also took over from Gemade and because of the party’s constitution the position remained in the North Central throughout President Olusegun Obasanjo’s government.
ONDO
The Oluwarotimi Akeredolu-led national executive of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has received a vote of confidence from Akure branch of the association, which described it as toeing the path of honour in handling Nigeria’s legal matters.
At the commencement of the association’s law week in Akure Tueday, the NBA chairman, Kayode Ogundana, said lawyers in Akure shared the view of Akeredolu on matters involving the association at the national level.
According to him, “we encourage him to continue in the spirit with which he has so far conducted the affairs of the NBA realising the fact that being constructively critical of government policies, actions and individuals in authority does not automatically translate to partisanship.
“We have the privilege of knowing Akeredolu’s disposition to oppression, disobedience to the rule of law, arbitrariness and high-handedness way back when he was the Attorney-General of Ondo State under a government headed by a military man.
“We, on this note, pass a vote of confidence on him and appeal to those on the other side to cooperate with him bearing in mind that in unity, we stand and divided we fall. It is potentially perilous and portentous for anybody to attempt to derail the NBA at this critical stage of our democratic experience,” he said.
Ogundana however stressed the need to end the strike embarked upon by the judiciary workers in the interest of justice in the country.
The association, which also endorsed the overhauling of the judiciary, however cautioned stakeholders that the prolonged strike was not the solution to the problem.
He said the situation in the various police stations was appalling with a lot of detainees languishing in police custody because they could not be taken to court because of the strike.
Borno
The re-branding of Nigeria can only be achieved and sustained when there is an attitudinal change, re-orientation, imbibing positive cultural values and instilling the virtues of pride and patriotism among citizens, minister of information and communication, Prof. Dora Akunyili has declared
The minister made the observation Tuesday in Maiduguri, while presenting a keynote address at a three-day National Conference at the Elkanemi hall of University of Maiduguri.
She said that the re-branding project uses both the print and electronic media to effectively and efficiently communicate the positive aspects of influencing Nigeria’s image within and outside the country for the better.
She added: – Enhancing Nigeria’s image will encourage foreign investors to come and join other local investors in building the country, while the re-branding processes could be translated into the establishment and development of the critical infrastructures required for rapid growth and development of the country.
Kogi
Governor Ibrahim Idris of Kogi has called on the federal government to establish a federal university of technology and an ICT centre in the state.
Idris made the call on Monday at the inauguration of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) Prime FM 101.5 station at Jimgbe, Lokoja.
He said that the call became necessary in view of the state’s technological advancement and the need to fast-track effective information management.
Idris also urged the federal government to either reconstruct or rehabilitate federal roads in the state in view of their bad condition.
He said his administration would provide conducive environment for federal establishments in the state to operate without hitches.
Idris acknowledged the role of the road as an effective channel of information dissemination due to its reach and in moulding and shaping of public opinion for socio-economic and political development.
As part of efforts to enhance information dissemination, he said that more than N2 million had been expended on the digitalisation of the state radio corporation while local stations were being serviced to enable optimal performance.
Speaking at the occasion, information and communications minister, Prof. Dora Akunyili reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to providing infrastructural facilities for Nigerians.
She said that information was crucial and critical to national development and attainment of the seven point agenda of the present administration.
Akunyili added that the station brought to 27, the number of such stations across the country.
She commended Kogi State government for its moral and financial support to federal establishments in the state and pleaded for the sustenance of such support.
The Director-General of FRCN, Mr. Yusuf Nuhu in his address, urged the management of the station to encourage the practice of responsible journalism by ensuring balanced and objective reporting.
Jigawa
The Jigawa State Universal Basic Education Board (JSUBEB) has released N200 million for disbursement as revolving loans to 3,853 teaching and non-teaching staff across the state.
This gesture was in fulilment of the pledge by the board to ensure that teachers are well catered for to boost their moral and get the best of them.
The chairman of the board, Alhaji Sani Abdullahib stated this in a statement signed by the public relations officer of the Board, Mallam Mati Ali, copies of which were made available to journalists in Dutse on Monday, while briefing Education Secretaries and officials of the Nigeria Union of teachers (NUT) about the criteria of the loan disbursement in his office.
He said permanent and pensionable staff of junior and primary school teachers would benefit from the loan. Abdullahi explained that officers with less than 12 months to retire and those with queries would not benefit from the facility, adding that the process of disbursing the loan is tossing.
According to him, officers on grade level 13 would receive N100,000 each, while those from seven to 12 and grade level 01-07 would receive motorcycle loan of N80,000 and N20,000 respectively.
The chairman said the fund disbursement would commence next week, warning education secretaries to adhere strictly to the guideline. The state chairman of NUT, Comrade, Usman Ya’u Dutse canvassed the formation of a committee to handle the disbursement of the fund to ensure transparency.
