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INEC Should Consider Airlifting Of Election Materials To Difficult Terrains – Herbert-Miller

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As part of measures to overcome the perennial issue of late arrival of electoral materials to voting points in the country, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been urged to consider the option of distributing sensitive materials by air to these areas.
The Rivers State Commissioner for Power, Hon. Damiete Herbert-Miller, made the call while lamenting the late arrival of INEC officials and election materials to parts of Degema Local Government Area, including  his country home, Ogurama.
Hon. Herbert-Miller, who spoke with The Tide after casting his vote in last Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections at Ogurama (Old Bakana), said there was need for a new approach to logistics arrangements by the election management body in order to change the ugly narrative at every election circle.
He said one way of addressing the problem would be to dispatch non sensitive materials and electoral officials to the hard to reach localities, at least, a day ahead of time while the sensitive materials could be airlifted to these areas on election day.
“Materials got to my community, Ogurama, Ward 17, Degema, as late as 12:30pm while accreditation and voting started by 1:30pm across the various units. That’s why I score them (INEC) 50 per cent and I hope that they improve in the next election”, he said.
“In Degema Local Government Area, out of the 17 Wards, 13 are not motorable. Secondly, the 13 Wards that are not motorable are more easily accessible from Port Harcourt. But then, you take materials from CBN in Port Harcourt and take to various LGA headquarters, in this case Degema, and when materials are distributed, you bring them back to Port Harcourt before taking them to their various Wards. There is no way that is not going to take much of your voting time.
“I have talked about Ward 17 (where I come from) where Ogurama is just directly opposite Rumuolumeni, just three minutes from Rumuolumeni actually, and the other half of Ward 17 which is Ke is down in the ocean, just two/three kilometers from Bonny.
“How can these two communities vote at the same time when the same SPO brings materials here before he goes to Ke, or he goes to Ke before he comes to Ogurama?
“So, it’s a very difficult situation for us and I had advocated to INEC to distribute our materials from the CBN or from the INEC office at Aba Road so that we don’t need to go to Degema and then come back. But they have refused to listen and would not make adequate logistics arrangement”, he said.
On his assessment of the general conduct of the exercise, Hon. Herbert-Miller said it was peaceful and devoid of violence.
While expressing the hope that the Governorship and State House of Assembly elections coming up on Saturday, March 11 will be conducted under the same atmosphere, he appealed to INEC to be more tidy in their logistics arrangements.

By: Opaka Dokubo

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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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