The attention of the Police Service Commission has been drawn to a fictitious publication titled "2023 Police Special List" and which has been trending in the social media.
The publication for all intents and purposes is obviously planted to confuse and further defraud Nigerian youths who must have genuinely applied for consideration for recruitment into the Constable cadre of the Nigeria Police Force.
The Police Service Commission wishes to disown the publication in its entirety and to state as follows;
1. That the Police Recruitment Board comprising representatives from virtually all the stakeholders in the Police Sector is the sole authority that is managing the ongoing recruitment exercise and has met and taking decisive decisions on the next stages of the recruitment following the closure of the recruitment portal after the required period of six weeks.
2. That the Board under the leadership of the Police Service Commission has as Members representatives from the Nigeria Police Force; the Federal Character Commission; the Police Trust Fund and Police Colleges.
3. That the Board will soon announce a detailed programme for the concluding part of the recruitment exercise which will include dates for physical and document screening of candidates; computer based test to be conducted by a reputable government examination body and medical tests.
The board is desirous of giving the nation a new face of exciting Police Constables that will drive the Federal Government's policy on effective and efficient internal security architecture.
The Commission is aware of the hopes of Nigerians for an improved and reliable Police service and is determined to make the expected difference for the overall benefit of the nation.
Nigerians are advised to discountance the fictitious list and wait for the official announcement of the next stages of the recruitment exercise.
Meanwhile security Agencies have been directed to fish out these fraudsters for prosecution.
Ikechukwu Ani
Head, Press and Public Relations
Wednesday 13th December 2023
[img][/img]

Something is comin-a-come

Nice one

Kaduna-based Alhaji Mahdi Shehu is many things – a businessman, the Chairman of Dialogue Group of Companies and also a self-professed whistleblower. The Katsina indigene shares his experiences of being detained by the police following allegations of financial fraud he levelled against the Katsina State Government.

Alhaji Shehu had sometime in July through accused the Katsina State Government of squandering N52.6 billion, amongst other alleged illegal expenses, in the past five years from the State’s security escrow accounts.

The Katsina State Government has since accused Shehu of inciting the people against the government in order to make it unpopular.

The businessman, who describes himself as an activist and a whistleblower, told our Daily Sun in a brief interview that he saw hell and injustice in police detention for 15 days, all without being charged to court.

https://www.sunnewsonline.com/agony-of-katsina-whistleblower-detained-by-police-bitten-by-snake/

‘The reason why I was detained was that the Governor of Katsina State, alongside the SSG, together with the Attorney-General, two traditional rulers, one businessman, and a Senator… went and met the IGP, who asked the Governor of Katsina State to write a written complaint against me that I have made governance impossible for the Government of Katsina State, that I am confusing people, that I am dolling out figures and documents that can make the government unpopular. That was the reason. I see no offence in that. This is a democracy, if you don’t want criticism then you don’t have any reason being in a democratic space in the first place. On no account, without even hearing my own side of the story, was I declared guilty. Therefore, they connived, converged and synergised to ensure that I am silenced.

‘But let me tell you one thing, this is the biggest mistake they have ever done. If they think by this wicked irresponsible arrest they have checkmated me, they have made the biggest miscalculation. From now on, it is going to be full-blown, not half-blown, from now on it is going to be straight forward, direct clear and targeted position.’

Shehu also spoke of how he was bitten by a snake whilst in detention:

‘My story of snakebite is very factual and very true. When I was taken to Asokoro police station in the first instance, on the 23rd of November at about 9:30 pm, I had the need to go and pray. I went and eased myself. I was taken to a toilet [that] not even a pig will squat there. I came out and I said let me just find a way outside where many cars have been packed for decades. It was on getting there that I was bitten by a snake. I was taken to the National Hospital. I had an anti-venom and pain reliever… I was taken into a ward where seven females were admitted, and I was the only male inside. By the following morning when I realised that there was ganged conspiracy against me, I demanded that I may be discharged to go and get medical treatment, and upon the discharge, the police said that they cannot allow me to go and get treatment, that I must remain in their custody. They took me to a police hospital, at the police hospital they said they have brought a suspect and not a patient. I was kept there for two days as a suspect and not a patient, not given even Panadol. Two days after they said the IGP had ordered that I should be remanded into 4 CID detention cell at Area 10, that was where I was taken. I was lucky to locate to a cell where Obasanjo was incarcerated by late General Sani Abacha.

