February 2022 – Page 61

Post Date : February 8, 2022

2023: Prepare for fresh security challenges ahead, IGP alerts officers

The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, on Tuesday, again alerted police officers in the country to prepare for fresh security challenges ahead of the 2023 general elections. The police boss stated this at the opening ceremony of the Conference and Retreat for Senior Police Officers in Akwa Ibom. Baba said, “Let me re-emphasise that the countdown to the general elections will present new sets of security challenges which will undoubtedly further task our professionalism. “We must, as strategic police managers on whose shoulders the task of ensuring a peaceful electoral process rest, be adequately prepared. It is my additional expectation that this Conference and Retreat will serve as a forum to also engage issues relating to our roles in the electioneering process.” He added, “May I also seize this opportunity to reassure the entire citizens of this great country of our firm determination and clear vision to evolve a new Police Force for the nation. We shall continue to explore all available strategies in guaranteeing their security and safety. This is our Mandate. It is, therefore, our obligation to attain it. We, however, solicit the continued support of the citizens in the process.”

Post Date : February 8, 2022

Senate okays six additional Law school campuses

The Senate on Tuesday passed a Bill that seeks to increase the number Law School campuses from six to 12. The Bill, titled: “A Bill for an Act to amend the Legal Education (Consolidation, etc) Act by establishing the campuses for the Nigerian Law School, and for other related matters” was sponsored by Kogi West Senator Smart Adeyemi. The passage of the Bill followed the adoption of the recommendation of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters that considered the Bill. Chairman of the Committee, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele presented the report. The existing Law School campuses are located in Lagos (Southwest); Abuja (North Central); Yola, Adamawa State (Northeast); Kano (Northwest); Enugu (Southeast) and Yenegoa, Bayelsa State (South-South). The additional campuses approved by the Senate are Kabba Law School Campus, Kogi State (Northcentral); Maiduguri Law School Campus, Borno State (Northeast); and Argungu Law School Campus, Kebbi State (Northwest). Others are Jos Law School Campus, Plateau State (North Central); Okija Law School Campus, Anambra State (Southeast); Orogun Law School Campus, Delta State (Southsouth) and Ifaki Law School Campus, Ekiti State (Southwest). Details Shortly…

Post Date : February 8, 2022

BREAKING: ASUU announces date for nationwide strike

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) said a strike would commence if nothing is done by the Federal Government after February 12 and 13. The Chairman of the Kwara State University branch, Malete, Dr. Salau Sheu, confirmed the development. She said the National Executive Council of ASUU will meet at the University of Lagos on February 12 and 13. ASUU is demanding that the Federal Government implement the Memorandum of Action it signed with the union last year. Sheu, however, claimed the government is avoiding its responsibility by asking ministers to oversee the implementation of the MoA. She said, “It is wrong for President Muhammadu Buhari to assign two ministers to oversee the implementation of the Memorandum of Action signed last year with ASUU. “First, the assigned ministers are not part of the agreement. Only the ministers of Finance and Education were part of the agreement. “ASUU is having its National Executive Council meeting at the University of Lagos on February 12 and 13. “If nothing is done by the government between now and then, the lecturers may go on strike.” The Chairman of the University of Ilorin branch of ASUU, Prof Moyosore Ajao, said the branch would observe the work-free day today (Tuesday.) Members of the University of Abuja chapter of the union are also set to meet on Wednesday over the proposed industrial action. The Chairman of ASUU in the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Dr Biodun Olaniran, and Secretary, Dr Toyin Abegunrin, on their part, urged Nigerians to prevail on the government to avert the impending strike. They said ASUU had allowed many stakeholders to talk to the government, which had portrayed the union as a dog, which could only bark but could not bite. The statement issued read in part, “Our union, ASUU, is using this medium to call upon the Federal Government of Nigeria once again to implement the agreement it signed with ASUU. It is unfortunate to mention that the FG signed an agreement with the ASUU since 2009, but the agreement is not implemented till date. “The agreement was renegotiated in the name of peace. But to our dismay, the government has refused to sign the renegotiated agreement. In order to make the implementation of the agreement easy for the FG, the union has limited its demand to only three. “These include the signing/implementation of the renegotiated agreement of 2009; and the adoption of the University Transparency and Accountability Software instead of the controversial IPPIS.”

