| Source | Date | Story Title | Summary of Reports | Subject/Category | Page No./Weblink | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DailyTrust Online | Monday, May 31, 2021 | Primaries: APC Wants Perpetrators Of Violence Arrested | The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Sunday reacted to Saturday’s primaries of the party ahead of the July local government elections, calling on security agencies to probe incidents of violence in some local government areas, fish out the perpetrators and bring them to book. Daily Trust reports that acts of violence were recorded in some local government areas including Surulere, where two people were reportedly killed, while election could not hold. Spokesman of the party’s interim committee, Hon. Seye Oladejo, in a statement on Sunday, May 30 stated that, “while we await the formal reports of the electoral officials, we wish to admonish the security agencies to conduct thorough investigations to bring the culprits to book and maintain law and order.” Also, attacks were recorded in local government areas like Shomolu, Alimosho, Ejigbo, Oshodi-Isolo, Ojodu, among others over alleged disenfranchisement of some voters. At the time of filing this report, there was still tension across the state over the outcome of the primaries as results of the open ballot system were still being awaited in some local government areas. | Lagos State, APC, Local Government Elections, Primaries | https://dailytrust.com/primaries-apc-wants-perpetrators-of-violence-arrested | |
| DailyTrust Online | Monday, May 31, 2021 | FCT Area Council Primaries: Yahaya Bello Heads 7-Member APC Peace Panel | As part of the processes of nomination of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates for the forthcoming Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections, the party has constituted a 7-man peace panel. Secretary of the APC Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, Sen. John James Akpanudoedehe, in a statement on Sunday, May 30 stated that the committee is expected to “identify persons who may have taken issues with the conduct of the exercise(s), the issues in contention (if any) and take practical steps to conciliate and harmonise all such persons and issues in time for a satisfactory outcome in the FCT Area Council elections.” | APC, FCT Area Council Elections, Primaries | https://dailytrust.com/fct-primaries-yahaya-bello-heads-7-member-apc-peace-panel | |
| DailyTrust Online | Monday, May 31, 2021 | South East Governors Demand Probe Of Gulak’s Death | The South East Governors’ Forum on Sunday, May 30, described the murder of a former presidential adviser, Ahmed Gulak, in Owerri, Imo State, as a national catastrophe. Chairman of the forum and Governor of Ebonyi State, condemned the incident in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Francis Nwaze. Umahi urged security agencies to immediately arrest the perpetrators and bring them to justice. He stated thus: “It is with a rude shock that we received the news of the unfortunate death of Alhaji Ahmed Gulak in the hands of the senseless unknown gunmen. We, on behalf of the people of South East, condemn the act highly and we charge security agencies to immediately deploy their officers and men to arrest the perpetrators and make them face justice. We, however, pray to God to grant the deceased rest in eternity”. The governor condoled Gulak’s family, the Adamawa State Government and Nigerians in general. He prayed God to grant the departed rest in His bosom. | South East Governors, Ahmed Gulak | https://dailytrust.com/southeast-governors-demand-probe-of-gulaks-death | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Monday, May 31, 2021 | Police Kill Gulak’s Killers in Shoot-Out, Recover Arms, Vehicles | Police in Imo State on Sunday (May 30) night said the killers of former presidential adviser, Ahmed Gulak, had been killed in a shoot-out. Gulak, a former political adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan, was shot dead on Sunday, May 30 in Owerri, Imo State capital on his way to Sam Mbakwe Airport in the state capital. A statement by the Imo state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bala Elkana, on the same day noted that the suspects engaged in a shoot-out with the police at Afor Enyiogugu junction in Aboh-Mbaise Local Government Area, where they consficated a truck from the North and were distributing onions being conveyed by the truck to locals. The Police also stated that the six hoodlums who carried out the killing and four other members of their gang were fatally injured, while three of the four vehicles used in attacking Gulak were recovered. According to the statement, ”Three AK 47 Rifles, one Pistol, five AK 47 magazines with ninety two rounds of live ammunition and criminal charms were recovered. The assailants were identified as members of the proscribed IPOB and ESN. The driver who drove late Ahmed Gulak and a co- victim who survived have all identified the dead body of the IPOB/ESM members positively as their attackers and also identified the three vehicles recovered as those used by the attackers. During the encounter, two of the police armored personnel carriers (APC) were riddled with bullets but survived the gun battle. The Commissioner of Police Imo State, CP Abutu Yaro, fdc commended the gallant effort of the team and admonished them to continue to protect the public space.” | Nigeria Police, Ahmed Gulak | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2021/05/31/police-kill-gulaks-killers-in-shoot-out-recover-arms-vehicles/ | |
| DailyTrust Online | Monday, May 31, 2021 | Many Students Abducted As Bandits Attack Islamiyya School In Niger | Many students have been abducted at an Islamiyya school at Tegina in Rafi local government area of Niger State. The abduction followed an attack on Tegina in the early hours of Sunday, May 30. The number of students abducted could not be ascertained as at press time. The victims are said to students of Salihu Tanko Islamic school. However, two people were shot in the attack, with one person confirmed dead. The Niger State Government stated that it was still gathering reports on the attack so as to take necessary measures to secure the release of those kidnapped. Mary Noel Berje, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, stated this in her response to the attack. Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Ahmed Matane, stated that they are waiting for parents to give records of number of children they sent to the school before they can come up with the exact figure of those abducted. The Islamic school is said to be a private one. Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, was not available when contacted for confirmation and reaction. | Niger State, Islamiyya School, Abduction | https://dailytrust.com/sit-at-home-order-fear-anxiety-in-southeast | |
| The Guardian Newspaper | Monday, May 31, 2021 | Nigeria Not Under Any Debt Stress, DMO Insists | Despite the negative toll the debt profile is having on the Nigerian economy, the Debt Management Office (DMO) has insisted that the nation’s debt is still sustainable as it is yet to reach the threshold set by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank. According to it, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has set maximum debt limit for West African countries at 70 per cent of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and Nigeria is still currently at 21 per cent while for external debt, DMO has set 40 per cent benchmark, but the country is still at eight per cent, adding: “Currently, Nigeria’s total external debt as at December 2020 is $33.8 billion ((N12.7 trillion) of which the Federal Government owes $28.5 billion while the states owe $4.7 billion. The domestic debt is $53.04 billion, while the Federal Government’s debt was put at $42.1 billion, the states owed $10.9 billion, putting the total debt at $86 billion (N32.9 trillion). The representative of the DMO Director-General, Monday Usiade, disclosed this during a presentation on Nigeria’s local and foreign debt management at the West African Region – Debt Advocacy and Training Sessions in Abuja, organised by the African Network on Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) in partnership with African Forum and Network on Debt and Development (AFRODAD). He stated that they had provided the debt sustainability analysis using the World Bank/IMF template which they use to analyse the nation’s debt yearly and advise the government on borrowing, sadding that looking at Nigeria’s size of economy which is relatively large compared to other smaller countries, its debt to GDP ratio as at 2019 stood at 19 per cent and this is relatively small. Usiade stated that the debt only increased by 1.6 per cent in 2020, adding that if benchmarked with the size of Nigeria’s economy, the country could still generate the needed revenue to service the debt. | Debt Management Office | https://guardian.ng/news/nigeria-not-under-any-debt-stress-dmo-insists/ | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Thursday, May 27, 2021 | FG Urges Protesting Ijaw Youths to Suspend Action | The Federal Government has appealed to protesting Ijaw youths from the Niger Delta to suspend the action to ensure sustainable peace in the region. The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, who made the appeal while addressing representatives of Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) in Abuja, expressed fears that if allowed to persist, it might be hijacked by hoodlums who may cause havoc. A statement issued in Abuja, on Thursday, May 27 by the Director (Press & PR), Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Deworitshe Patricia, said that Akpabio noted that the Niger Delta which has been one of the most peaceful regions in the country, should not allow itself to be plunged into crisis. The minister promised that the issues tabled by the youths from the region will be addressed. According to him, a board for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) will be constituted after the forensic audit ordered by President Muhammadu Buhari. He recalled that the audit exercise was to be completed within six months, regretting that the exercise was extended by three months due to the difficult nature of the job. He disclosed that the auditors had already submitted two interim reports to the President, adding that by July, they are expected to submit their final report to pave way for the inauguration of the board. Responding on behalf of IYC, the National spokesperson, Ebilade Ekerefe appealed to the Federal Government and security agencies to rescue the President of the Council, Peter Igbifa who was abducted on his way to Abuja on Tuesday (May 25) morning. He, however, called on the protesting members in the region to remain calm and peaceful, adding that the issue of the constitution of the board of NDDC which ignited the protest is being addressed by the Federal Government through the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs. | Federal Government, Niger Delta, Ijaw Youths | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2021/05/27/fg-urges-protesting-ijaw-youths-to-suspend-action/ | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Thursday, May 27, 2021 | EU, ECOWAS, Interpol Seek National Legislation for West African Police System | The European Union (EU), Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the International Police (Interpol)on Wednesday, May 26, jointly called for the gazetting and national legislation for the West African Police Information System (WAPIS) in West African countries. The call came as the Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Mohammed Dingiyadi, stated that Nigeria was committed to the fight against criminalities in the country and the West African sub-region. WAPIS is a multiannual programme (2012-2022) financed by the European Union and aimed at improving the capacity of West African law enforcement agencies to combat transnational organised crime and terrorism by facilitating the sharing of information. Speaking at the inauguration of the West African Police Information System Centre (WAPIS) in Abuja, the Interpol Director of Partnerships and Planning, Mr. Carl Alexandre, stated that the opening of the centre represented an important milestone in the implementation of WAPIS. The Interpol official affirmed that the WAPIS was “a strong mechanism. No enforcement strategy can effectively tackle crime without data sharing and no crime can be tackled in West Africa without an effective police system.” He added that an implementation committee set up on the programme had recommended and called for the gazetting of WAPIS by member countries. | Interpol, West Africa, Police System | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2021/05/27/eu-ecowas-interpol-seek-national-legislation-for-wafrican-police-system/ | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Thursday, May 27, 2021 | El-Rufai Sacks His Political Adviser, 18 Others | The Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, has sacked 19 of his political appointees, including Mr. Ben Kure, his political adviser. A Government House statement issued on Wednesday, May 26 in Kaduna said that the 19 appointees are the first batch of public servants disengaged in continuation of ‘rightsizing’ of the state government workforce. Besides Kure, other top aides disengaged included two Deputy Chiefs of Staff and several Special Assistants. Those affected, according to the statement, included Bala Yunusa Mohammed, Deputy Chief of Legislative Staff (DCOSL); Halima Musa Nagogo, Special Assistant to DCOSL; Umar Abubakar, another Special Assistant to DCOSL; Mustapha Lynda Nyusha, Jamilu Gwarzala Dan Mutum, and Umar Haruna, who served as Special Assistants political. According to the statement, “El-Rufai thanked the departing officials for their services to the state, and wished them well in their future endeavours.” The state government had earlier sacked thousands of workers, saying its dwindling resources are being overstretched by a huge wage bill without corresponding increase from the Federation Account Allocation (FAC). The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) had protested recently against the sacking of the civil servants in the state, saying the government did not follow due process in disengaging the workers. | Kaduna State, Governor Nasir El-Rufai | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2021/05/27/el-rufai-sacks-his-political-adviser-18-others/ | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Thursday, May 27, 2021 | Saraki Committee Reconciles PDP Factions in Lagos | The Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) Reconciliation Committee and Strategic Committee that is led by former Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, has reconciled warring factions of the party in Lagos State. Among those it reconciled were the Leader of the PDP, Chief Bode George, and the Chairman of the Lagos State Chapter of the PDP, Mr. Deji Doherty who embraced truce on Wednesay, May 26 and promised to work jointly for the victory of the party in future elections. The reconciliation team met at the Southern Sun Hotel, Ikoyi, Lagos, where Saraki and other members of the panel held a four-hour meeting with stakeholders of the PDP in Lagos State. Saraki, who spoke with reporters after the meeting, urged the warring chieftains to sheathe their swords, jettison bitterness and adorn a forgiving spirit in the interest of the party. He stated thus: “We’ve urged committed PDP members in Lagos State to bury their differences and understand that the call by majority of Lagosians to have PDP in government is more important than their own individual differences. We have reconciled the party leaders today and they are ready to dissipate their energies to push the agenda of the PDP for Lagos State. We are happy to see that. We must present ourselves as a serious party. The differences for many months have been buried and that shows people are committed now to make the party attractive to new people who want to join the party.” | Lagos State, PDP, Senator Bukola Saraki | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2021/05/27/saraki-committee-reconciles-pdp-factions-in-lagos-2/ | |
| DailyTrust Online | Thursday, May 27, 2021 | Buhari Celebrates Nigerian Children | President Muhammadu Buhari marked this year’s Children’s Day with some kids at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. Surrounded by children who waved the Nigerian flags, the President beamed with smiles as he posed for photographs with them. The President also joined them in cutting a cake to commemorate the special day. Children’s Day is celebrated on May 27 of every year. | Children's Day, President Muhammadu Buhari | https://dailytrust.com/photos-buhari-celebrates-nigerian-children | |