‘The snake [that bit me] was quite huge; there was the picture of the snake, not even the police were able to call snake catchers, but the snake was caught and it was lying there for everybody to see. What baffled me is that I didn’t even know where the IGP got his level of socialisation that a suspect you ordered for his arrest was bitten by a snake under your custody and you turned a blind eye to his medication. After all, what you are after is to incarcerate him to fulfil your obligation towards those who assigned you to do this job. It is my imagination, but I hope one day he will sit down and reflect.’

On the state of his business following his detention, he said:

‘While I was in detention my business did not suffer any damage because I have an organised structure; with or without me the structure operates because it is well structured and I have no reason whatsoever to doubt the capacity of my staff to run these businesses even after my demise.

‘However, I am still treating the snake bite.’

At least 34 bills passed by the National Assembly have so far been rejected by President Muhammadu Buhari from the inception of his administration to date, a check by Daily Trust Saturday has revealed. Only this year, President Buhari withheld assent to 13 bills passed by the National Assembly over various reasons, including constitutional breach, paucity of funds, and others. His action is based on Section 58 (4) of the amended 1999 Constitution that reads: “Where a bill is presented to the President for assent, he shall within thirty days thereof signify that he assents or that he withholds assent.”

Five of the bills were rejected in January, six in March, and eight this month. Twenty of them were rejected in the first three years of his administration. Of all the bills, the amendment made to the 2010 Electoral Act was rejected thrice, a development that set parliamentarians against the executive. In rejecting it, the president picked holes in the timing of the amendment, saying in letters dated December 6, 2018, to the two chambers of the National Assembly: “Any real or apparent change to the rules this close to election may provide an opportunity for disruption and confusion in respect to which law governs the electoral process. This leads me to believe that it is in the best interest of the country and our democracy for the National Assembly to specifically state in the Bill, that the Electoral Act will come into effect and be applicable to elections commencing after the 2019 General Elections.”


The latest set of bills rejected by the president as contained in letters, addressed to the Senate President, Bukola Saraki and Speaker Yakubu Dogara last Tuesday, include the Chartered Institute of Training and Development Establishment Bill 2018, the Nigerian Aeronautic Research Bill 2018,the National Institute of Credit Administration Bill 2018, the National Housing Fund Bill 2018, the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria Bill 2018, the National Biotechnology Development Agency of Nigeria Bill 2018,Ajaokuta Steel Company Completion Fund Bill, 2018 and the SME Development Agency Bill, 2018.

In March, Buhari declined assent to six bills, namely the Nigerian Film Commission Bill, Immigration Amendment Bill, Climate Change Bill, Chartered Institute of Pension Practitioners Bill, Digital Rights and Freedom Bill, and National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency Act (Amendment) Bill, all dated 2018.


Also in January, the president declined assent to five bills, including the Revenue Mobilization Bill, Allocation and Fiscal Commission Amendment Bill (RMAFC), Bankruptcy and Insolvency Bill 2018, Federal Polytechnic Amendment Bill, Maritime Security Operations Coordinating Board Amendment Bill, and Energy Commission Amendment Bill, all dated 2018.

Previously, President Buhari had rejected the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill, Stamp Duties (Amendment) Bill, Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, Industrial Development (Income Tax Relief) (Amendment) Bill, National Research and Innovation Council (Est.) Bill, National Institute of Hospitality and Tourism (Est.) Bill and National Agricultural Seeds Council Bill.

Others are Chartered Institute of Entrepreneurship (Est.) Bill, Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences (Amendment) Bill, Subsidiary Legislation (Legislative Scrutiny) Bill, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (Amendment) Bill as well as five constitution amendment bills. Also rejected were National Transport Commission Bill, Federal Road Authority (Establishment) Bill, National Broadcasting Commission Amendment Bill, National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) Act (Amendment) Bill, and Federal Polytechnics Act (Amendment) Bill.

Reasons for the latest rejections

In rejecting the Ajaokuta Steel Company Completion Fund Bill of 2018, Buhari said appropriating $1 billion from the excess crude account, which the bill had provided for is, “not the best strategic option for Nigeria at this time of budgetary constraints.

On the Chartered Institute of Training and Development Establishment Bill of 2018, the president said he declined assent to the bill because of concerns that the institute does not possess the capacity to undertake the numerous duties and responsibilities imposed under the act.