Post Date : February 8, 2022

BREAKING: Kidnapped Kaduna Catholic Priest Regains Freedom

Reverend Father Joseph Shekari who was kidnapped by gunmen has regained freedom after 48 hours in captivity. The Chancellor of Kafanchan Catholic Diocese, Reverend Father Emmanuel Okolo confirmed the release to Channels Television. He said Reverend Father Shekari was released at about 10:00 pm on Monday night. Okolo however, did not state if any ransom was paid to the gunmen or not before they released the Reverend Father. He appreciated those who offered prayers for the quick release of the priest and prayed for the repose of the soul of the cook who was killed during the kidnap. The bandits on Sunday night stormed St. Monica’s Catholic Church, Parish, in Ikulu Pari of Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State and made way with the priest. The gunmen also killed the Reverend Father’s cook, who is a secondary school student, before taking the priest away to an unknown destination. It was also reported that the gunmen carted away an unspecified amount of money realised from a thanksgiving service on that Sunday.

Post Date : February 8, 2022

Don’t remove Labour from Exclusive List – NLC

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) says it will strongly advocate against removing Labour from the Exclusive Legislative List. NLC President Ayuba Wabba said this in a statement entitled “Labour on the Legislative Exclusive List”, on Tuesday in Abuja. He noted that labour issues were presently domiciled in the Second Schedule, Legislative Powers, Part 1, Exclusive list, Item 34. According to him, labour, including trade unions, industrial relations; conditions, safety and welfare of labour; industrial disputes; prescribing a national minimum wage for the federation or any part thereof; and industrial arbitration. ”For the sake of our national interest, security and industrial harmony, labour should not be one of the items that should be devolved to the states,” he said. Wabba while explaining how it came to be on the Exclusive list, noted that the nation states legislations on Labour drives substantially from the International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions, protocols and recommendations and other instruments domesticated through the Acts of parliament. He added that this explained the near uniformity of labour laws across the nations of the world and relative global industrial order, harmony and an attraction for foreign investment. He said this was in realisation of the reality that 17 days after independence in 1960 under a democratic government Nigeria fell in line by rectifying and domesticated ILO Conventions 87 and 98, guarantying the right to organise and collectively bargain. attraction for foreign investment. He said this was in realisation of the reality that 17 days after independence in 1960 under a democratic government Nigeria fell in line by rectifying and domesticated ILO Conventions 87 and 98, guarantying the right to organise and collectively bargain. ALSO READ: 2023 PRESIDENCY: How far can Amaechi go? He however said that Nigeria had since adopted all the core conventions in its capacity as a sovereign nation and regularly attends ILO organ meetings as a sovereign in line with international best practices. The NLC president further said the reasons for Nigeria’s relative industrial growth and development, and evolution into an investor’s haven were partly attributed to its willingness to subject itself to this global order and corpus of international labour standards. He noted that the ILO was created in 1919 by the Versailles Peace Treaty ending World War 1 along with the League of Nations to address widespread demands for social justice and improved living standards for the world’s working people. He said that this had survived World War 2 and today served as a specialised agency of the UN dedicated to promoting labour standards globally. ”In the light of this, deregulating labour to the states will inevitably create intractable problems. At membership level, the 36 states of the federation and FCT are no sovereign which is a basis for ILO membership of Nigeria. ”Secondly, a corpus of labour legislation across the 36 states and FCT will almost certainly create a judicial nightmare. ”Thirdly, investors will be scared away as they will consider this as unnecessary addition to the already hostile operating environment. At the level of workers who often act in the national interest, this will whittle down patriotic influence. ”In the light of this, we will strongly advocate against removing labour from the Exclusive Legislative List. Not even during the military era was this contemplated,” he said. (NAN)

Post Date : February 8, 2022

Three killed in Anambra accident – FRSC

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has confirmed the death of three persons from an accident involving a vehicle and a motorcycle in Anambra. The corps said the accident was recorded along Onitsha-Ayamelum Road in Ayamelum Local Government Area of Anambra on Monday night. Mr Adeoye Irelewuyi, the Sector Commander of FRSC in Anambra, confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka on Tuesday. The FRSC boss said that six male adults were involved in the accident, which was caused by excessive speed. “The crash involved an unidentified commercial driver of a white Toyota Sienna with registration number: ABN504SZ, and an identified rider of a private motorcycle with no registration number, whose name is Okwudili Okeke. “An eyewitness report indicates that the driver of the Sienna was on top speed while trying to avoid an incoming motorcycle. He hit another motorcycle beside him while on motion, somersaulted and crashed into the bush. “The victims were rushed to a nearby Primary Health Centre by by FRSC personnel in Ayamelum Station Office, where three male adults were confirmed dead,” he said. Irelewuyi said the bodies of the victims were deposited at the mortuary. While commiserating with the families of the deceased, he urged motorists to obey traffic rules by desisting from excessive speed and drive within safe speed limits. (NAN)

