News
Rejig Security Architecture To Tame Insecurity, NAWOJ Tasks FG …Deplores State Of Roads, Rising Food Costs, Others … Sanctions Erring Officers
The Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) has called on the Federal Government to strengthen the nation’s security architecture to address security challenges in different parts of the nation, while challenging all security agencies to be alive to their constitutional responsibilities to tame the ugly trend.
This is as the association also noted the deplorable condition of federal roads across the country, and appealed to the appropriate authorities to take urgent steps to fix the roads to avoid increasing road accidents and its attendant consequences.
It further called on the Federal Government to look into the rising cost of food items, cooking gas, building materials, among others, with a view to reducing the cost of living for citizens in the country, just as the association NEC frowned at the rising cases of gender-based violence, and stressed the need to ensure the workability of family courts to ensure justice for victims.
These positions were contained in a communiqué drafted by a committee Chaired by Dr. Dorathy Nnaji, with Rose Elishama as secretary and Nene Dung as member, at the end of NAWOJ NEC meeting held in Lafia, Nasarawa State on November 3 – 5, 2021, and made available to The Tide in Port Harcourt by its National Secretary, Helen Udofa, last Saturday.
The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), comprising members of the Central Working Committee (CWC), state chairpersons and secretaries of NAWOJ, met on Thursday, November 4, 2021 at Nasarawa Luxury Hotel, Lafia, Nasarawa State capital.
The NAWOJ NEC meeting was preceded by a National Security Summit on the theme: “National Interest Amidst Insecurity: The Role of the Media” organised by the National Secretariat of NAWOJ at the same venue.
The communique read: “At the meeting, which was presided over by the National President of NAWOJ, Comrade Ladi Bala, issues concerning our association and the state of the nation were discussed and the NEC in session resolved as follows:
“NEC in session commended Nasarawa State Governor, Engr Abdullahi Sule, for sponsoring, hosting and making the NEC Meeting in Lafia very comfortable for members.
“The NEC frowned at the indiscriminate issuance of awards to individuals by state chairpersons without recourse to the National Secretariat, warning that henceforth, all state chapters must liaise with the National Secretariat for approval before issuing any award.
“In view of accommodation challenges facing the National Secretariat of NAWOJ, NEC-in-session mandated the National President to apply to the Federal Capital Territory Development Authority (FCTDA) for allocation of a plot of land in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to NAWOJ for the construction of a National Secretariat Complex of NAWOJ.
“Following the stagnation of activities in Enugu State NAWOJ for one year now, due to the fact that the state chairperson is critically ill, among other issues raised against her, NEC directed the Chairperson of Enugu State NAWOJ, Chinyere Mgboh, to hand over the mantle of leadership to the vice chairperson within 14 days or face suspension.
“NEC-in-session ordered Rivers State NAWOJ Chairperson, Susan Serekara-Nwikhana, to tender unreserved apologies to the National President of NUJ, Comrade Chris Isiguzo, retracting all the derogatory and repugnant comments she posted on various social media platforms against the person of the NUJ President and the union during the period ahead of the NUJ Triennial National Delegates Conference in Umuahia, in October 2021. The apology, MUST also be published in all the social media platforms she posted her scandalous comments within seven days or face suspension.
“NEC-in-session suspended the immediate past chairperson of Imo State NAWOJ, Vivian Ottih, indefinitely, for still parading herself as chairperson of Imo State NAWOJ after she lost her re-election bid and despite a disclaimer issued against her by the National Secretariat on the matter. NEC resolved that, henceforth, if she continues to impersonate as Imo State chairperson of NAWOJ, she will be handed over to security operatives for necessary action.
“The NEC urged state chapters of NAWOJ to open bank accounts in the name of the association where none existed for proper financial accountability; create more visibility through laudable programmes, while all members must work hard for the progress of NAWOJ, and be mandatorily financially up-to-date.
“The NEC approved the inauguration of a three-man Ethics and Disciplinary Committee made up of the National Financial Secretary, Adeola Adekunle, as chairman and the Chairperson of Akwa Ibom NAWOJ, Uduak Utip Ekong as well as the Secretary of Kano State NAWOJ, Wasilah Ladan, as members, with a mandate to handle issues of indiscipline and gross misconduct.
“NEC resolved that state chapters must adopt all press releases issued by the National Secretariat on national issues, while press releases by state chapters must be limited to issues peculiar to the states. In addition, NEC barred state secretaries from calling for monthly congresses without the knowledge and approval of the state chairpersons.
“On the state of the nation: The issue of insecurity in the country caught the attention of NEC-in-session as it called on the Federal Government to strengthen the nation’s security architecture to address security challenges in different parts of the nation.
“NEC also called on all security agencies to be alive to their constitutional responsibilities, especially in view of the Anambra State governorship election and IPOB sit-at-home order.