For the National Biotechnology Development Agency of Nigeria Bill of 2018, Buhari said the bill doesn’t include the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development within the governing board of the agency. He also blamed drafting issues and errors in the bill. Also on the Nigerian Aeronautic Research Bill of 2018, Buhari said there were “many inconsistencies” in the bill and it is not in tandem with relevant international civil aviation regulations”.

On the rejection of the National Institute of Credit Administration Bill of 2018, the president said it is because the provision that every member of the staff of banks and other financial institutions should hold a National Institute of Credit Administration licence before practicing as credible managers.”

In rejecting, the National Housing Fund Bill of 2018, the president expressed concern over the various levies and obligations imposed by some sections. “The compulsory investment requirement imposed on commercial banks, merchant banks, insurance banks and pension fund, administrations of the minimum of 10% profit before tax into the National Housing Fund will be destructively punitive to a number of industries and sectors of the Nigerian economy including cement, manufacturing, banking, insurance, pensions and may also adversely affect the average Nigerian worker,” he said.

Similarly, the president said he declined assent to the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria Bill of 2018 over its failure to spell out in detail the required qualification and experience threshold of the directors and senior management staff with specific reference to developmental banking, risk management, and mortgage loan administration experience.

In denying assent to the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency Bill of 2018, the President cited Section 32 of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency Bill 2018 as one of the reasons.

Daily Trust Saturday reports that similar reasons, including infractions and duplication of responsibilities of existing agencies and financial constraints, were cited for the rejection of the bills.

But in a few cases, the observations and reservations expressed by the president had been addressed by the lawmakers, and the bills assented to.

Lawmakers react

A member of the House of Reps, Mohammed Tahir Monguno (APC, Borno) told Daily Trust Saturday that Buhari’s rejection was in order as he has the constitutional powers. He said the president has “serious respect and regard” for the National Assembly, which was why he always communicated his decision to withhold assent to a bill to the legislature. He added that what Nigerians should be concerned about was the number of bills signed into law by the president, rather than those that the president did not assent to.

The Borno lawmaker said so far, available records showed that the president signed over 100 bills into law, which he said was unprecedented as no Nigerian president has ever done so. “Each time he rejects a bill, he gives cogent reasons.”

Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Abdulrazak Namdas (APC, Adamawa), told Daily Trust Saturday observed that while some of the bills were rejected on merit based on genuine reasons, others were not. “Some of the bills have been rejected over excuses as minor as typographical errors. I think that’s unwarranted because even after signing a bill, the lawmakers themselves can still effect relevant typographical changes to the document. In the amended Electoral Act, for instance, there were things the president said we should remove, and we did that, but the bill was eventually rejected,” he said.

Timothy Golu (PDP, Plateau) said lawmakers are unhappy over President Buhari’s “politically-motivated” rejection of bills passed. “There is a political calculation by the president in knocking out these bills under flimsy technicalities. He sees the National Assembly as an enemy and competitor, rather than a partner in progress. He only signs bills he thinks would favour his political calculations, such as the Not Too Young To Run Bill and the Minimum Wage Bill.

Golu added: “Sincerely, his actions are killing the morale of the National Assembly. Every law is a process; no law is perfect. But laws undergo amendments to fit changing circumstances. The 2019 elections were marred by irregularities because he refused the amendments proposed by the lawmakers.” On whether the lawmakers plan to override the president on some of the rejected bills, he said there is little or no time left for such lengthy processes.

In contrast, Johnson Agbonayinma (APC, Edo), advised his colleagues to focus on how to make Nigeria a conducive environment for foreign direct investments rather than dissipating useful energy on Mr. President’s exercise of his constitutional rights. “If the National Assembly is not satisfied, they could muster two-thirds majority to override him. But I can tell you, nobody is interested in that now,” he said.

For Ossai Nicholas (PDP, Delta), however, most of the reasons given by the president in rejecting the bills were invalid, adding that “a time shall come when the lawmakers would be courageous enough to override Mr. President.”

However, the body language of most lawmakers, including Namdas, Golu, Agbonayinma and Ossai, suggest that with the time available to 8th Assembly, the House may not cope with the exigency of overriding Mr. President.