Taraba
The police in Taraba State are disturbed by the deplorable condition of detention camps at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
The Tide learnt that several detainees in the two-room detention camp had been there for several months without trial in the law court.
Each of the rooms, which ought to accommodate eight to 10 suspects now hosts over 25 suspects.
Some of the suspects languishing in the cells, according to police sources are yet to be located by their families or relatives, who do not know their whereabouts.
A suspect, who recently regained his freedom, wondered why the federal government had not deemed it relevant to improve on the dilapidating condition of the detention camps and prison custody in the state.
The suspect, who sought anonymity for fear of being re-arrested, said: “Over 25 of us were kept in each of the two rooms without any form of respect to human dignity.
More heart-rending according to him, is that detainees are not allowed to take their bath until after one month in the camp. The food there, he adds, “is an eyesore.”
Detainees at the camp, as further learnt, have no access to any form of medication. The vicinity as observed by The Tide is unsuitable for habitation.
An Investigation Police Officer (IPO) who spoke on the bad condition of living in the camp, accused government of indifference to the conditions of detention camps.
He said it was sad that no steps had been taken by the government to improve the living conditions of detainees.
Ondo
About 3,000 policemen, consisting of four officers per each of the 244 polling units and several patrol teams would be deployed by the Ondo State Police Command for next Saturday’s by-election to fill the vacant seat of Akoko South West/Akoko South East Federal Constituency.
Commissioner of Police, Donald Iroham, who disclosed this Tuesday at a meeting with representatives of participating political parties, said Force Headquarters in Abuja had also put commands of neighbouring states on alert in case of any need for reinforcement.
The constituency seat became vacant following the death of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) legislator at the House of Representatives, Col. Joe Ariota barely six months after the April 21, 2007 election that produced him.
At yesterday’s parley, Iroham, who expressed the readiness of his command to deal with trouble-makers, called on politicians to play the game according to the rule and avoid anything that may cause breakdown of law and order.
Ogun
Crisis rocking Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) echoed last weekend in Ago Iwoye, when speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, declared that the control of the party by the state governor, Gbenga Daniel, would soon come to an end.
Bankole, who led other top PDP chieftains in the state to the country home of former minister of state for finance, Senator Jubril Martins-Kuye, accused the state governor of acting God in the control of PDP in the state and cautioned him to stop playing God with the politics of the state, saying “Only Almighty God is in control of power and will decide who becomes what today or in 2011.”
He lamented that it has become the norm in the state for an individual and others to say that they are behind those who occupy elective offices, noting that only the Almighty has the exclusive right to make such claims.
Also, Sen. Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello, who in August this year, was allegedly harassed by Daniel’s top cabinet member, said she was wondering why the Governor loves” to bring somebody up and ensure that such person is again brought down.”
She said the intolerable attitude of the governor was a great disappointment to the party in the state, accusing him of always carrying the toga of “it’s me.”
In his speech, top PDP stalwart in the state and chairman of Omo Ilu Group, Prince Buruji Kashamu said his new political group “is open for all positive advice and support from our cherished elders and loyal members, in order for us to achieve peace, which is necessary for the development of our state,” alleging that some people have deliberately chosen to disorganise the mechanism that drives progress in our state.
Lagos
Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Information and Strategy, Mr. Segun Ayobolu, has announced his intention to quit the State Executive Council, following his health problems which he has been battling with since 1974, when he was a student in the University of Ibadan.
Ayobolu disclosed his plan to quit the Fashola cabinet during a state valedictory session of the State Executive Council meeting held in the Governor’s Office yesterday, adding that he has to resign because his state of health has been impacting negatively on his productivity, which he said had become a clog in the state’s development process.
During the session, secretary to the state government, Princess Aderenle Adeniran – Ogusanya, Commissioner for tourism and Inter-government Relations, Senator Tokunbo Afikoyomi and his counterpart in the Ministry of Environment, Dr. Muiz Banire were absent.
Speaking at the session Ayobolu, who said his resignation took effect from today, said he could no longer stand the pressure of the office due to chronic ulcers and high blood pressure he has been battling with for more than two decades.
Nation
JAMB Decries Use Of Fake Results For Admission
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has decried the high level of forgery of A Level certificates used for the registration.
JAMB Registrar, Professor Is-haq Oloyede, who raised the alarm, recalled that the Board had commenced the 2023 Direct Entry registration on Monday, 20th February but immediately suspended it following the discovery of the plethora of devices and machinations to circumvent and compromise the standard of A ‘level qualifications required from DE candidates.
He disclosed that out of 148 candidates verified by Bayero University Kano (BUK), only 6 were found to be genuine.
“By implication 142 of the results were forged. Oloyede said. Bayero University, Kano (BUK) has also consistently brought to the fore the high rate of forgery of A’Level qualifications for DE.