Post Date : February 8, 2022

iPOB: April deadline for Fulani cow ban in South-East unchanged

The Indigenous People of Biafra has said that its earlier decision banning the movement and consumption of Fulani cows in the South-East from April 2022 still stands. The group also clarified its stand that the decision was not borne out of hate but to safeguard its land and the people from the “evil agenda of the Fulani.” The group made its position known in a statement on Monday by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful. “Our decision is borne out of the natural desire to preserve our race from being wiped out by the Fulani terrorist herdsmen,” the group said. It said it would no longer tolerate the “criminal” silence and the failure of the Federal Government to protect its territories against attacks. The statement read, “Our patience has been over stretched beyond its elasticity point. We can no longer afford to fold our arms and be waiting for the last man in Biafra land to be killed by those masquerading as herdsmen. “Our people waste huge sums of money up to N3bn every year on cow meat and we will not allow that to continue. We, therefore, encourage those who have the money to start breeding our local cows (Efi Igbo) and other farming; IPOB will support them to boost the farming and animal husbandry business.” While advising those dealing in Fulani cow meat to look for alternative before the April due date, the group said the decision was in the collective interest of the South-East people.

Post Date : February 8, 2022

Terrorists kill 44 villagers in Niger

Terrorists have again invaded two local government areas in Niger State, killing no fewer than 44 villagers, including a blind man while many were abducted. It was gathered, yesterday, that the terrorists that invaded Shiroro and Munya local government areas of the state, weekend, are already demanding N60 million for the release of those abducted. Vanguard gathered that the villages deeply affected are Galadinma Kolgo, Erena, Chukuba, and Allawa in Shiroro LGA where the gunmen killed 27 persons. Mostly killed were women and children while 28 other women, three men and children, whose number could not be ascertained, were abducted. It was also gathered that the terrorists had last Saturday stormed some villages in Munya local government area of the state where a blind man and 16 other villagers were massacred. The villages affected were Guni, Dazza and Zagzaga in Munya Local Government Area, where no fewer than 10 women and an unspecified number of children were abducted before setting their houses and farmlands ablaze. President, Lakpma Youth Association, Jibril Allawa, who confirmed the killings and abduction, said the terrorists had already opened up discussions with relatives of those abducted and were demanding N60 million before they could be released. “Already, most of the affected communities in the two local government areas are now ghost towns as the villagers have taken refuge at the Internally Displaced Persons, IDP, camp in Central Primary School, Gwada.” Also, the Co-Convener, Concerned Shiroro Youths, Abubakar Kokki, while confirming the development, said the gunmen stormed the communities in a convoy of motorcycles with each carrying two or three others, inflicting carnage and held the communities hostage for several hours. According to him, “these villagers can no longer harvest their farm produce because the gunmen have warned them to stay away from their farms. We, therefore, call on the federal and state governments to intervene immediately.” The Police Public Relations Officer, Niger State Command, Wasiu Abiodun, could not be reached for more confirmation.