| DailyTrust Online | Thursday, May 27, 2021 | COVID-19: NASSTo Maintain Oversight On Interventions, Funds Utilisation | Senate President Ahmed Lawan has stated that the COVID-19 pandemic is not yet over, assuring that the National Assembly will continue to maintain oversight of government interventions and utilisation of funds by relevant agencies. Speaking in Abuja on Wednesday, May 26 at the public unveiling of a book titled, ‘A Political Economy of Pandemics and Consequences of COVID-19 for Nigeria” by the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), Lawan stated that the pandemic was a big blow to Nigeria’s economy. He said the National Assembly would continue to undertake a thorough review of all emergency measures, including all relevant legislations to determine their effectiveness and prepare the government for future emergencies. He stated thus: “In the health sector, the pandemic revealed some inadequacies and underscored the need for a complete overhaul to reposition the sector to better respond to this and future emergencies. Speaker, House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila on his part, stated thus: “We also have the opportunity at this moment to rethink our approach to nation-building and politics, commerce and economics, and the terms of our engagement with the rest of the world. The way we do business, the way we manage the affairs of government, the nature of our interactions with family and friends, all these things have been affected, perhaps permanently.” | National Assembly, COVID-19 | https://dailytrust.com/covid-19-n-assembly-to-maintain-oversight-on-interventions-funds-utilisation | |
| DailyTrust Online | Thursday, May 27, 2021 | Lawan Calls for Review of Procurement Process For Security Agencies | Senate President Ahmad Lawan has called for a review of the procurement process for the security agencies. Lawan made the call in Abuja Wednesday, May 26 at a Special Summit on National Security organised by the House of Representatives, according to a statement by his media office. He stated thus: “While the National Assembly should work hard as it has always done to provide more resources, I also want to say we must review procurement processes by the security agencies. While we’re not going to open up how they do these things to the public, but as parliamentarians who approve the funding, we must understand how these procurement processes are undertaken. If the processes require that we change the way we do that, because of inefficiencies, we should go ahead and do so, because it’s not enough to just put in more resources, but how the resources are deployed within the economy, with prudence and efficiency.” | Security Agencies, Procurement | https://dailytrust.com/lawan-wants-procurement-process-for-security-agencies-reviewed | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Thursday, May 27, 2021 | Constitution Review: Power Devolution, State Police Demands Dominate Public Hearings | The process for reviewing the 1999 Nigerian Constitution gathered momentum on Wednesday, May 26, with clamours for creation of state police, devolution of powers to the states, creation of more states, restructuring and fiscal federalism, featuring prominently in presentations made by stakeholders at zonal public hearings in 12 venues nationwide. The two-day public hearings are organised by the Senate Committee on Constitution Review. However, while the Ondo State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, advocated a return to 1963 Constitution, his counterpart in Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, called for a new constitution and not an amendment of the 1999 Constituion. Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, canvassed a special status for the state, which hitherto hosted the nation’s capital. In his remarks, the Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, reiterated calls for devolution of powers. He said the current structure overburdened the Federal Government with too many responsibilities, which it cannot efficiently handle. The governor dismissed the fear of abuse of state police by sub-national governments because a constitutional or statutory framework can be enacted to ensure federal intervention in cases of such abuses. In Owerri, where Imo and Abia States made their submissions, Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, stated that the South-East’s popular agitations and Nigeria’s problems could be addressed by amending the Constitution. In a memorandum, he submitted for Abia State, the Chief of Staff to Abia State Governor, Mr. ACB. Agbazuari, stated that state police would strengthen the peaceful coexistence in the South-East and check security challenges. | Constitution Review | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2021/05/27/constitution-review-power-devolution-state-police-demands-dominate-public-hearings/ | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Wednesday, May 26, 2021 | Air Force Sets Up Committee to Audit Aircraft’s Safety | The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Tuesday, May 25, set up a committee to conduct a safety audit of its operational and engineering units. The committee is coming three days after the crash of one of its aircrafts in Kaduna that killed the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Ibrahim Attahiru, and 10 military officers and personnel. The Kaduna aircraft crash, the third of such incident in the last three months involving NAF fleet, has raised concerns about the airworthiness of the aircrafts owned by the NAF. Three NAF aircrafts were involved in fatal crashes in Abuja, Borno and in Kaduna in the last three months, claiming the lives of a total of 21 personnel of the air force and the army. However, the air force, last week, inducted three newly procured JF-17 thunder aircraft into its inventory as part of activities to mark its 57th anniversary celebration and is expecting 12 Super Tucano fighter jets from the United States, which delivery is due by 2022. The Air Force, in a statement by its spokesman, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, said the committee, comprising serving and retired officers, would, among other terms of reference, analyse safety reports from operational and engineering units, conduct safety evaluation of NAF units and recommend measures to enhance safety of operations. The committee is also to interact with unit operational and technical personnel for views, observations and contributions on safety measures. | Nigerian Air Force, Aircraft Safety Audit | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2021/05/26/air-force-raises-committee-to-audit-aircrafts-safety/ | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Wednesday, May 26, 2021 | APC, PDP in Verbal War Over Attacks on INEC Offices | The All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday, May 25, engaged in a war of words over the spate of attacks on the offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). In a statement issued on Tuesday, May 25, the PDP stated that it stood by its earlier assertion that the APC was behind the burning of offices of INEC in various parts of the country. The PDP in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan , accused APC of promoting acts of violence, including burning of INEC offices in order to build up an emergency situation and frustrate the smooth conduct of the 2023 general elections. It also accused the APC of destroying the country and opening it to bandits and terrorists, and also turning it to a killing field. It called on the Inspector General of Police to immediately invite and question APC leaders over the burning of INEC offices. However, in a swift response, the ruling party described the PDP’s accusation as senseless and reckless. The National Secretary of the Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee of the party, Senator John Akpanudoedehe disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday, May 25 in Abuja. | INEC, APC, PDP | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2021/05/26/apc-pdp-in-verbal-war-over-attacks-on-inec-offices/ | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Wednesday, May 26, 2021 | FG Seeks Improved Procedures, Regulations in Solid Minerals Sector | The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, has expressed the urgent need to improve procedures, documentation and regulations in the solid minerals sector. This, she noted, had become necessary in view of the present global economic challenges occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as volatility of global oil prices which is the country’s main foreign exchange earner. Ahmed stated this in Abuja while delivering a keynote at stakeholders’ consultative forum on the draft mineral export guidelines, procedures and documentation requirements. She explained that the effort to put in place guidelines, procedures and documentation requirements for the solid minerals sector is another of such deliberate Federal Government policy measures to develop its monumental mining potential and minimising dependence on oil as the nation continues her drive towards a progressively diversified economic base. Ahmed noted that streamlining the operations of the solid minerals sector would help guarantee proper regulation of the sector and promote the deployment of appropriate technology/expertise to determine the quantity and value of minerals mined and exported. In his address, the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Mr. Olamilekan Adegbite revealed that only 56 of the 2,670 mineral exports made from Nigeria between January 2013 and June 2017 were legally executed through valid mineral export permits. This translates to a total of 2,614 unlicensed mineral exports during the review period. According to Adegbite, who was represented by the Permanent Secretaty in his ministry, Dr. Oluwatoyin Akinlade disclosed that between 2013 and 2017, unpaid royalties amounted to over N17.12 billion which are still outstanding to the Federal Government. | Federal Government, Solid Minerals Sector | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2021/05/26/fg-seeks-improved-procedures-regulations-in-solid-minerals-sector/ | |
| The Guardian Newspaper | Wednesday, May 26, 2021 | South West RECs Meet in Ibadan, Highlight Plan for 2022-2026 | The Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the South-West converged in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital on Tuesday, May 25 to validate the draft document on strategic plan for the commission’s operations from 2022 to 2026. The RECs in the six states of the zone led their respective management staff to the retreat. The RECs are Prof. Olayinka Raji (Ogun), Dr. Tella Adeniran (Ekiti), Mr. Sam Olumekun (Lagos), Mr. Segun Agbaje (Osun), Mr. Rufus Akeju (Ondo) and Mutiu Agboke (Oyo). The draft INEC 2022-2026 strategic plan and strategic programme of action are to replace the current INEC strategic plan of action (2017-2021) that will end this year. At the two-day retreat, Agboke stressed the need for the draft document to be tabled for discussion for possible implementation. He stated that all entire INEC programmes, such as vision, mission, values, strategic objectives, key actions and activities were streamlined into the two documents, tagged ‘Strategic Plan (SP) and Strategic Programme of Action (SPA).’ Agboke stated that some of the objectives of the SPA 2022- 2026 were “to provide electoral operations, systems and infrastructure to support the delivery of free, fair, credible and inclusive elections." He added that, "Also to improve voter and civic education and promote knowledge of sound democratic electoral processes and to register political parties and monitor their operations, among others.’’ | Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs), South West, Strategic Plan 2022-2026 | https://guardian.ng/news/nigeria/national/south-west-recs-meet-in-ibadan-highlight-plan-for-2022-2026/ | |
| Punch Newspaper | Wednesday, May 26, 2021 | Lagos PDP Fixes May 28 for LG Primaries | The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Lagos chapter, has shifted the primaries for its councillorship aspirants to May 28. The Lagos PDP Chairman, Mr Adedeji Doherty, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos on Monday, May 24 that the primaries, earlier scheduled for May 25, would now hold three days later. Doherty explained that the postponement is to enable the party to complete the screening process of the candidates in the forthcoming July 24 local government elections. According to him, “Most likely it is going to happen on Thursday or Friday. We opted to move it forward because we have quite a lot of responses from the aspirants for the councillorship seats." Doherty said the party would field candidates for the chairmanship and councillorship seats across the 20 local government areas and 37 local council development areas of the state. | Lagos State, Local Government Primaries, PDP | https://punchng.com/lagos-pdp-fixes-may-28-for-lg-primaries/ | |
| Punch Newspaper | Wednesday, May 26, 2021 | Supply Date for Nigeria's Next Batch of COVID Vaccine, Unclear – NPHCDA | The Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr Faisal Shuaib, on Tuesday, May 25, stated that it was not clear yet when the Federal Government would take delivery of next batch of COVID-19 vaccines. Shuaib said this in Abuja during a press conference organised to update the public on the status of COVID-19 vaccination. He stated that, “While we have information that we may get the next consignment of vaccines by end of July or August, this has not been officially confirmed. When we are able to, we will provide an update regarding timelines and updates of the next shipment. At present, we do not have that information available due to the wider context we are in.” Speaking further, Shuaib added that, “The International Monetary Fund is now advocating a $50bn fund to be spent on ensuring a faster rollout of COVID-19 vaccines globally and is calling for at least, 40 per cent of the global population to be vaccinated by the end of this year, and at least 60 per cent by June 2022.” | COVID-19 Vaccines | https://punchng.com/our-next-batch-of-vaccine-supply-likely-in-august-nphcda/ | |
| DailyTrust Online | Wednesday, May 26, 2021 | FG, EU, AU Demand Release Of Malian President, PM | The Federal Government of Nigeria has condemned the military detention of the interim President, Bah Ndaw and Prime Minister, Moctar Ouane of Mali. Their detention came hours after a government reshuffle left out two soldiers who led the coup nine months ago that overthrew Mali’s previous leader. The spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ferdinand Nwonye, in a statement, said the Federal Government called for immediate and unconditional release of the detained president and the prime minister. Part of the statement read thus: “The two key officials in the transitional government of Mali were reportedly taken by Soldiers to the Kati Military Camp near the Capital, Bamako on Monday 24, May 2021. The action is totally unacceptable and might derail the peace building efforts and time table for the return of democratic governance in Mali.” Similarly, the United Nation and the African Union have, in a joint statement, condemned the detention of the duo and called for their “immediate and unconditional release”. The United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany and the West African regional bloc known as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) also signed the statement. | Mali | https://dailytrust.com/fg-eu-au-demand-release-of-malian-president-pm | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Tuesday, May 25, 2021 | INEC: Attacks on Offices a National Emergency | The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has stated that the continuous burning of its offices in some states should be regarded as a national emergency. INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr. Festus Okoye, said in a statement on Monday, May 24, that the commission held an emergency session as attacks on its facilities in some states of the Federation continue unabated. In the latest attack, a total of seven Toyota Hilux vans belonging to the commission were burnt down in a Sunday night attack on its headquarters in Awka, Anambra State. The commission’s collation centre and storehouse containing over 50 generating sets and other equipment were also razed. It also lost valuable assets in the attacks carried out by hoodlums on its local government offices in Enugu and Imo states on Sunday, May 23. Reacting to the incident, the commission said the attacks were systematic. It added: “The attacks on the commission’s facilities have now become a national emergency. Accordingly, the commission will brief the government and stakeholders on these incidents.” Despite the setbacks, Okoye said the commission was determined to continue to discharge its responsibilities, including the conduct of the scheduled Anambra State governorship election. He said in the latest incidents, three offices of the commission were attacked in Anambra, Imo, and Enugu states. | INEC, Attacks | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2021/05/25/inec-attacks-on-offices-a-national-emergency/ | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Tuesday, May 25, 2021 | Omo-Agege: No Senator will Influence Constitution Review | Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, on Monday, May 24, stated that the recent view against the nation’s restructuring expressed by the President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, will not influence the report of the Senate Constitution Review Committee. He, however, disclosed that a new version of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria will be ready for the President’s assent by July 2021. Omo-Agege, who is the Chairman of the 58-man Senate Ad-hoc committee on Constitution Review, also stated that a similar view against restructuring espoused by Senator Abdullahi Adamu, will not in anyway affect the report of the Ad – hoc committee on Constitution Review. The committee Chairman who made this known while briefing journalists on Zonal Public Hearings slated for Wednesday (tomorrow) and Thursday this week across the six geo – political zones and National Public Hearing slated for next week in Abuja, emphasised that the views of the two Senators were personal and not that of the Senate. He stated thus: “One thing I want everybody