“It was discovered that in previous years, some candidates used unacceptable and forged A’ level certificates/ qualifications to register for Direct Entry and eventually got admitted. For example out of 148 candidates verified by BUK, only 6 were found to be genuine. By implication 142 of the results were forged.
“The Board, concerned stakeholders and institutions are working assiduously to detect such and the ones already found are being dealt with according to the provisions of the law.
“In order to further checkmate the anomaly and to also prevent recurrence of such irregularity, the Board has decided that the 2023 DE registrations will not only be restricted to JAMB (Professional Test Centres (PTCs) but will also be done under strict supervision,” Oloyode said.
“The Board has provided additional guidelines to all DE registration outlets (JAMB-owned centres), Officers of the Board and candidates on the 2023 Direct Entry registration exercise:
“At the point of registration, all candidates must fill in Registration/Matriculation Number of the previous school attended where the qualification was obtained; Subject(s) of qualification; Awarding Institution; Institution actually attended”, he said.
Nation
‘Nigerians Have Lost Confidence, Trust In INEC’
As post-election crisis gathers momentum, the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) to Nigeria’s 2023 general elections has declared that Nigerians have lost confidence and trust in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) owing to lack of transparency and operational failures.
The EU EOM Chief Observer, Barry Andrews, made the assertion at a Media Briefing to present the Mission’s second preliminary reports, in Abuja, Monday.
Andrews noted that although Nigerians had great appetite for democracy and keen to engage in various civic activities, their expectations were dashed.
According to him, the apathy recorded at the governorship and states House of Assembly elections conducted last Saturday was a clear consequence of failures by political elites and “unfortunately, INEC.”
Andrews said: “Obstruction and organised violence limited the free expression of the will of the voters, despite efforts by civil society to promote democratic standards.
“Throughout the Mission, we saw that Nigerians have a great appetite for democracy and are keen to engage in various civic activities. However, in many parts of the country, their expectations were not met.
“Many were disappointed and we witnessed voter apathy that is in part, a clear consequence of failures by political elites, and unfortunately, also by INEC.
“Positively, INEC introduced some corrective measures ahead of Saturday’s polls, allowing a timely delivery of sensitive materials and improved use of election technologies, yet, the institution continued to lack transparency.”
The Mission also observed that voting started early with INEC ad-hoc officials present and ready to serve voters, but the exercise was unfortunately, disrupted by “multiple incidents of thuggery and intimidation of voters, polling officials, observers, and journalists”.
The Mission noted that Lagos, Kano, and other States in the Southern, Northern and Central parts of the country were mostly affected, adding that the election was equally characterised by casualties, fatalities, as well as vote-buying, which according to the observers, further detracted from an appropriate conduct of elections.
“EU EOM observers also saw misuse of administrative resources, including through various financial and in-kind inducements to voters, giving an undue advantage to the party in power.
“Furthermore, the protracted deadlines for candidacy disputes created uncertainty for voters and electoral contestants alike, while clear underrepresentation of women as candidates demonstrated a stark lack of internal party policies to support constitutionally prescribed inclusion
Nation
‘Youths To Benefit From Climate Change Innovation Hub’
The Clerk to the National Assembly (CNA), Sani Tambuwal, has expressed optimism that the recently established National Climate Change Innovation Hub would help in harnessing the potential among Nigerian youths towards addressing climate issues.
The CNA stated this during the commemoration of the 2023 Commonwealth Day with the theme ‘Forging A Sustainable And Peaceful Common Future’ held at the instance of National Assembly management, in Abuja, Monday.
Represented by the Deputy Clerk, National Assembly (DCNA), Barrister Kamoru Ogunlana, Tambuwal observed that the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and other climate issues in the world if not properly managed, would posed great danger to world peace and a sustainable future.
He assured that Federal Government had put measures in place to address some issues on climate change through the establishment of youth climate change hub to harness their ideas and include them in decision-making process as well as develop long-term vision for zero gas emissions.
In her presentation, Mrs. Rabi Audu stressed the need for concerted efforts from all stakeholders towards forging a sustainable and peaceful environment.
Audu also urged the youths to engage in activities and programmes that would promoter innovations and inclusivity for all.
According to her, governments and parliaments have to increase opportunities for schools across the Commonwealth countries, adopt higher education partnerships and development programmes that would lead to economic growth, social inclusion and environmental conservation.
While noting that the establishment of more programmes like the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) would aid the attainment of these, Audu further stressed the need for Commonwealth member countries to establish technical and vocational education that would help in gainfully equipping the youths with skills to further tackle high rate of youth unemployment.
Some of the students who participated in the programme tasked parliaments across Commonwealth member States on the need to hold their governments to account particularly on the areas of public spending, international crisis, investment sustainability and promotion of the benefits of inclusive and diverse representation in truly open societies.
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