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NOA Tasks INEC On Hitch-Free 2019 Polls

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Determined to ensure a hitch-free poll  come 2019, the National  Orientation Agency (NOA) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to put in place some pro-active measures that will promote  credible, non-violence, free and fair elections in the country.
   The call was contained in a keynote address by the Rivers State Director of NOA, Mr Oliver Wolugbom during a one-day security sensitisation programme at Ogu, Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area.
Wolugbom said for a peaceful and credible elections in the country, there must be changing of values and attitudes associated with power and its usage.
He also stated that youths should be made understand that they are to jeopardising their future by indulging in electoral violence and succumbing to money politics.
According to him, electoral violence in any form should be criminalised to curb the growing trend while respect for the rule of law must be enforced across board.
He insisted that perpetrators of electoral violence should be brought to justice to restore public confidence in the electoral process.
The NOA boss in Rivers State opined that politicians who employ hate speeches and  inflammatory languages as electioneering campaign tools should be disqualified from contesting elections and that  INEC officials and others involved in the electoral process should be appointed  from persons of high integrity, while religious and ethnic bigotry should be shunned.
He further stated that security personnel should display professionalism  to the tenets and limits of their duties  at all times and not to yield to manipulations by politicians.
He stressed the need to carry out aggressive sensitisation on violence-free elections and the roles the various stakeholders should play in the society.
Wolugbom noted that there is need to establish political and civic education in Nigerian schools in order to mould positive perception about elections and citizens responsibilities from infancy,  while calling on the media to be unbiased in their professionalism and balanced reportage.
The NOA Director traced the lack of peaceful and non-violent elections to intra/inter party crisis aresing from absence of internal democracy, unstable political and economic environment, impunity of government officials, disrespect for the rule of law, hate speeches, fear of rigging, electoral irregularities, incompetence, biased management of the electoral process and non-adherence to previous agreement such as zoning formulas among others.
Collins Barasimeye
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Reps Urge FG To Pay ASUU, NASU’s Withheld Salaries

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The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to pay the withheld salaries of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Non Academic Staff Union (NASU).
This followed the adoption of a Motion of Urgent Public Importance by Rep. Abubakar Fulata (APC-Jigawa) during plenary on Wednesday.
Presenting the motion, Fulata said that the government must accede to the unions’ demands because they were genuine.
Adopting the motion, the House urged the President to direct the relevant bodies to come up with modalities for negotiation with both ASUU and NASU.
The House said this would enable them to come up with workable, implementable and final agreement to be signed by both parties.
The House urged the president to direct the Ministry of Finance, to ensure full implementation.
The House mandated its Committees on University Education, Polytechnic Education, Federal Colleges of Education, Labour and Productivity, Finance, Legislative Compliance to ensure compliance.

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Bill To Prescribe Salaries, Allowances Of Judicial Officers Pass 2nd Reading

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The bill seeking to prescribe salaries, allowances, and fringe benefits of Judicial office holders in Nigeria has passed second reading at the Senate.
This followed the presentation of the general principles of the bill by the sponsor, Sen. Lola Ashiru (APC-Kwara) at plenary on Thursday.
Presenting the bill, Ashiru said the bill, an executive bill, was forwarded to the two Chambers of the National Assembly by President Bola Tinubu, in accordance with provisions of Section 58(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended.
He said the bill, in a nutshell, seeks to prescribe salaries, allowances and fringe benefits for judicial officers in order to nip in the bud, the prolonged stagnation in their remuneration.
This, he said was to reflect the contemporary socio-economic realities of the time.
Ashiru said the bill intends to unify the salary structure, allowances and fringe benefits of judicial officers holders both in the Federal and at the State levels.
“This proposed legal framework, undoubtedly, will bring about significant improvement in the welfare, capacity and independence of the Judiciary, which have been contentious issues of public discourse over the years.”
He said that the intent of the bill was in conformity with the current administration’s resolve to strengthen the country’s Judiciary and the criminal justice system .
This, he said was to ensure its independence in the performance of its constitutional role, as the arbiter of the temple of justice.
He urged the senators to support the expeditious passage of the bill in view of its importance to the socio-economic and political development of this country.
Sen. Mohammed Monguno (APC-Borno), who seconded the motion said it was necessary to ensure adequate remuneration of Judicial officers was in line with the current economic reality.
He said that there was the need to provide an adequate remuneration that would prevent judicial officials from being tempted for corruption.
Sen. Orji Kalu (APC- Abia ) commended the executive for presenting the bill to prescribe a remuneration for the judicial arm of government, saying that no right thinking Nigerian would want to oppose it.
He urged the officials to ensure that justice is dispensed rightly to Nigerians.
He also urged the government to improve remuneration of other sectors given the economic reality.
Deputy President of Senate, Barau Jubrin (APC-Kano) said the President has done creditably well by presenting the bill for remuneration of the judicial officials.
He said the judicial officials had suffered in silence for as they were not disposed to speaking up on the issues, just like the labour unions.
He said it was cheery and commendable for President Tinubu to have brought the bill, which was designed to enhance the salary and welfare of the judicial officials.
President of Senate, Godswill Akpiabio said presentation of the bill was a right step in the right direction by President Tinubu.
Akpabio, referred the bill to the committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters for further legislative inputs and to return back to plenary in four weeks, after the bill was read for the second time.

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Court To Hear Suit Against Ganduje’s Suspension, May 28

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Justice Abdullahi Muhammad Liman of the Federal High Court, Kano, has fixed May 28 for hearing in the substantive application filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje.
Dr Ganduje is challenging his suspension from the party by factional ward executives led by one Basiru Nuhu Isa.
He was first suspended by APC Ganduje Ward executives led by one Haladu Gwanjo on April 15. Another faction emerged and also announced suspension of Dr Ganduje on April 20.
The Tide source reports that the secretary of the party in Kano, Zakari Sarina, said the suspension by the faction was another case of impersonation.
Dr Ganduje is seeking a declaration that his suspension from the party without giving him opportunity to defend himself amounts to violation of his fundamental right to fair hearing.
He is also seeking a declaration that his suspension by the faction was unlawful, null and void.
Counsel for the embattled APC chairman, Hadiza Ahmad, applied for service on the respondents by substituted means which the court granted.
Justice Liman adjourned to May 28 for hearing in the matter.

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