to know is that whatever report the committee comes up with on various alterations being sought for in the 1999 Constitution (as amended), each of the 109 Senators has a vote to see to the passage of any recommendations made. The President of the Senate like every other Senator, has only one vote. So, it is wrong for anybody to think or say whatever views any Senator has expressed will influence the report of the committee. I can assure you that the Senate President has not taken any position; he is entitled to his views like any of us; he is in support of what I am doing and you can take this to the bank that we will have an exercise that the Nigerian people will be glad of”. He also assured Nigerians that the exercise will not end in a jamboree, saying it will be incremental. He added that, “By the time we succeed in this exercise, God willing, it will be the 5th alteration and will largely meet the yearnings of Nigerians as far as Constitution review is concerned”. | Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege, Constitution Review | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2021/05/25/omo-agege-no-senator-will-influence-constitution-review/ | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Tuesday, May 25, 2021 | APC to Consult Buhari, Govs, Others on National Convention | The National Secretary of the Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Sen. John Akpanudoedehe, has stated that the committee would consult President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, governors and other major stakeholders of the party before taking any decision on the party’s national convention scheduled to hold next month. The Secretary stated this on Monday, May 24 while fielding questions from journalists after he held an emergency meeting to ratify the APC FCT Area Council primaries. He stated that there would be no crisis in the party in June as far as the party’s convention is concerned. He states thus: “I want to assure you that there will be no crisis in our party in June. Convention can be done in June and congresses can start and end in June but it all depends on what the leaders of this party agreed upon." The Secretary noted the committee was aware that party members would like to hear from the committee as regards the party’s convention slated for next month. He added that the committee was looking into so many things, adding that the committee has to consult extensively before it would do anything. According to him, “We have lots of problems in the country, not only the national congress of the party. We have serious security issues like the agitations going on in the zones." | APC, National Convention | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2021/05/25/apc-to-consult-buhari-govs-others-on-national-convention/ | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Tuesday, May 25, 2021 | Labour Leaders Allege Threat to Lives, Seek Probe of El-Rufai | The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Monday, May 24 called on the police and other security agencies to interrogate Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, over alleged threats to labour leaders’ lives. It urged the police and other security agencies to hold the state government responsible for any harm to any of its leaders or any worker or any union property in the state. In a statement on Monday, May 24 by the NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, the union warned that if any harm is done to any of its leaders or any worker or to any union property in Kaduna State, workers will withdraw their services without any further notice. NLC also stated that its attention had been drawn to a viral video where El-Rufai was said to have alleged that the Kaduna protest was sponsored by the Kano State Government. The union therefore stated that, “We wish to posit that the day any harm is done to any leader of the NLC or any worker or to any union property in Kaduna State, Nigerian workers will withdraw their services without any further notice. We also wish to urge the Nigeria Police Force and other security agents to take note of the fresh threats by Mr. Nasir El-Rufai against Nigerian workers”. NLC called on the security agents to discharge their duties and interrogate the governor. It denied being sponsored by the Kano State Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje. On the allegation of sponsorship of the Kaduna protest, the NLC said the Kaduna state governor might just be looking at himself in the mirror, adding that to date, El-Rufai has not refuted the allegation that “he was the one who masterminded the sponsorship of hooligans to attack a peaceful protest by workers, injuring and maiming many workers in the process”. | Kaduna State, NLC | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2021/05/25/labour-leaders-allege-threat-to-lives-seek-probe-of-el-rufai/ | |
| DailyTrust Online | Tuesday, May 25, 2021 | Presidency: Southern Govs Offered No Solution After Banning Open Grazing | The Presidency on Monday, May 24, stated that the southern governors did not offer any solution in its Asaba resolution that banned open grazing. A presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, in a statement, stated that President Muhammadu Buhari had approved deep-rooted solutions to herdsmen attacks and cleared way for ranching and revival of forest reserves. Shehu said the announcement by the southern governors was, therefore, of questionable legality, given the constitutional right of all Nigerians to enjoy the same rights and freedoms across the country regardless of the state of their birth or residence. He said the declaration had been preempted as Buhari, who had been worried about the problems more than any other citizen, in consultation with farmers and herders alike, commissioned and approved an actionable plan of rehabilitating grazing reserves in the states, starting with those that are truly committed to the solution and compliant with stated requirements. He said Buhari had also approved a number of specific measures to bring a permanent end to the frequent skirmishes as recommended by the Minister of Agriculture in a report he submitted and the president signed off on it back in April. Shehu added that the approval was given by Buhari well before the actions of the Southern Governors Forum which attempted to place a ban on open grazing and other acts of politicking intended by its signatories to demonstrate their power. According to him, “It’s very clear that there was no solution offered from their resolutions to the herder-farmer clashes that have been continuing in our country for generations. But the citizens of the southern states – indeed citizens of all states of Nigeria – have a right to expect their elected leaders and representatives to find answers to challenges of governance and rights, and not to wash their hands off hard choices by, instead, issuing bans that say: ‘not in my state.’ It’s equally true that their announcement is of questionable legality, given the constitutional right of all Nigerians to enjoy the same rights and freedoms within every one of our 36 states (and FCT) -regardless of the state of their birth or residence.” | Southern Governors, Open Grazing | https://dailytrust.com/presidency-southern-govs-offered-no-solution-after-banning-open-grazing | |
| The Guardian Newspaper | Tuesday, May 25, 2021 | Buhari, Niger Governors Meet As Protesters Block Highway | Governor Abubakar Bello of Niger State met with President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday, May 24 as protesters blocked the Abuja–Kaduna expressway in Gauraka town, decrying kidnapping in the area. The distraught governor, who recently alerted Nigerians that Boko Haram terrorists had hoisted their flag in the state after taking territories in the state, was accompanied by the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, and the Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) National Caretaker Committee, Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe. The three governors were believed to have met with the President over the heightened insecurity in Niger state. Meanwhile, the protesters blocked the expressway and caused heavy gridlock. | Niger State, FCT | https://guardian.ng/news/buhari-niger-governors-meet-as-protesters-block-highway/ | |
| The Guardian Newspaper | Tuesday, May 25, 2021 | Reps Caucus Accuses EFCC of Harassing PDP Members | The Minority Caucus in the House of Representatives has accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of witch-hunting Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members. Led by Ndudi Elumelu, the group, in a statement on Monday, May 24, argued that the anti-graft agency lacked the statutory powers to probe the affairs of the opposition party. It charged the EFCC to focus on its constitutional duties by investigating officials of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government allegedly indicted for corruption in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). The lawmakers challenged the commission to commence similar action on the ruling party and invite its leaders over a plethora of petitions and reports of “clear cases of high-scale corruption involving APC leaders.” They further stated thus: “We have noted the moves by the EFCC to pry into the internal administration of the PDP, a political party, contrary to the crystal-clear provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), particularly Sections 225 and 226, which vest the scrutiny of party finances in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). “Nevertheless, we have no doubt that the PDP will come out clean because they have nothing to hide.” | EFCC, PDP | https://guardian.ng/news/reps-caucus-accuses-efcc-of-harassing-pdp-members/ | |
| The Guardian Newspaper | Tuesday, May 25, 2021 | Losing Officers Has Worsened Nigeria’s Woes, Buhari Laments | President Muhammadu Buhari has lamented the loss of military officers, especially at a time the country is facing a serious security crisis, stating that last Friday’s air crash had worsened the nation’s predicament. Receiving a delegation from the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) at the State House, Abuja, on a condolence visit over the death of Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru and 10 others, the President resolved to work harder in tackling the country’s woes. He told the team that included NGF Chairman, Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State and Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Caretaker Committee/Yobe helmsman, Mai Mala Buni and his Niger counterpart, Sani Bello, that only God knew why the incident occurred. Buhari stated thus: “This is a situation that only God knows when it will happen and it happened at a time when the security situation in the country is a fundamental issue. And losing choice officers has increased our problems, but we know what we are in for and we will continue to work harder and pray harder so that God will give us the power to appreciate and apply ourselves to the problems.” | President Muhammadu Buhari | https://guardian.ng/news/losing-officers-has-worsened-nigerias-woes-buhari-laments/ | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Monday, May 24, 2021 | Labour Warns NEC against Endorsing Proposed N385 Petrol Price | The organised labour at the weekend cautioned the National Economic Council (NEC) against approving a recommendation by the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) seeking a N385 pump price for petrol. State affiliates of the organised labour, in separate interviews with THISDAY, said doing so will unleash hardship on the people and heat up the polity. Their warning came ahead of a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), scheduled to hold in Abuja tomorrow, May 25 to deliberate on the issue. The 36 governors, under the auspices of the NGF, at a meeting last week, had endorsed the N385 per litre pump price recommended by a committee set up by the National Economic COuncil, and headed by the Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai. However, the recommendation is subject to approval by NEC, chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. Although the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr. Timipre Sylva, had at the weekend allayed fears of an increase in petrol price, the various states chapters of labour unions vowed to resist the proposed price regime, if approved. Reacting to the governors’ proposal, the Chairman of the Niger State chapter of the NLC, Mr. Yakubu Garba, told THISDAY at the weekend that there would be a “great revolt across the country if the pump price of petrol is increased to N385 per litre as proposed by the Nigerian Governors’ Forum”. | Petrol Pump Price, Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), National Economic Council (NEC) | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2021/05/24/labour-warns-nec-against-endorsing-proposed-n385-petrol-price/ | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Monday, May 24, 2021 | PDP Wins Oyo Council Polls, One Rescheduled | The Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC) has declared the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner of 32 out of the 33 councils in the local government elections held in Oyo State on Saturday, May 22. OYSIEC Chairman, Mr. Isiaka Olagunju, made the declaration on Sunday, May 24 in Ibadan. Only Ido Local Government election was suspended and rescheduled for Wednesday, May 26. Olagunju stated that the commission had ensured transparency and adequate security during the election. He appreciated the media as well as security agencies in the state for their support in ensuring a free, fair, and transparent election. | Oyo State, Local Council Elections, PDP | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2021/05/24/pdp-sweeps-oyo-council-polls-one-rescheduled/ | |
| DailyTrust Online | Monday, May 24, 2021 | LG Poll: PDP Flags-Off Campaign In Kaduna | The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kaduna State has flagged off its campaign ahead of the June 5 local government elections in the state. The party also presented flags to its candidates in the 23 local government areas of the state. Presenting the flags in Kaduna at the weekend, the State Chairman of the party, Hon. Felix Hayat directed the flag bearers and other members of the party to engage in vigorous house-to-house campaign to enable the party to win in all the local government areas of the state. | Kaduna State, Local Government Elections, PDP | https://dailytrust.com/lg-poll-pdp-flags-off-campaign-in-kaduna | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Monday, May 24, 2021 | House of Reps Reschedules Security Summit to Honour Attahiru, Others | The House of Representatives has rescheduled the national security summit that had been convened to discuss ways of finding lasting solutions to insecurity in the country. The week-long summit earlier scheduled to begin on May 24, 2021, was moved to May 26. A statement issued by the Clerk of the House, Chinedu Francis Akubueze, stated that the decision to shift the summit was taken as a mark of honour to the late Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant-General Ibrahim Attahiru, and 10 other military officers who died in a plane crash last Friday, May 21. The late COAS was one of the guests expected to make presentations during the summit. The Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila, had announced that the summit would be held behind closed doors with only members of the House and invited security experts in attendance. Gbajabiamila said the security chiefs would be expected to speak freely and bare their minds on the security challenges facing Nigeria with a view to finding ways to address them. | House of Representatives, Security Summit | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2021/05/24/house-shifts-security-summit-to-honour-attahiru-others/ | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Monday, May 24, 2021 | Policeman, Gunman Killed in Attack on Ebonyi Police Division | The Police Command in Ebonyi State on Sunday, May 23, stated that it repelled an attack on one of its divisional office, killing one of the attackers and recovering an AK-47 rifle. The Police Public Relations Officer of the command, Loveth Odah, who disclosed this in a statement issued in Abakaliki, the state capital, also stated that the command lost one Mobile Policeman in the attack. According to the statement, “At 1200hrs of Sunday, hoodlums, numbering about 20 in a Mitsubishi L300 Bus, and some others on foot, came in through the back fence and attacked one of our divisions at Ugbuodo Divisional Headquarters in Ebonyi Local Government Area of the state. The statement added that the Commissioner of Police, Ebonyi Command, Mr. Aliyu Garba, had visited the division for an on-the-spot assessment of the situation, addinf that, “He has also ordered a manhunt for the fleeing hoodlums with a view to arresting them for prosecution.” | Nigeria Police, Ebonyi State | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2021/05/24/policeman-gunman-killed-in-attack-on-ebonyi-police-division/ | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Monday, May 24, 2021 | Unknown Gunmen Attack Anambra INEC Office, Raze 7 Vehicles, Collation Centre, Store | A total of seven Toyota Hilux vans belonging to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were burnt on Sunday, May 14 in a night attack on the headquarters of the commission in Awka, Anambra State. The commission’s collation centre and store house containing over 50 generating sets and other equipment were also burnt down. Meanwhile, three Hillux vans used by the attackers were recovered by the police, after the attackers abandoned them to police operatives superior fire power. Three of the Hillux vans seen by THISDAY reporter at the INEC headquarters were unregistered. While one of the vans was shot at by the police, another ran into an electric pole while trying to escape and was demobilized, and the third was abandoned by the attackers. Contrary to reports by various media organizations (not THISDAY), that the ‘B’ division police station was razed, THISDAY found that the station was not touched. Anambra State police commissioner, CP Chris Owolabi who led journalists to inspect the affected facility stated that the police registered over 90 percent success in combating the attackers. Owolabi addressing journalists stated thus: “The hoodlums first went to “B” division police station and were repelled, then they came to INEC and our men repelled them too. I can tell you that we recorded about 95 percent success. There were no casualties on the part of the police. I want to appeal to journalists to report carefully because we read where people reported that scores of policemen were killed. Eight riffles consisting of AK 47 and pump action were recovered from the attackers, including live ammunition and items of clothing and barets." INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Anambra State, Dr Nkwachukwu Orji who addressed journalists, expressed happiness about the success recorded in repelling the attackers. He stated that, “The damage is very minimal; we lost six operational vehicles. They also burnt our collation centre and a part of our store house. It would have been worse, but I thank the police for their efforts.” | INEC, Anambra State | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2021/05/24/unknown-gunmen-attack-anambra-inec-office-raze-7-vehicles-collation-centre-store/ | |