“NEC noted the deplorable condition of federal roads across the country, and appealed to the appropriate authorities to take urgent steps to fix federal roads to avoid increasing road accidents and its attendant consequences.
“NEC called on the Federal Government to look into the rising cost of food items, cooking gas, building materials, etc, with a view to reducing the cost of living for citizens in the country.
“NEC frowned at the rising cases of gender-based violence, and stressed the need to ensure the workability of family courts to ensure justice for victims”, the communiqué added.
Rivers State Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Inyingi Brown, has called on rural communities in the State to embrace the Rural Access and Agricultural marketing project (RAAMP) with a view to improving their living conditions.
This follows the ongoing sensitization campaign by the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) visits to Degema, Abonnema, Afam headquarters of Degema, Akuku Toru and Oyigbo Etche and Omuma local government areas respectively.
Dr Brown who was represented by the Deputy Director, Special Duties in her office, Mrs Dein Akpanah, said RAAMP was initiated by the Federal Government and World Bank to economically empower rural dwellers.s
She said the World Bank understands the plights of rural farmers and traders in the State, and therefore came up with the programme to address them.
According to her, RAAMP will improve the conditions of farmers, traders and fishermen, and therefore, behoves on every rural communities in the State to embrace the programme.
The Head of Service also said the programme would support the youths to be gainfully employed while bridges and roads will be built to link farms and fishing settlements.
Also speaking, the State project coordinator, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the programme has the potential of creating millionaires among farmers and fishermen in the State.
Kpakol who was represented by Engr. Sam Tombari, said RAAMP would help farmers and fishermen to preserve their produce.
According to him, the project will build cold rooms and Silos for preservation of crops and fishes while access roads will also be created to link farmers and fishermen to the market.
He, however, warned them against any act that will lead to the suspension of the projects by the World Bank.
Kpakol particularly warned against acts such as kidnapping, marching ground, gender based violence and child labour, adding that such acts if they occur may lead to the cancellation of the project by the World Bank.
During the visit to Oyigbo local government area, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the team was there to let them know how they will benefit from the Raamp.
The coordinator who was personally at Oyigbo said the World Bank introduced the project to check food insecurity in the State.
He said already 19 states in Nigeria are already benefitting from the project and called on them to embrace the project.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the three local government areas have commended the World Bank for including their areas in the project.
They, however, complained over the incessant attacks by pirates on their waterways.
At Degema, King Agolia of Ke kingdom said land was a major problem in the kingdom.
King Agolia represented by High Chief Alpheus Damiebi said many indigenes of the kingdom are willing to go into farming but are handicapped by lack of land.
Also at Degema, the representative of the Omu Onyam Ekeim of Usokun Degema kingdom, Osoabo Isaac, said Degema has embraced the programme but needed more information on the implementation of the programme.
Similarly, while High Chief Precious Abadi advised that the project should not be narrowed to only crop farming, a community women leader, Mrs Orikinge Eremabo Otto, called for the construction of cold rooms in all fishing settlements in the area.
At Abonnema, Mr Diamond Kio linked the problem of the area to incessant piracy along waterways.
He also expressed fears over the possibility of the project being hijacked by politicians.
Also at Abonnema, a stakeholder, Ikiriko Kelvin, called on the World Bank to design an agricultural project that will suit the riverine environment, while at Oyigbo, HRH Eze Boniface Akawo expressed satisfaction with the project.
John Bibor
The political mudslinging between the Senate leadership and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan continued yesterday as the Senate named Senator Aniekan Bassey as the new Chairman of the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the appointment during yesterday’s plenary, confirming Bassey’s replacement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently on suspension.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was reassigned to the Diaspora and NGOs Committee in February after she was removed as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content during a minor reshuffle.
Bassey is the senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District.
Although no reason was given for her removal yesterday, the change is believed to be connected to her unresolved suspension.
In May, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court ordered her reinstatement and directed her to tender an apology to the Senate.
However, the Senate has insisted it has not received a certified true copy of the court judgment.
Akpoti-Uduaghan who represents Kogi Central, has yet to resume her legislative duties despite a recent court ruling that voided her suspension.
In a televised interview on Tuesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment before officially returning to plenary, citing legal advice and respect for institutional process.
Although the Federal High Court described her suspension as “excessive and unconstitutional”, a legal opinion dated July 5 and attributed to the Senate’s counsel, Paul Daudu (SAN), argued that the ruling lacked any binding directive to enforce her reinstatement.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only three female senators in the current assembly, said the continued delay in allowing her return was not only a denial of her mandate but also a blow to democratic representation.
“By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central, it’s denying Nigerian women and children representation. We are only three female senators now, down from eight,” she said.
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