Post Date : February 8, 2022

Lagos filling stations shut, queues persist in Abuja, others

Many filling stations were shut on Monday and this led to queues by motorists in the few outlets that dispensed Premium Motor Spirit, popularly called petrol, in Abuja, neighbouring states, as well as in parts of Lagos. It was learnt that marketers of PMS were still unsure about moves to halt petrol subsidy, considering the fact that the government had projected in 2021 that it would stop the subsidy regime in February this year. Also, our correspondent gathered that some members of the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners had discontinued operations in protest against the low freight rate for petrol which they receive from government. The National President, NARTO, Yusuf Othman, told journalists in Abuja on Monday that “our people have parked their trucks and more people are going to park (theirs).” The National President, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Chief Ukadike Chinedu, also stated that the fear over subsidy withdrawal had been in the minds of both private depot owners and some retailers, leading to product shortage at filling stations. “I’ve explained to you that DPOs are studying the situation around subsidy, since the government has been making various statements on this matter and this has its way of affecting the market,” he told our correspondent. Queues for petrol in filling stations have been appearing and disappearing in Abuja and neighbouring states in the past few weeks, as marketers confirmed that aside from panic buying by motorists, there have been disruptions in PMS supply. Ukadike had told our correspondent, “They (government) said they want to fully deregulate. That statement and similar ones which some ministers made that by 2022 we are going to start full deregulation, made some PDOs decide to hoard or withhold their products. “They (PDOs) are doing this to be able to match up with the cost of petrol when it rises above N300/litre upon full deregulation. Now, this became a bottleneck in terms of the chain of demand and supply. “So people who were taking petroleum products out of Lagos from the PDOs stopped a little bit to be able to look at the market value and their cost of logistics.” Ukadike added, “That was what put a gap in the chain of distribution that led to the appearing and disappearing queues in many parts of Abuja and the north, as well as in some other locations of Nigeria.” But the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited had described the queues as panic buying. Its spokesperson, Garba-Deen Mohammed, could not be reached when contacted on Monday. A text sent to him was not replied to up till the time of filing this report around 9.16pm Nigerian time. However, in a recent statement issued by the company on the matter, it said, “The NNPC Limited wishes to assure the public that the company has sufficient PMS stock to meet the needs of Nigerians. “The public is therefore, advised not to engage in panic buying of petrol; and to ignore all rumours that may suggest otherwise.” It stated that in line with the existing laws of the land, NNPC was deeply committed to ensuring energy security for the country. Editor’s Note: This photo is for illustrative purpose

Post Date : February 8, 2022

Shekarau, Barau, Others Reject APC’s Power-Sharing Template In Kano

Senator Ibrahim Shekarau-led G-7 has rejected the proposals of the national secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) towards resolving the lingering crisis in the party’s Kano chapter. Daily Trust reports that Senator Shekarau’s G-7 has been at loggerheads with Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje’s leadership of the party in the state leading to two parallel executives in the state and ongoing court cases. The party’s national secretariat had however attempted to resolve the crisis administratively by meeting with both groups and thereafter issuing a template to address the issues raised by both stakeholders. It had thereafter set up a National/State Joint Supervisory Committee” to implement the template with the committee to be headed by Governor Ganduje and assisted by Senator Shekarau. But a few hours after the template was communicated to the groups, the G-7 has written to the national secretariat saying; “that the entirety of the content of your letter is totally unacceptable to us.” The letter was titled “Re: Guidelines for the Harmonization of the Party Structure in Kano”. They said their reason was that the letter did not acknowledge all the proposals tabled by both parties at the several reconciliation meetings. “We had anticipated that the communication from you would be reflective of the proposals and/or submissions made to you. “Regrettably, however, your said letter to us never contained the proposals and/or submissions put forward by both sides, not even made reference to them,” the letter said. They also said they were disenchanted that the letter had gone viral on social media before it got to them. The signatories to the rejection letter include Senator Shekarau, Senator Barau Jibrin, House of Representative members, Tijjani Abdulkadir Jobe, Nasiru Abduwa Gabasawa, Haruna Dederi and Sha’aban Sharada, as well as the Chairman Buhari Support Group, Shehu Dalhatu. The spokesman of Shekarau’s camp, Dr Sule Yau Sule, had disclosed in a phone interview with Daily Trust on Sunday, that the unveiling of a power-sharing formula was the outcome of a Saturday night meeting held with the two camps. The meeting was organised by the APC Caretaker and Extraordinary National Convention Planning Committee led by its chairman, Governor Mai Mala Buni; Governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle; and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara. “We made our own position and they made their own position and now they have sat on the two positions and they said out of that they are coming up with a sharing formula which they said will be all-inclusive, which means all of us will be part of the excos.” “A high powered committee from the secretariat to be constituted and dispatched to Kano to ensure strict compliance and implementation of the template to be given on Monday,” Sule added. Corroborating Sule’s position, Kano state commissioner of information, Muhammad Garba, said the party recognises the importance of peace in its Kano chapter and all the camps have agreed to allow peace to reign.