| DailyTrust Online | Monday, May 24, 2021 | FG Set To Prosecute 5,800 Boko Haram Suspects | The Federal Government is working to prosecute 5,800 suspected members of the Boko Haram sect. Chioma Onuegbu, Head, Complex Casework Group and Deputy Director of Prosecutions, Federal Ministry of Justice, disclosed this in Abuja at the weekend during a media engagement by the Wayamo Foundation. The forum is a media engagement for justice and accountability and for promoting understanding of the work of the International Criminal Court at The Hague. Onuegbu stated that the ministry had vetted the case files of 800 out of 1, 000 suspects whom prima facie evidence were established against in 2019. She explained that the heightened attacks in the northeast and the COVID-19 pandemic affected the commencement of the trials in 2019 and 2020. Furthermore, She stated that the military recently sent in another 5,000 new case files from Maiduguri, Borno State, which the ministry was now working hard to process. She added that before the halt in the proceedings, the charges had been filed and served on 280 suspects and the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, the justice department providing free legal services to the suspects, to enable its officials meet the suspects at their detention facilities in Maiduguri and prepare for their defence. Onuegbu noted that out of the said 1,000 case files, 170 suspects were recommended for release for lack of evidence to prosecute them. She said the ministry had already concluded similar cases in October 2017, February 2018 and June 2018 and is getting set for the fourth phase of the trials. Onuegbu stated that, “Presently, efforts are being made by the military to move the relevant inmates (whose charges are ready) to another safe location for the prosecutions to commence and as soon as that is done, we shall inform you to join us.” | Federal Government, Boko Haram | https://dailytrust.com/fg-set-to-prosecute-5800-boko-haram-suspects | |
| The Guardian Newspaper | Monday, May 24, 2021 | PSC Declares 108 Airline Passengers POI for Violating COVID-19 Quarantine Protocol | The Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) has declared 108 passengers who arrived from Brazil, Turkey, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and India, Persons Of Interest (POI) for violating COVID-19 quarantine protocol. The PSC Chairman, Mr Boss Mustapha, who is also Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), disclosed this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday, May 24 in Abuja. He stated that the persons arrived in Nigeria between May 8 and 15, through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, after the new regulations had been put in place. Mustapha noted that on May 1, 2021, the PSC issued a travel advisory for passengers arriving in Nigeria from Brazil, India and Turkey, saying that ”these precautionary measures are necessary steps to mitigate the risk of importation of variants of concern and break the chain of transmission to the population." He added that, “The PSC has, however, observed that while most of the arriving passengers dutifully observed the guidelines, some Nigerians and Foreigners have violated them in contravention of the provisions of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Health Regulations Protection, 2021.” The SGF stated that all the 108 passengers “have been declared Persons of Interest (POI)” as they pose considerable danger to overall public health. He stated that the PSC should, in addition, take further steps to sanction the violators, adding that the steps included disabling their travel passports for a period not less than one year, cancellation of the visas/permits of foreigners that have abused Nigeria's hospitality and prosecution under the 2021 Health Protection Regulations. Mustapha also stated that an additional list of Batch II defaulters would be published in subsequent announcement by the PSC. | Presidential Steering Committee (PSC), COVID-19 | https://guardian.ng/news/psc-declares-108-airline-passengers-poi-for-violating-covid-19-quarantine-protocol/ | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Thursday, May 20, 2021 | Bill Prohibiting Payment of Ransom to Kidnappers Passes Second Reading | The Senate has passed for a second reading a bill that seeks to prohibit the payment and receipt of ransom for the release of any person kidnapped, imprisoned or wrongfully confined. The Terrorism Prevention (Amendment) Bill, 2021, which scaled second reading during at plenary on Wednesday, May 20 is sponsored by Senator Ezenwa Francis Onyewuchi. In his lead debate of the bill, Onyewuchi stated that the piece of legislation seeks to amend the Terrorism (Prevention) Act, 2013 to outlaw the payment of ransom to abductors, kidnappers and terrorists for the release of any person who has been wrongfully confined, imprisoned or kidnapped. According to him, the bill essentially seeks to substitute for section 14 of the Principal Act a new section to read: “Anyone who transfers funds, makes payment or colludes with an abductor, kidnapper or terrorist to receive any ransom for the release of any person who has been wrongfully confined, imprisoned or kidnapped is guilty of a felony and is liable on conviction to a term of imprisonment of not less than 15 years.” He raised the alarm that kidnapping has become a fast and lucrative business, adding that, “it has now remained the most virulent form of banditry in Nigeria and the most pervasive and intractable violent crime in the country.” He observed that countries like the USA and the United Kingdom do not support payment of ransoms to kidnappers. He advised that, “The continuous payment of ransom must not be encouraged. In addition government should provide adequate security and strengthen the economy as a matter of urgency, accelerate its poverty alleviation programs, provide employment opportunities targeting youths who are mostly involved in abductions and kidnappings, strengthen our law enforcement agencies, and provide the necessary support to end the menace of kidnapping.” The Terrorism Prevention (Amendment) Bill, was thereafter referred by the Senate President, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, to the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters headed by Senator Opeyemi Bamidele for further legislative work within four weeks. | Senate, Kidnapping, Ransom Payment | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2021/05/20/senate-proposes-bill-prohibiting-payment-of-ransom-to-kidnappers/ | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Thursday, May 20, 2021 | NLC Suspends Kaduna Warning Strike After FG’s Intervention | Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has suspended its five-day warning strike in Kaduna State to honour an invitation by the Federal Government to broker truce in the ongoing industrial crisis in the state. NLC President, Dr. Ayuba Wabba, told reporters in Kaduna that following the invitation by the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Dr. Chris Ngige, the union had decided that the warning strike, billed to terminate tomorrow (Friday) would end on Wednesday, May 19. He stated that, “As you are aware, we have said times without number that any time there is an opportunity to have a discussion over an industrial relation issue, particularly, like the one we have, we will always avail ourselves the opportunity to attend such meetings. This afternoon, an official letter was communicated to the NLC National Headquarters, signed by the Minister of Labour, Dr. Chris Ngige, and all of us must have seen the decision of the Federal Executive Council that intervention should be made and all parties should be brought to the negotiating table to look at the issues at stake with the aim of resolving them.” He stated that having received the letter, the NLC, at its meeting, thought that it was important to honour the invitation. He added that, “The meeting is scheduled for tomorrow (Thursday) by 11 am in Abuja and we thought that it is important for us to honour the meeting. The leadership of the NLC alongside the leadership of NLC in Kaduna State will attend the meeting because this is an issue that pertains to workers in Kaduna. We also decided that in going further in trying to have this dialogue, that the action will be suspended and the suspension will take effect tonight." “We thank the citizens of Kaduna for their positive comments”. | Federal Government, Kaduna State, NLC, Protests | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2021/05/20/nlc-suspends-kaduna-warning-strike-after-fgs-intervention/ | |
| DailyTrust Online | Thursday, May 20, 2021 | Buhari Restates Commitment To Fair Elections | President Muhammadu Buhari has assured Nigerians that the government’s commitment to free and fair elections will be followed through in every future election. President Buhari gave the assurance on Wednesday, May 19 in an interactive session with some Nigerians in Paris, France. The President explained that the bedrock of democracy remains sustenance of the multi-party structure, with trust from citizens. President Buhari, who noted that results from elections since he assumed office had been a mixed bag, with the people’s choice playing out, pledged to keep the template that had brought more credibility to the electoral process. He stated that, “Free and fair election is a great concern. In the last elections, our party lost in some elections and it reflects our position of non-interference. Normally those in power will win by hook or by crook. We believe in free and fair elections. I have respect for Nigerians to choose their leaders. We have shown we respect our citizens by allowing them to choose their leaders. We gave instructions to security to deal with anyone who uses thugs to disrupt electoral processes. What I can assure you is that you can walk about and around with your head raised high that this administration is committed to a multi-party system.” | President Muhammadu Buhari, Fair Elections | https://dailytrust.com/buhari-restates-commitment-to-fair-elections | |
| DailyTrust Online | Thursday, May 20, 2021 | NASS Approves N74bn Budget For Police Trust Fund | The Senate and House of Representatives Joint Committese on Police Affairs have approved N74bn for the Nigeria Police Trust Fund (NPTF) as 2021 budget. NPTF Executive Secretary Ahmad Sokoto disclosed this Wednesday, May 19 after a closed-door meeting with the committee. He stated that the budget would be used to, among other things, train personnel of the Police Force and purchase equipment. | Police Trust Fund | https://dailytrust.com/n-assembly-approves-n74bn-budget-for-police-trust-fund | |
| The Guardian Newspaper | Thursday, May 20, 2021 | Return $4.2m Ibori Fund or Invest it in Delta, Okowa tells FG | Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, on Wednesday, May 19 urged the Federal Government to return the £4.2m Ibori loot or invest it in specific projects in the state. Okowa, who spoke at the quarterly media briefing in Asaba, said the state government had written the Attorney General of the Federation and the Presidency on the need to return the fund or channel it to specific projects. According to Okowa, “Now that the United Kingdom has returned the money to the country, we want to ensure that it is refunded to the state. Letters have been written and we have made appeals to Mr. President and Attorney General of the Federation. We asked that either the money is returned to us, or applied to projects in Delta State. We also suggested some projects to which the money can be applied. The £4.2m should amount to about N2.2b going by current exchange rate.” | Delta State, Ibori Loot | https://guardian.ng/news/return-4-2m-ibori-fund-or-invest-it-in-delta-okowa-tells-fg/ | |
| The Guardian Newspaper | Wednesday, May 19, 2021 | Senate Suspends Plenary for Constitution Review | The Senate has announced the suspension of plenary for one week starting from Tuesday, May 25 to enable its members to participate in the zonal public hearings across the country. The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, who made the announcement at plenary on Wednesday, May 19, stated that the exercise will hold in 12 centres across the country on May and 27. Lawan urged Nigerians to participate fully in the exercise as the National Assembly has no pre-conceived agenda but would be open to suggestions from Nigerians on how to move the country forward. He stated thus: “We are open, we are plain, we don’t have any preconceived or predetermined position on anything. The myriads of issues that Nigerians want to be addressed to make Nigeria better, to make citizens secure and enhance the welfare of our people must be brought for consideration. Because of this very important assignment by this important committee of the senate, the senate will suspend Plenary through next week. This is to enable not only the committee members but the rest of us who are not even members of the constitution review committee to participate in the exercise." Lawan had earlier read a letter from the chairman of the constitution review committee, Deputy President of the Senate Ovie Omo-Agege, announcing that the committee will hold its zonal public hearings for review of the 1999 constitution on May 26 and 27. | Senate, Constitution Review | https://guardian.ng/news/senate-suspends-plenary-for-constitution-review/ | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Wednesday, May 19, 2021 | Kaduna Industrial Crisis Worsens as Hoodlums Attack Protesting Workers | Armed thugs alleged to have been sponsored attacked the protesting workers led by the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr. Ayuba Wabba, in Kaduna on Tuesday, May 18, just as governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have appealed to the Kaduna State government and the NLC to settle the rift. However, Governor Nasir el-Rufai has declared Wabba and other labour leaders wanted for alleged economic sabotage, even as he sacked nurses below Grade Level 14. In a swift response, Wabba stated that he was waiting for the governor to arrest him and his colleagues. The workers were attacked at the NEPA Roundabout, Kaduna, during their peaceful procession in continuation with their five-day warning strike against the mass sacking of workers by the Kaduna State government. The hoodlums, armed with sticks and knives arrived in two vehicles and a tricycle, throwing stones at the protesters. There was pandemonium as the police who have been accompanying the protesting workers on their processions swiftly responded by firing teargas at the hoodlums. The workers also joined the police in repelling the thugs, one of whom was caught and beaten mercilessly. However, the workers carried on with their procession back to the state secretariat of the NLC after the disruption. Speaking in an interview with ARISE NEWS Channel, the broadcast arm of THISDAY Newspapers, the NLC president condemned the attack, alleging that the thugs were sponsored by Governor Nasir el-Rufai. | NLC, Kaduna State, Protests | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2021/05/19/kaduna-industrial-crisis-worsens-as-hoodlums-attack-protesting-workers/ | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Wednesday, May 19, 2021 | Senate Faults Buhari’s Lopsided Appointments | The Senate on Tuesday, May 18, faulted the lopsidedness in the appointment of federal board members by President Muhammadu Buhari, just as it confirmed the appointment of 12 Board members for the National Human Rights Commission, (NHRC), forwarded to it by the President. The confirmation of the NHRC nominees followed the consideration of the report of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, chaired by Senator Opeyemi Bamidele. In his submission, the Senator noted that the composition of the Governing Council of the National Human Rights Commission as presented to the 9th Senate, did not comply with the provisions of the Constitution as it relates to the Federal Character Principle. Bamidele maintained that absolute compliance with the provisions of the Constitution was not a choice but a fundamental obligation imposed on individuals, government and all its functionaries, as encapsulated in Section 13 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution. He stated that it was the duty of the National Assembly “to draw the attention of the executive who is saddled with the responsibilities of making nominations for appointments into any position in the country, to ensure compliance with the Federal Character Principle in line with the Constitution.” In his remarks, President of the Senate, Dr Ahmad Lawan, urged the executive arm of government to always comply with the principle of Federal Character in future appointments. | Senate, Federal Character Principle | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2021/05/19/senate-faults-buharis-lopsided-appointments/ | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Wednesday, May 19, 2021 | Malami: Financial Autonomy for State Legislatures, Judiciaries Non-negotiable | The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), has stated that the constitutional provision in Section 121(3) guaranteeing financial autonomy for the judiciary and legislature at the state level is a non-negotiable right exercisable by both arms of government. Malami faulted the arguments that queried the constitutionality of the Executive Order 10 issued by President Muhammadu Buhari to further the implementation of the provision of Section 121(3), contending that the presidential initiative was “designed and intended to give enforcement spirit to the autonomy provision.” He stated that governors were not averse to enforcement of the constitutional provision on financial autonomy for state legislature and judiciary. The minister stated that the seeming disagreement was in relation to the modality to be adopted in its application, which was currently being worked out in the series of engagements that are being held. Malami, who stated this on Tuesday, May 18, while featuring on a live television programme, stated thus: “Generally speaking, the operation, application and enforcement of laws are a process. With particular regard to the executive order, you have to take into account the antecedence. One, there exists a constitutional amendment, with particular regard to Section 121 (3) of the Constitution that initiated the process. In addition to the constitutional amendment, we equally have in place, the Executive Order 10, signed by the President., which, in effect, is designed and intended to give enforcement spirit to the autonomy as contained in Section 121(3)." | Judicial and Legislative Autonomy | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2021/05/19/malami-financial-autonomy-for-state-legislatures-judiciaries-non-negotiable/ | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Wednesday, May 19, 2021 | Federal Govt Launches National Diaspora Policy | The Federal Government has launched the National Diaspora Policy (NDP) that would promote and harness the resources and capacity of Nigerians in the Diaspora for the growth and development of the country. The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Zubairu Dada, who launched the policy on Tuesday, May 18 at the Third Summit of the States Diaspora Focal Point Officers and Standing Committee on Diaspora Matters in Abuja, explained that the NDP would engage, enable and empower Nigerians in the Diaspora as change agents for the development of their homeland. Dada stated that the Federal Executive Council (FEC), adopted, ratified and approved the NDP as a legal framework based on the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended), which provided for dual citizenship and allowed every Nigerians to enjoy all the benefits of citizenship. Also, the Deputy Chairman of the Senate Committee on Diaspora, Civil Societies and NGOs, Senator Ibrahim Oloriegbe, who was represented by Senator Abba Moro and the Chairman House Committee on Diaspora Affairs, Hon. Tolulope Akande-Sadipe, expressed their total support and commitment to rolling out pro-diaspora legislations that would constructively engage Nigerians in the Diaspora for sustainable national development. Head if the Disapora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa assured that the commission would ensure that an enabling environment is provided for exchange of ideas that would encourage synergies and collaboration among State Diaspora Focal Point Officers to harness the potentials of Nigerian Diaspora for national development. | National Diaspora Policy | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2021/05/19/national-diaspora-policy-launched/ | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Wednesday, May 19, 2021 | FG’s Silence Over Burning of INEC’s Offices Worrisome, Says PDP | The Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday, May 18, expressed worry over the silence of the Federal Government on the burning of offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) across the country. The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, noted during a press conference at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja that it is surprising that the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government has not said anything concerning the burning of not less than 20 INEC offices across the country. He stated thus: “Approaching the 2023 election, we are worried as a party that the APC led Federal Government is silent in spite of the burning and attacks on INEC offices. And we are suspicious that the APC having failed Nigerians and realising that they cannot win subsequent elections are responsible for this chaos, because they are working on creating an emergency situation to forestall subsequent elections.” Ologbondiyan also accused the APC of attempting to frustrate the aspiration of Nigerians in finding solutions to the alarming state of insecurity and economic hardship in the country. He claimed that the communiqué of the PDP’s Governors Forum after its meeting in Ibadan on May 17 that suggested urgent measures to end terrorism and wanton killings in the country reflected the thinking of majority of Nigerians. He, however, stated that it is unfortunate that the APC criticised rather than commend the PDP governors for their patriotic disposition. The PDP spokesman added that “finding solutions to the myriad of problems plaguing our nation today under the watch of a crisis-ridden APC and absentee President Muhammadu Buhari, has led to an imperative national call that requires the collective action of all, and the PDP, as a party, will not relent in leading all patriots in this charge.” | PDP, APC, INEC | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2021/05/19/fgs-silence-over-burning-of-inecs-offices-worrisome-says-pdp/ | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Wednesday, May 19, 2021 | FG Considers Non-Conviction Based Procedures for Recovery of Stolen Assets | In a renewed bid to recover the country’s stolen assets, the Federal Government has stated that it was considering non-conviction based procedures to quicken its assets recovery drive.It is also seeking repatriation of the nation’s stolen wealth from off-shore destinations, even as it announced the recovery of $700 million from the United States, the United Kingdom and Switzerland. Speaking at the International Conference on Illicit Financial Flows (IFFs) and Assets Recovery organised by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commision (ICPC), the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), stated that the government was considering applying non-conviction based procedures to reduce time spent in court. According to him, “We are using different mechanisms, including voluntary asset declaration process approved by President Buhari in Executive Order 008. In this way, we believe that if Nigerians or Nigerian entities come forward to declare their assets wherever located, the government will apply a levy against those assets and also bring the assets within the tax regime. We are also considering different ways to apply non-conviction based procedures in asset recovery to make it less cumbersome and to reduce the time spent in court. The focus of law enforcement should be to move towards contemporary developments in international law – one of which is to move against assets that are illicit with or without a criminal conviction, especially where there is a voluntary declaration, a plea bargain or where the person in question has absconded.” | Federal Govern,ment, Recovery of Stolen Assets | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2021/05/19/fg-considers-non-conviction-based-procedures-for-recovery-of-stolen-assets/ | |
| DailyTrust Online | Tuesday, May 18, 2021 | PDP Govs Ask Buhari, National Assembly To Devolve More Powers To States | Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have asked the National Assembly and President Muhammadu Buhari to work out strategies that would ensure the devolution of more powers to states. In a communiqué signed by Sokoto State Governor and Chairman of PDP Governors Forum, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal at the end of their meeting on Monday, May 17 in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, the governors asked President Buhari to summon a meeting of the Nigerian Police Council where state governors and other critical stakeholders would deliberate on issues of national interest. The governors also called on the National Assembly to expedite action on the passage of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill that would ensure a free and fair election, including provisions for electronic accreditation and electronic transmission of results. The meeting called on Mr President as the Chief Executive Officer of Nigeria and Commander-in-Chief of Nigerian Armed Forces to immediately send an Executive Bill to the National Assembly to amend the Nigerian Constitution to devolve more powers to the states with respect to security arrangements culminating in some form of state policing and the general security architecture. The meeting agreed that the police force still remains the appropriate institution to secure our democracy and should not be subjected to personal attacks, adding that the welfare, training, equipment, funding of all security agencies should be given priority. | PDP Governors, President Buhari | https://dailytrust.com/pdp-govs-ask-buhari-n-assembly-to-devolve-more-powers-to-states | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Tuesday, May 18, 2021 | EFCC Grills Ex-Kwara Gov, Ahmed, Over Alleged N9bn Fraud | The immediate past Governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, was interrogated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday, May 17 over allegation of N9 billion fraud. A source stated that the former governor was being grilled by a crack team of operatives at the headquarters of the EFCC in Jabi, Abuja. Ahmed was said to have arrived at the EFCC headquarters at about 10 am in response to the invitation extended to him by the agency. A source stated that, “For the past seven hours, he has been in the interrogation room, writing statements.” Though details of the case were still sketchy as at press time, the source stated that his arrest followed the alleged diversion of funds to the tune of about N9billion from the coffers of Kwara State Government during his tenure as governor of Kwara State between 2011 and 2019 and his time as commissioner for finance under the administration of former Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki. Spokesman of the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed that the former governor responded to the commission’s invitation but declined further comments. Ahmed was still being quizzed at the time of filing this report. | EFCC, Kwara State | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2021/05/18/efcc-grills-ex-kwara-gov-ahmed-over-alleged-n9bn-fraud/ | |
| DailyTrust Online | Tuesday, May 18, 2021 | Security Beefed Up After Attack On Enugu INEC Office | Heavily armed mobile police men have been deployed to barricade the head office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Enugu State where not less than eight vehicles were burnt, while six others were damaged during an attack on the office by some unidentified people. The latest attack on the INEC headquarters in Enugu which took place on Sunday, May 16 came few days after the office of the commission at Udenu Local Government Area of the state was razed by unknown hoodlums. Daily Trust reporter, who visited the Enugu office of INEC on Monday, observed that the arsonists attempted to burn the entire building but were stopped by security operatives who were swiftly drafted to assist those on duty. It was gathered that the attackers who were about 20 in a mini-bus stormed the premises of the commission located near Enugu State Broadcasting Service at Independence Layout Enugu. The State INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Emeka Ononamadu, who confirmed the incident, stated that some vehicles in the premises were affected but the office buildings were saved. Also, the National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voter Education Committee in INEC, Festus Okoye, stated that the unidentified persons overpowered the security personnel on duty and tried to set the entire building ablaze. He restated that the spate of attacks on the commission’s facilities portends danger to national electoral activities, adding that the commission will be holding an emergency meeting with the Resident Electoral Commissioners on Wednesday, 19th May, 2021. The Enugu State Police Command, which also confirmed the attack in a statement by its spokesman, Daniel Ndukwe, said that the attempt to set the building ablaze was stiffly resisted by joint security operatives. | INEC, Enugu State | https://dailytrust.com/security-beefed-up-after-attack-on-enugu-inec-office | |
| DailyTrust Online | Tuesday, May 18, 2021 | NLC Strike Grounds Kaduna As El-Rufai Remains Adamant | The first day of a 5-day warning strike embarked upon by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Kaduna State, recorded mass disruption of economic and social activities as banks, schools, hospitals, railways and other essential services remained shut. The state also recorded the second day of blackout on Monday, May 17 since electricity supply was cut off in the early hours of Sunday, May 16. The labour unions had declared the strike action as a way of compelling Governor Nasir El-Rufai to reverse the recent mass sack of civil servants in the state. Daily Trust reports that at least 14 affiliated unions of the NLC including the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), the National Union of Electricity Employees of Nigeria (NUEE), National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees (NUBIFIE), the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and the Nigeria Union of Railway Workers among others joined the procession of the strike, which started from the NLC secretariat in Kaduna at 7am chanted solidarity songs, displaying placards with various inscriptions. Addressing members of the unions at the NLC secretariat, the National President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, emphasised that there will be no retreat nor surrender by the organised labour to ensure their demands are acceded to by the governor. He states that, “The decision has been communicated to all security agencies of the government. It is the beginning of the struggle of labour and we hope our politicians will cooperate with us to ensure we protect our democracy by delivering its dividends to the citizens including workers.” Wabba disclosed that more than 90 per cent of Nigerians are living in abject poverty, which is why insecurity and other social vices have increased in the country. | Kaduna State, NLC, Governor el-Rufai | https://dailytrust.com/nlc-strike-grounds-kaduna-as-el-rufai-remains-adamant | |
| DailyTrust Online | Tuesday, May 18, 2021 | Plateau To Conduct LG Polls In October | The Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC) has announced that the state is set to conduct local government elections in October 2021. Fabian Ari Ntung, who is chairman of the commission disclosed this on Monday, May 17 in Jos, while briefing journalists and stakeholders of 18 political parties in the state. The chairman stated that the preparation for the conduct of the election followed the expiration of the tenure of the current chairmen and councilors of the 17 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the state. | Plateau State, Local Government Elections | https://dailytrust.com/plateau-to-conduct-lg-polls-in-october | |
| The Guardian Newspaper | Monday, May 17, 2021 | Ogun APC Plans Consensus, Direct, Indirect Primaries for Council Poll | The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State has stated that it will adopt consensus, direct and indirect primaries to choose its chairmanship and councillorship candidates for the forthcoming local council elections in the state. Publicity Secretary of the State Caretaker Committee of the party, Tunde Oladunjoye, disclosed this to newsmen shortly after the party’s stakeholders’ meeting, held at the weekend inside the Presidential Lodge, Abeokuta, the state capital. According to him, the party, having agreed on consensus names with party leaders for positions in some local councils, would then activate either the direct or indirect primaries for other local councils that could not arrive at an agreement for a consensus candidate. Oladunjoye, who stated that the meeting was to ensure that none of the contestants in the elections spend money unnecessarily, also said that the party had been able to come up with solutions to multiple candidates in some local councils. He added that the ruling party would ensure that the election is free and fair, noting that the party’s primaries would not be held in secret like it was done in the past. He, however, disclosed that the process of reaching consensus on the candidates had already started, saying lists of agreed candidates would be made available during the week. | Ogun State, Local Government Elections | https://guardian.ng/politics/ogun-apc-plans-consensus-direct-indirect-primaries-for-council-poll/ | |
| The Guardian Newspaper | Monday, May 17, 2021 | Olujimi Tasks Ekiti PDP Leaders on Reconciliation | The lawmaker representing Ekiti South Senatorial District at the Senate, Chief Biodun Olujimi, at the weekend, urged the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to take urgent steps to reconcile all contending caucuses and groups in the Ekiti state chapter of the party or forget winning 2022 governorship of the state. Olujimi, who noted that the party has no luxury of time as parties participating in the governorship election ought to have conducted primary elections, warned that unless the leadership begins the process of reconciliation immediately after the Sallah holidays, any attempt to delay further might rob the party of winning the election. The former Senate Minority Leader spoke in Omuo-Ekiti in Ekiti East Local Council while distributing fertilisers and herbicides to farmers in Ekiti South Senatorial District, as well as commissioning blocks of classrooms, saying that the PDP national leadership was aware of the importance of reconciling the factions of the party ahead of the 2022 poll. | Senator Biodun Olujimi, PDP | https://guardian.ng/news/olujimi-tasks-pdp-leaders-on-reconciliation/ | |
| DailyTrust Online | Monday, May 17, 2021 | PDP Govs Meet Over Insecurity, Economy, Others | Governors elected on the platform of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) are meeting in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, the Director General of the PDP Governors Forum (PGF), Cyril Maduabum, has stated. Maduabum said in a statement on Sunday, May 16, stated that the meeting would be presided over by the Chairman of the forum and governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal. He also stated that the governors would review the state of the nation, especially issues of security and the economy, as well as “fine-tune strategies to support PDP as a viable and necessary alternative to the ruling APC-led administration.” He further stated that all the PDP governors were expected at the meeting as the party’s National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, and the Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT), Senator Walid Jibrin, would deliver addresses. Recall that the PDP governors held a similar meeting recently in Makurdi, the Benue State capital. | PDP Governors, Insecurity | https://dailytrust.com/pdp-govs-meet-over-insecurity-economy-others | |
| Punch Newspaper | Monday, May 17, 2021 | Convention: APC Members Demand Immediate Release of Timetable | Supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC), under the aegis of Concerned APC Members, have urged the party leadership to immediately release the timetable and guidelines for congresses. The spokesman for the group, Abdullahi Dauda, stated this in a telephone interview with Sunday PUNCH, in Abuja, on Saturday, May 15. He stated that the Caretaker / Extraordinary National Convention Planning Committee (CENCPC) owes a duty to itself and party members to expedite action on releasing the timetable to enable those interested in party offices across board to prepare. Dauda stated thus: “We expect that by now, the timetable and guidelines for ward and local government congresses should be out for those who are interested in party positions to begin campaigns. We cannot afford a fire brigade approach because this committee was given one year to organise this convention and you cannot have an elective convention like this one without congresses to elect delegates. As we speak in Bauchi State, there are up to 12 people interested in becoming the state party chairman. In Jigawa, there are more than six people. There should be a timetable so that the sale of forms and campaigns can start.” In response to a question on whether the upcoming Anambra State governorship primaries will not interfere with the process, Dauda stated, “Not at all. We have competent party members who can handle that. The CENCPC does not need to be there.” When contacted, the Party's National Secretary, Senator John Akpanudoedehe, declined comments on the issue of the timetable. | APC, National Convention | https://punchng.com/convention-apc-members-demand-immediate-release-of-timetable/ | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Monday, May 17, 2021 | Kaduna Thrown into Darkness as NLC Begins Strike | The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) on Sunday, May 16 confirmed the shutting down of its operations in Kaduna state, throwing the state into total darkness. The Federal Government-owned company noted that it was compelled to comply with the warning strike action called by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) after an analysis of apparent threats to its power assets in the state. In a statement by the General Manager, Public Affairs of the company, Mrs. Ndidi Mbah, made available in Abuja on Sunday, May 16, while apologising for the blackout, she noted that the TCN had turned down earlier demands for a shutdown, but noted that it later caved in to protect its assets from being compromised which will affect nationwide power supply. Earlier, aviation workers had declared withdrawal of services from the Kaduna International Airport (KIA) effective Sunday (May 16) midnight in solidarity with the striking workers. The workers, under the aegis of the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP) and National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), stated that the airport would remain shut for the period of the warning strike. The NLC, Kaduna State Council, recently declared a five-day warning strike starting from midnight of yesterday, May 16, 2021, to protest the sack of over 4,000 workers by the state government. Chairman of the labour union in the state, Ayuba Suleiman, maintained that due process was not observed in the disengagement of the workers from the local government service, State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and the primary health care agency. On the implication of the shutdown, TCN stated that the action caused by the ongoing industrial action resulted in the interruption of bulk electricity supply within the state early in the morning. | Kaduna State, NLC, Strike | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2021/05/17/kaduna-thrown-into-darkness-as-nlc-begins-strike/ | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Monday, May 17, 2021 | Eight Southern States Set to Enact Anti-Open Grazing Law | Following the resolution of the 17 governors of the Southern states banning open grazing of cattle in the three geopolitical zones in the South, no fewer than eight states are now set to enact anti-open grazing law to give legislative backing to the governors’ pronouncement. Some of these states include: Akwa Ibom, Ondo, Enugu, Edo, Imo, Ogun, Delta and Anambra, This is coming as the apex Igbo sociopolitical organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo and the southern states’ legislatures have declared their support for the resolutions of the 17 southern governors on open grazing and restructuring. THISDAY, however, gathered that states that already have the anti-open grazing law in place are facing challenges of implementation due to lack of commitment of the Police to enforce the law. The affected states include: Ekiti, Abia, Ebonyi, Oyo and Bayelsa. In Ekiti State, the anti-grazing law was enacted as: “Prohibition of Cattle and Other Ruminants Grazing Law 2016”. However, the Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Hon. Funminiyi Afuye, told THISDAY that the Federal Government’s recalcitrant posture on the creation of State police was stalling the enforcement of the state’s Anti-Open Grazing Law. | Southern States, Anti-Open Grazing Law | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2021/05/17/eight-southern-states-set-to-enact-anti-open-grazing-law/ | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Tuesday, May 11, 2021 | FG Reintroduces COVID-19 Restrictions, Closes Bars, Recreational Centres | The Federal Government has reintroduced COVID-19 restrictions across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with effect from the midnight of today, Tuesday, May 11. Under the new restrictions, the Federal Government has shut bars, recreational centres, set limits to public gatherings and also introduced the nationwide curfew from 12 a.m to 4 a.m. The National Incident Manager of the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 (PSC), Dr. Mukhtar Muhammed announced the new measures as contained in the new guidelines on Phase Four of Ease of Lockdown. Speaking at the PSC media briefing in Abuja on Monday, May 10, he stated that the Federal Government embarked on the new measures as a response to the concern about the non-compliance to public health and social measures contained in the Health Protection Regulation of 2021. He urged citizens to refrain from non-essential movements relevant guidance. The PSC also advised that only essential travels are encouraged for international and domestic travels, while travellers are to abide by all existing protocols. He stressed that each state government had been advised to set up a mobile tribunal for the prosecution of violators, while security agents were empowered to make arrests for violations under the Health Protection Regulations. Under the new guidelines, the PSC said it would maintain restriction on mass gathering outside work settings with no more than 50 people allowed in any enclosed place. While government stated that it would continue to maintain restrictions on the resumption of work for the government staff on GL 12 and below, The guidelines will also limit government meetings to virtual platformS as much as possible, while maintaining restrictions on physical meetings including official trips, oversight visits and board meetings. Event centres, bars and night clubs shall remain closed until further notice, while all recreational facilities, gyms and indoor facilities are to close until June 11 when the situation would be reviewed. | Federal government, COVID-19 Restrictions | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2021/05/11/fg-reintroduces-covid-19-restrictions-closes-bars-recreational-centres/ | |
| DailyTrust Online | Tuesday, May 11, 2021 | INEC Relocates 1,112 Polling Units In Anambra | There is furore in Anambra State following the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to relocate 1,112 polling units from shrines, traditional rulers' houses, churches and houses of political office holders, among others in the state. The Anambra State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr. Nkwachukwu Orji, disclosed this on Monday, May 10 during a stakeholders’ meeting on expansion of voter access to polling units in Anambra, held in Awka, the state capital. Orji stated that the 1,112 polling units would be relocated to provide legitimacy to the electoral process. However, the announcement has received heavy criticism from the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state and the special adviser to the state governor on Political Matters, Mr. Ifatu Obiokoye. Orji argued that polling units situated in inappropriate places hinder electorate’s access to voting during elections. According to him, “Those polling units in such inappropriate places are not good for our elections. Most times, people see them as personal polling units. We want to make the polling units accessible to all voters.” He added that the commission would also increase the number of polling units in the state from 4,608 to 5,720 to give access to more voters. Reacting to this, chairman of the Anambra State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Ndubisi Nwobu, and Special Adviser to Governor Willie Obiano on Political Matters, Mr. Ifatu Obiokoye, berated INEC, saying the decision was taken without seeking input from stakeholders in the state. They argued that if INEC had consulted them, they would have made useful inputs since they were active partners in the electoral process. | Anambra State, INEC, Polling Units | https://dailytrust.com/inec-relocates-1112-polling-units-from-shrines-others-in-anambra | |
| The Guardian Newspaper | Tuesday, May 11, 2021 | IPAC to Monitor 18 Political Party Primaries, Begin Voter Education in Anambra | The Inter-party Advisory Council (IPAC) in Anambra State, led by Chief Uche Ugwoji, has stated that the Council would monitor the primary elections of 18 political parties that will contest the November 6, 2021 governorship election in the state. Ugwoji, who disclosed this in an interview with The Guardian in Awka, the state capital, on Monday, May 10, stated that IPAC’s involvement in monitoring the primaries was to ensure that a level-playing ground was given to all aspirants to emerge as flagbearers of their parties through a transparent process. He also pointed out that the council had concluded arrangements to organise a seminar and voter education for the purpose of enlightening the political parties and their candidates on better ways to conduct violence-free, fair and credible primaries to produce party flagbearers without the involvement of cultists and thugs. According to him, the exercise would help to provide the contenders with a forum to showcase and sell their manifestos to the voters to sway their opinions and votes. | Anambra State Governorship Election, IPAC | https://guardian.ng/politics/ipac-to-monitor-18-political-party-primaries-begin-voter-education/ | |
| DailyTrust Online | Tuesday, May 11, 2021 | DailyTrust Online | The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is set to convert 4,861 voting points in Lagos into polling units. This would bring the number of polling units in the state to 13,325. The state has 6.5 million registered voters. The State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Sam Olumekun, disclosed this at the election stakeholders’ meeting attended by representatives of political parties, on Monday, May 10. The state presently has 8,464 polling units. The new polling units are distributed across the 20 local governments in the state with Alimosho, the most populated local government in the state, getting the largest share of 844 followed by Eti-Osa with 430 and Ifako Ijaiye having 426 new polling units. Addressing a press conference after the meeting, the Resident Electoral Commissioner stated that attempts by the commission to expand voters' access to polling units through the creation of new ones have always been unsuccessful “principally due to politicization of the process by sundry interests who propagate unfounded claims and conspiracy theories about the commission's Intentions.” He added that, “Also, the level of consultation with stakeholders by the commission may not have been adequate, thereby heightening the suspicion of the electorate about the exercise. Despite the resistance often encountered, the commission has overtime resorted to stop-gap measures such as creation of 'Baby polling units', voting points and voting points settlement.” | Lagos State, INEC, Polling Units | https://dailytrust.com/inec-converts-4861-voting-points-to-polling-units-in-lagos | |
| The Guardian Newspaper | Tuesday, May 11, 2021 | INEC Summons Emergency Meeting, As Hoodlums Raze Abia Office | Following continuous attacks on its facilities, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has summoned a meeting with security agencies next week to find a lasting solution to the disturbing trend. The development came as the commission’s recently renovated office in Ohafia Local Council of Abia State was set ablaze by hoodlums on Sunday, May 9. Barely a week ago, hoodlums had burnt down the commission’s office in Essien Udim Local Council of Akwa Ibom State, destroying 345 ballot boxes, including 135 voting cubicles, megaphones, water tanks and office furniture. In a statement on on Monday, May 10, National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee of INEC, Festus Okoye stated that that though there were no casualties from the attack on the commission’s Abia office, the building was destroyed. He expressed concern over the impact of such attacks on electoral activities, including the ongoing expansion of voter access to polling units, resumption of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR), pending by-elections, end-of-tenure elections and ultimately the 2023 general election. He stated that, “The latest incident in Abia is one too many. This is not the first attack on the commission’s facilities in the state in recent times. On December 13, 2020, INEC’s local council office in Aba South was completely burnt down, while that of Arochukwu was vandalised in October 2020. These facilities are national assets, which must be protected. Accordingly, the commission is convening an emergency meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) next week to discuss this disturbing trend.” Okoye assured Nigerians that all activities in relation to the ongoing expansion of voter access to polling units and preparation for the resumption of CVR, as well as all scheduled elections, would proceed as planned. | INEC, Abia State, ICCES | https://guardian.ng/news/inec-summons-emergency-meeting-as-hoodlums-raze-abia-office/ | |
| DailyTrust Online | Monday, May 10, 2021 | Senate Panel Uncovers N2trn Revenue Fraud | The Senate Committee on Finance has revealed that about N2 trillion revenue may have been trapped with Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government or misappropriated. The committee, chaired by Senator Solomon Adeola, is probing revenue remittances by over 700 MDAs between 2014-2020 and payment of 1% Stamp Duty on all contract awards by the MDAs within the same period. Speaking over the weekend when the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, alongside other officials appeared before the committee, Adeola stated that the panel’s weeks-long investigation revealed that many agencies committed all manner of illegalities relating to the expenditure of government funds that should rightly be paid into the Consolidated Revenue Fund. He stated tht most of the MDAs abused the concept of operating surpluses, to shortchange the government, as well as relying on ministerial circulars over and above the Constitution and FRA 2007 as passed by the National Assembly. He also criticised the Office of Accountant-General of the Federation for not being firm on collecting the operational surplus from those agencies. According to Adeola, “The reconciliation done so far by the Office of Accountant General of the Federation is in excess of over a trillion naira going to like N2trillion thereabout and these monies are still hanging in the hands of these agencies. We’ve asked Office of Accountant General what they are doing to get the money into the government coffers. We discovered that they’re giving them a payment notice without necessarily following up this process. We’ve noticed that the so-called 80% of operational surplus we’re referenced to, many of these agencies proved frivolous expenditure and they’ve taken advantage of the current system and refused to remit this amount as at when due.” | Senate Committee on Finance | https://dailytrust.com/senate-panel-uncovers-n2trn-revenue-fraud | |
| DailyTrust Online | Monday, May 10, 2021 | Fresh Crisis In Lagos PDP Over LG Polls | A fresh crisis is brewing in the Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the release of guidelines for the conduct of the forthcoming local government elections by the State Chairman of the party, Engr Deji Doherty. Engr Doherty who has been in a running battle with most of his colleagues in the State Working Committee (SWC), leading to his suspension recently, released the guidelines on Friday, May 7. It would be recalled that the State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) had released the timetable for the elections scheduled to hold on Saturday, July 24, 2021. Amid the lingering internal strife in the State PDP, the party Chairman released the guidelines which, it was learnt, did not go down well with most of the executive members who said they were not carried along. A member of the State Executive of the party said the timetable was unilaterally planned and released by the Chairman without the input of other executive members. It was further learnt that the other factions of the party opposed to Doherty may counter the embattled Chairman this week over the release of the guidelines. | Lagos State, Local Government | https://dailytrust.com/fresh-crisis-in-lagos-pdp-over-lg-polls | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Monday, May 10, 2021 | FG, Governors Table Revenue-Sharing Model to End Financial Autonomy Dispute | The Federal Government and governors of the 36 states of the Federation have agreed on a revenue-sharing formula to resolve the raging dispute over the full implementation of financial autonomy for state judiciaries and legislatures. If the agreement is accepted by judicial and parliamentary workers, who have been on a strike for over one month to press home their demands for financial autonomy for the two arms of government in the 36 states of the Federation, funds from the Federation Account due to each state are to be jointly shared among the executive, legislature and judiciary in each state. The new proposal, which was given to the leadership of both the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) and Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) at a conciliatory meeting last Thursday, May 6 in Abuja, seeks to replicate the Federal revenue-sharing structure in the states. THISDAY gathered that under the new template, the governors will establish, within 45 days of the agreement, States Accounts Allocation Committee (SAAC) to share revenues among the executive, the judiciary and the legislature, the same way the Federal Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) shares revenue between the federal, states and local government councils. The proposal also stipulates that the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF) will invoke Executive Order 10 against any state that fails to abide by the terms of the agreement. A source in the Presidency told THISDAY at the weekend that among the new offers made to the judiciary and legislative workers by the federal and state governments was a reassurance that state governors are committed to implementing full financial autonomy for the two arms of government. | Financial Autonomy, Revenue-Sharing Formula | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2021/05/10/fg-govs-table-revenue-sharing-model-to-end-financial-autonomy-dispute/ | |
| The Guardian Newspaper | Monday, May 10, 2021 | Stop the Bleeding, Carnage, 127 CSOs Tell Buhari | A coalition of 127 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) under the Joint Action Civil Society Coalition/Nigeria Mourns through its Secretariat on Sunday, May 9 petitioned President Muhammadu Buhari to, as a matter of urgency, stop the escalating insecurity in the country. They further raised alarm that the first quarter of 2021 has witnessed all-time high fatalities and atrocious incidences across the country. The petition titled ‘State of the Nation: A call to President Muhamamdu Buhari to Stop the Bleeding and Take Action to End carnage', called on the President to rise up to his duties, while urging all Nigerians to register their displeasure with the state of affairs across the country by participating in a series of mass actions from May 26, to commemorate the 4th National Day of Mourning and Remembrance of Victims of Mass Atrocities on May 28 and further boycott all Democracy Day activities on May 29, in protest of the deplorable state of insecurity in the country. The statement reads in part: “Following a sharp increase of 43 per cent in mass atrocities, Nigeria has continued to experience a decline in security across the nation. In the first quarter of 2021 (January to March), we recorded an all-time quarterly high of almost 2,000 fatalities from mass atrocities incidents across the country. Last week, across the six geopolitical zones, there were escalated combustions of violence resulting in even more deaths. In our last joint statement issued in February 2021, we had catalogued the assortment of mass atrocities plaguing the country. We had also demanded that where the President fails to fulfil his constitutional duties, that he steps aside, or, that the National Assembly initiates impeachment proceedings against him on grounds of gross misconduct as provided for in Section 143 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria." Some of the CSOs under the network include: #DoNigeriaRight, Action Aid, Baobab for Women’s Human Rights, Bimbo Odukoya Foundation (BOF), Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), West Africa, Centre for Human Rights & Civic Education (CHRICED), Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Connected Development (CODE), Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), Enough is Enough (EiE) Nigeria, Justice for Peace and Development Initiative (JPDI), Legal Defence and Assistance Project (LEDAP) and Nigerian Feminist Forum. | Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), President Muhamamdu Buhari | https://guardian.ng/news/stop-the-bleeding-carnage-or-resign-127-csos-tell-buhari/ | |
| Punch Newspaper | Monday, May 10, 2021 | Remove Petrol Subsidy, Economic Council tells Buhari, Warns States | The Presidential Economic Advisory Council has asked the President, Muhammadu Buhari, to remove subsidy on petrol and adopt a pricing regime that reflects the cost of the commodity. Buhari had in 2019 set up the council chaired by Prof. Doyin Salami to replace the regime’s defunct Economic Management Team led by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo. The council, charged with the responsibility of advising the President on economic policy matters including fiscal analysis, economic growth and a range of internal and global economic issues, working with the relevant cabinet members and heads of monetary and fiscal agencies, reports directly to Buhari. Its advice that petrol subsidy be removed formed part of its presentation at its sixth regular meeting with the President last Friday, May 7, when it also warned that the subsidy regime would worsen solvency of state governments. According to the document presented at the meeting, a copy of which was obtained by The PUNCH, the council drew Buhari’s attention to three issues that it said required urgent attention. They include the need for policy clarity with regard to fuel subsidies, which it said would help resolve the dilemma which rising crude oil prices present; the worsening security environment which it said had adversely affected food production leading to higher prices; and the need for the Petroleum Industry Bill to encourage investment in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector. | Presidential Economic Advisory Council, Fuel Subsidy | https://punchng.com/remove-petrol-subsidy-economic-council-tells-buhari-warns-states/ | |
| The Guardian Newspaper | Thursday, May 6, 2021 | Southern Governors Convene Emergency Meeting Over Insecurity | The Southern Nigeria Governors' Forum convened an emergency meeting to discuss the state of the nation. The umbrella body of the 17 State Chief Executives in the southern part of the country, The Guardian learnt, met virtually on Tuesday, May 4, at the instance of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, Ifeanyi Okowa and David Umahi of Ondo, Delta and Ebonyi States, respectively. The conveners are chairmen of South West, South South and South East Governors’ Forums. Fifteen 15 of the 17 governors participated. They included Ekiti State Governor and Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Okowa (Delta), Umahi (Ebonyi), Godwin Obaseki (Edo), and Lolo Cecilia Ezeilo (Deputy Governor of Enugu representing her principal). Others were Douye Diri (Bayelsa), Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Hope Uzodimma (Imo), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Gboyega Oyetola (Osun), Seyi Makinde (Oyo) and Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos). The governors, while canvassing commitment and unity in addressing issues that affect the country, particularly Southern Nigeria, stressed the need to put the nation first in these trying times. Though the full outcome of the meeting was sketchy at press time, it was, however, gathered that they resolved to meet in Asaba next week to harmonise positions with a view to dousing the tension in the land. | Southern Governors, Emergency Meeting, Insecurity | https://guardian.ng/news/southern-governors-convene-emergency-meeting-over-insecurity/ | |
| The Guardian Newspaper | Thursday, May 6, 2021 | NLC Rejects Planned Reduction in Salaries of Workers | Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has rejected the Federal Government’s plan of downward review of salaries and emoluments of workers. President of the Congress, Ayuba Wabba, in a statement in Abuja, on Wednesay, May 5, decried the statement credited to the Minister of Finance and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, that the Federal Government was working to reduce the high cost of governance by cutting down on the salaries of Nigerian workers. Labour was also irked by the minister’s directive to the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) to immediately review the salaries of civil servants, as well as the number of federal agencies in the country. NLC stated that it was almost unthinkable that the government would be contemplating unilaterally slashing salaries of Nigerian workers at this time. According to Wabba, “The question to ask is: which salary is the government planning to slash? It certainly cannot be the meagre national minimum wage of N30,000, which, right now, cannot even buy a bag of rice!" NLC observed that the devaluation of the Naira and the rising inflation have put Nigerian workers’ lives at risk, which seems not grave enough to bother the government across board. It added that the call for salary slash by Ahmed “is tantamount to a mass suicide” wish for Nigerian workers," adding: “It is most uncharitable, most insensitive, most dehumanising and most barbaric. Nigerian workers demand an immediate retraction and apology by the Minister of Finance.” NLC urged President Muhammadu Buhari to caution the minister now before she sets Nigeria on fire with her “careless” statements. “If there is any salary that needs serious slashing, it is the humungous remuneration and allowances pocketed by political office holders in Nigeria who do very little but collect so much!" | Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Salaries | https://guardian.ng/news/nlc-rejects-planned-reduction-in-salaries-of-workers/ | |
| DailyTrust Online | Thursday, May 6, 2021 | Bayelsa APC Splits, As Faction Opens Parallel Secretariat | The crisis rocking the Bayelsa State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) deepened on Wednesday, May 5, as a faction led by the Ebierien Fala Itubor-led opened a parallel secretariat in Yenagoa. According to the Deputy Chairman of the faction, Ogeibiri Orubebe, the Amos Jothan-led executive of the party was first suspended from office before they were sacked by the directive of the President last year. The faction also accused the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, who is also the leader of the party in the State of allegedly failing in his leadership role. The parallel secretariat, which is located at Dimrose junction, occupies a building used by former Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, during the 2019 governorship election. Chief Timipre Sylva and Senator Heineken Lokpobiri who were political allies fell apart in the build-up to the last governorship election in the State, when Sylva supported Chief David Lyon instead of Lokpobiri. The State Publicity Secretary of APC, Mr Doifie Buokoribo, stated that those claiming to be new executives of the party in Bayelsa were impostors and desperate politicians who wanted to score cheap political points. | Bayelsa State, All Progressives Congress (APC) | https://dailytrust.com/bayelsa-apc-splits-as-faction-opens-parallel-secretariat | |
| The Guardian Newspaper | Thursday, May 6, 2021 | Nigerian Media at Risk for Holding Government Accountable, Says NUJ | President of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Chris Isiguzo, has decried the risk journalists face in their professional duties. Isiguzo, during a virtual event organised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in Kano, to mark the World Press Freedom Day, stated that Nigerian media are still operating under the threat of intimidation. The 2021 celebration came when the global community is still battling with the dreaded Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), he said, lamenting that hundreds of Nigerian journalists had lost their jobs. The NUJ President expressed concern that despite the challenges the media face, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) was still frustrating the broadcasting industry with stiff regulations. He explained that the Nigerian media remained an integral part of democracy, maintaining that the country’s “survival relies on free press” devoid of intimidation. In his contribution, Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), CP Frank Mba, insisted that the media and police were partners in ensuring a peaceful society. Mba appealed to the media to support the police in de-escalating misinformation in the interest of the public. The FPRO reassured the media that the police would continue to protect their rights to ensure conducive working environment for journalists in the country. | Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) | https://guardian.ng/news/nigerian-media-at-risk-for-holding-govt-accountable-says-nuj/ | |
| The Guardian Newspaper | Thursday, May 6, 2021 | Ogun Fixes Council Elections for July 24 | The Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC) has fixed Saturday, July 24, 2021 as the date for the much-awaited Local Council elections in the 20 Council Areas of the State. OGSIEC Chairman, Mr. Babatunde Osibodu, who disclosed this on Wedneday, May 5 during a stakeholders’ meeting to flag off political activities for the poll, held at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Abeokuta, stated that an adjustment had been made to the recently-released timetable, to among other things, enable political parties and other interest groups have ample time to prepare for the forthcoming poll. | Ogun State, Local Government Elections | https://guardian.ng/news/ogun-fixes-council-election-for-july-24/ | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Wednesday, May 5, 2021 | INEC Begins Verification of New Polling Centres | The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday, May 4, commenced a nationwide verification exercise for centres designated as voting units to be converted to polling units across the country. The INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed this when he visited some of the proposed centres and existing polling units in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Nasarawa State. Yakubu, while speaking with journalists at the commission’s Local Government office in Karu, Nasarawa State, during the tour, stated that the purpose of the verification exercise was to ensure that the right thing is done in the conversion of the voting points to polling units. According to him, “All the National Commissioners are out visiting the states of the Federation to verify the work of converting the voting points to polling units. So, we decided from the headquarters to visit some of the polling units and voting points in the FCT and also in the Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State. We have done that of FCT. We are now in Karu. You will recall that as part of our engagement with stakeholders, we showed images of one of the congested polling units in the country from Karu. So, I have to verify that the right thing is done in converting those voting points to polling units and relocating them in line with the commission’s guidelines. So far, it is work in progress. At the end of the exercise, we will address the media.” The INEC chairman also stated that he had been informed that 395 voting points were being converted to polling units in Karu LGA. | INEC, Polling Units, Voting Points, Conversion | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2021/05/05/inec-begins-verification-of-new-polling-centres/ | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Wednesday, May 5, 2021 | President Orders Review of FG’s Payrolls to Cut Costs | The Federal Government has initiated a raft of measures to cut the cost of governance in the face of dwindling revenue occasioned by the headwinds of the COVID-19 pandemic and the attendant global economic tailspin. Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, stated on Tuesday, May 4 in Abuja, that the measures were targeted at reducing recurrent expenditure, which is projected to gulp about 41.5 per cent of the total provisions of N13.588 trillion in the 2021 budget, amounting to N5.64 trillion. She stated that President Muhammadu Buhari had directed the Salaries and Wages Committee to review the payroll of public servants, as well as consider the merger of some agencies. Furthermore, the government will also remove some unnecessary items from the budget as a move to cut the cost of governance. Ahmed spoke at a policy dialogue on ‘Corruption and Cost of Governance in Nigeria,’ organised by the Independent Corrupt Practice and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). Also at the occasion, the Director-General, Budget Office, Mr. Ben Akabueze, proposed a constitutional amendment to pave the way for the restructuring of the country into six regions instead of the present 36 states structure. This, he said, would help to reduce the rising cost of governance. Ahmed stated that the proposed cost-saving measures were aimed at streamlining government expenditure with revenue. | Federal Government, Cost of Governance | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2021/05/05/president-orders-review-of-fgs-payrolls-to-cut-costs/ | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Wednesday, May 5, 2021 | Presidency Accuses Religious, Political Leaders of Plot to Overthrow Buhari | The Presidency on Tuesday, May 4, accused some religious and political leaders of plotting to forcibly remove President Muhammadu Buhari from office, warning that it would thwart the moves and ruffle some unruly feathers in the process. The Presidency, however, came under heavy criticism as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); the pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere; the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), in separate reactions dismissed the allegation. The main opposition party, PDP described the allegation as a resort to blackmail in the face of the failure of the Buhari administration. The party added that rather than live up to the responsibilities of office by taking charge and securing the nation, the Presidency was engaging in frivolous allegations against Nigerians. Afenifere said Buhari had lost control of the country’s leadership, adding that nobody needs to pass a vote of no confidence in him before the world knows that he has failed Nigerians. The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said in a statement that available evidence indicated that some disgruntled religious and past political leaders are poised to throw the country into a tailspin, which would compel an undemocratic change of leadership. Adesina’s statement came a day after the Department of State Services (DSS) alleged that some “misguided elements” were threatening Nigeria’s unity and peaceful co-existence. DSS spokesman, Dr. Peter Afunanya, in a statement on Monday, May 3 had said that among those threatening the Federal Government and Nigeria’s unity are “some religious and past political leaders who have either called for a forceful change of government or mass action against it.” The Presidency in a reaction to the DSS on Tuesday, May 4, said there is proof that the disruptive elements are now recruiting the leadership of some ethnic groups and politicians round the country, with the intention of convening some sort of a conference, where a vote of no confidence would be passed on the President, thus throwing the land into turmoil. | Presidency, Religious and Political Leaders | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2021/05/05/presidency-accuses-religious-political-leaders-of-plot-to-overthrow-buhari/ | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Wednesday, May 5, 2021 | Senate Committee Gives CCT Chairman Two Weeks to Respond to Assault Allegation | The Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, on Tuesday, May 4, gave the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Mr. Danladi Umar, two weeks to respond to a petition levelled against him over alleged assault of one Mr. Clement Sagwak, a security guard. Sagwak had petitioned the Senate, alleging that he was assaulted by Umar and a policeman attached to him after he informed him (Umar) that his car was wrongly parked at Banex Plaza, Wuse 2, Abuja, on March 29. He stated that the CCT Chairman slapped him severally and forced him to kneel down while undergoing his lawful activities. The CCT chairman, however, claimed that the video in circulation did not reveal the true situation of what happened. He argued that the video captured only an aspect of the incident and left out the part where he was molested. Umar, who appeared before the Senate Committee on Tuesday, May 4, asked the panel to give him one week to study the petition, which he said was just served on him. This, he said, was to enable him respond appropriately. Chairman of the Committee, Senator Ayo Akinyelure, asked the CCT chairman to reappear before the panel in two weeks’ time. Akinyelure stated that even though the Senate would proceed on a two- weeks break on Thursday, May 6, the Committee was prepared to reconvene during the break to hear Umar. | Danladi Umar, Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2021/05/05/senate-committee-gives-cct-chairman-two-weeks-to-respond-to-assault-allegation/ | |
| The Guardian Newspaper | Wednesday, May 5, 2021 | Lagos Assembly Suspends Three Council Chairmen | Lagos State House of Assembly, on Tuesday, May 4, suspended three Local Government Chairmen over alleged disregard for the guidelines governing their activities. The affected chairmen are Mr. Ogidan Mukandasi Olaitan of Lekki Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Suleiman Jelili of Alimosho Local Council and Tajudeen Ajide of Surulere Local Council. The House said it could no longer continue to watch while the Chairmen flout the State’s Council guidelines. Their suspension was unanimously approved by members of the House in a voice-vote with no opposition shortly after Bisi Yusuff, representing Alimosho Consituency I, raised a complaint against Olaitan. Yusuff, who is the Chairman of the House Committee on Commerce and Industry, told the Assembly that the suspended Lekki LCDA Chairman arrogantly told some lawmakers that they were ignorant of their jobs while they (the lawmakers) were carrying out an oversight function on a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in relation to the issue that arose from a resettlement programme in Lekki. | Lagos State House of Assembly, Council Chairmen | https://guardian.ng/news/lagos-assembly-suspends-three-council-chairmen/ | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Tuesday, May 4, 2021 | FG Moves to Curb Small Arms Influx, Establishes Control Centre | The Federal Government on Monday, May 4, intensified its efforts to curb the rising influx of small arms and light weapons into the country, a phenomenon believed to be responsible for the worsening insecurity in the polity. It established the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons. A statement on the same day by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and signed by Head, Strategic Communication, Mr. Zachari Usman, said the centre would be headed by Maj. Gen. A.M. Dikko (rtd) as pioneer coordinator. The new centre which will be domiciled in the Office of the National Security Adviser, would replace the defunct Presidential Committee on Small Arms and Light Weapons and serve as the institutional mechanism for policy guidance, research and monitoring of all aspects of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) in Nigeria. As part of efforts to finetune strategy at combating insecurity, the National Security Council (NSC), headed by President Muhammadu Buhari, will reconvene today in Abuja to proffer lasting solutions to the security challenges facing the country. | National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons, Office of the National Security Adviser | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2021/05/04/fg-moves-to-curb-small-arms-influx-establishes-control-centre/ | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Tuesday, May 4, 2021 | PDP Demands State Police, Power Devolution, Border Protection Council | The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday, May 4 advocated the creation of state police, border protection council and devolution of powers to address the spike in insecurity in the country. In a speech titled: ‘Nigeria must not fail,’ read at a world press conference in Abuja, the National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, stated that the main opposition party also recommended the immediate upscaling of the personnel strength of the military and paramilitary organisations, as well as the provisions of the kinetic instruments of war and law enforcement. He stated thus: “Our armed forces should be adequately equipped and their welfare a top priority.” The party stated that efforts should be made towards partnering foreign governments and miscellaneous entities to help Nigeria combat insecurity. Prince Secondus further stated that, “The situation in our country is not normal and exceptional steps should be taken to restore it to normalcy. The PDP, as a body, is willing to give a helping hand in this direction.” The PDP called for the establishment of state police, as well as the deployment of technology in the fight against terror, banditry, and other crimes. The party also demanded that all culprits should be brought to book, stressing that the apparent failure of intelligence to track attacks by bandits and follow up on them was a clear failure of the intelligence community. It recommended that the states where matters of national security challenges originated or exists should be invited to the National Security Council meeting for deliberation and problem-solving interactions. | PDP, World Press Conference | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2021/05/04/pdp-demands-state-police-power-devolution-border-protection-council/ | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Tuesday, May 4, 2021 | Saraki: PDP will Mount Pressure on Buhari to Rescue Nigeria from Insecurity | A former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has stated that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would put pressure on the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to rescue the country from insecurity. Addressing a press conference at the PDP national secretariat in Abuja on Monday, May 4, Saraki stated that the opposition party would continue to proffer solutions to insecurity and other challenges confronting the country. The former Senate President stated that pressure, through constitutional means, would yield results that the citizens yearn for. According to Saraki, “We, the opposition party, will continue to play our own role in letting the government be aware of lapses and continue to put pressure through constitutional means in telling them what they need to do. So, we will not get tired. When you see changes in the world, it has gone through constitutional means. It might look like a long journey but the truth will prevail and the right thing will be done. When we talk about security, it is not about political parties. It affects all Nigerians. That responsibility of government is to all of us as Nigerians.” | Bukola Saraki, PDP, Insecurity | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2021/05/04/saraki-pdp-will-mount-pressure-on-buhari-to-rescue-nigeria-from-insecurity/ | |
| ThisDayLive Online | Tuesday, May 4, 2021 | FG Extends NIN-SIM Linkage to June 30, as Enrolment Hits 54m | The Federal Government has approved the extension of the deadline for National Identity Number (NIN)-SIM data verification from May 6 to June 30, 2021. The decision to extend the deadline was reached at a virtual meeting chaired by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ibrahim Pantami, which was attended by the Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Adeolu Akande; the Executive Vice-Chairman/CEO of NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Dambatta; and the Director-General/CEO of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Aliyu Azeez. The recent extension, which is the sixth since December 2020, when the directive for NIN-SIM integration exercise was first issued, was based on the request by stakeholders for an extension till June 30 in order to make it easier for all citizens and legal residents to register for their NIN and link same with their registered SIM cards. The Director, Public Affairs at NCC, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, and the Head, Corporate Communications at NIMC, Mr. Kayode Adegoke, who announced the recent extension in a joint statement signed by both of them, also announced that almost 54 million people have enrolled for NIN. | National Identity Number (NIN)-SIM Data Verification | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2021/05/04/fg-extends-nin-sim-linkage-to-june-30-as-enrolment-hits-54m/ | |
| The Guardian Newspaper | Tuesday, May 4, 2021 | INEC Begins CVR Training for Staff in 18 States | The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Monday, May 3, commenced Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) training for 36 members of staff from 18 States of the Federation, in Benin City, Edo State. Participants were drawn from the South West, South East, South-South and Benue State and are expected to undergo a three-day training at a workshop supported by the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) under the tutelage of officials from INEC headquarters in Abuja. Edo State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Johnson Sinikiem, who declared the workshop open, stated that the CVR would commence on June 28, 2021, hence the need to train their staff for the crucial task ahead. According to him, “It is expected that this workshop will identify gray areas during the last exercise in view of resolving them, proffer solutions to technical problems encountered in the field, propose effective logistics towards achieving our goals, staff training and an efficient system." He also stated that, “The Voters Registry Department should ensure that the core values of the commission - transparency, integrity, excellence and professionalism are observed when the exercise begins.” On his part, Chief Technical Adviser to INEC Chairman, Prof. Bolade Ayinla, stated that the commission was committed to designing an improved registration system through the deployment of an online portal where eligible voters could commence registration. He added that the training was aimed at expanding voter access to polling units, as well as introducing new voter registration technology and equipment. He noted that the workshop was part of the preparations toward ensuring a seamless and conducive environment for the successful take off and conduct of the CVR exercise. | Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) | https://guardian.ng/news/inec-begins-cvr-training-for-staff-in-18-states/ | |