Parties link delay to executive-legislature feud

Some opposition party leaders who spoke with Daily Trust Saturday expressed dismay over the huge number of bills declined presidential assent, but attributed it to lack of cohesion between the executive and legislative arms of government.

The National Chairman of the Action Democratic Party (ADP), Engineer Yusuf Sani Yabagi, attributed the delay to lack of unity within the ruling party despite its majority in the National Assembly, as well as recurring executive-legislative friction. The ADP presidential candidate in the last election, said all issues regarding bills should have been resolved at the caucus of the party. “The crisis we find ourselves in, is due to the fact that the executive has a kind of autocratic approach to issues, dismissing the importance of having cordial relationships with other arms of government like the legislature and the judiciary. Without a cordial relationship with these two arms, certainly the business of government will suffer setbacks. And I think this is one of them.”

A former presidential candidate and current National Chairman of the United Progressives Party (UPP), Chief Chekwas Okorie, said: “The 8th Assembly is very incompetent in drafting their bills. There is something fundamentally wrong where these bills are drafted. Another point of view is lack of harmony between the 8th Assembly and the executive. I advise the incoming 9th Assembly to do things differently.”

Similarly, the presidential candidate of the National Conscience Party (NCP) in the just-concluded elections and current National Chairman of the party, Dr Yunusa Tanko, said the rejection of such number of bills by President Buhari showed lack of harmony between the legislature and the executive. He said it is incumbent on the Presidency to find a way of halting any bill that emerges on the floor of the National Assembly which is perceived to be against the interest of the government or people, without necessarily allowing it to pass through several readings and getting to the president for assent.

“Once both chambers of the National Assembly sit and deliberate on a bill, the president, who is just one person, should not reject it, because that won’t augur well for our democracy. For God’s sake, 26 bills are too many. But at the same time, I think it’s lack of harmony between the National Assembly and the executive arms that is responsible for this,” Dr. Tanko, a former chairman of Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) said.

Similarly, current Chairman IPAC and National Chairman of the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA), Chief Peter Ameh, said the one that broke his heart was the Ajaokuta Bill which was rejected assent by Buhari. He said the bill, if assented into law, would have created job opportunities for the teeming unemployed Nigerians, and reduce poverty in Kogi State.

Also reacting, the Democratic People’s Congress (DPC) berated President Muhammadu Buhari for withholding assent to the scores of bills. National Chairman of the party, Rev. Olusegun Peters, told Daily Trust Saturday that the president doesn’t have enough reasons for his refusal, especially for the Electoral Reform Bill.

“President Buhari doesn’t have enough reasons to refuse to sign the Electoral Bill. It was due to APC plan to rig the 2019 polls. Moreover, by not signing, his actions have tainted the elections. But I’d like to call on our courts of law to look into the results and processes seriously, and do justice,” Peters said.

Lawyers react

Lawyers, speaking to Daily Trust Saturday, said the non-assent to bills by the president is not an impeachable offence under the law. They explained that the Constitution, under Section 58 (4) and (5), has explained what should be done after 30 days of same being forwarded without president withholding his assent.

Abeny Mohammed (SAN), said the only way is for both chambers of the National Assembly to make the bill an Act of Parliament, is to come together and pass it with two-thirds majority to support the passage.

Barrister Esther Uzoma, coordinator of Proactive Gender Initiative, said as the president, in his wisdom, has declined signing the bills, then it is now up to the National Assembly to explore other options. “To either veto them, or harmonise with the executive and bring them to the level that are acceptable to the president to sign. The most important thing is that these bills are made for the good of Nigerians and should see the light of day,” she said.

Kalu Onuoha Esq., said although refusing to assent to bills qualify as a setback to the legislative business, it is not an impeachable offence. “But where the National Assembly is not satisfied, it can veto the bill by two-thirds majority,” he told Daily Trust Saturday.

Also, Obioma Ezenwobodo Esq., described the non-signing of bills by the president as political power play, influenced by political differences and interests, explaining it as a major factor on why legislative vetoes may not succeed. He described as regrettable that citizens are suffering over the non-signing, while public resources are wasted in the process.

Abuja-based constitutional lawyer, Professor Agbo Madaki, referred Daily Trust Saturday to Section 58 (5) of the Constitution (as amended). “It provides that ‘Where the president withholds his assent and the bill is again passed by each House by two-thirds majority, the bill shall become law and the assent of the president shall not be required’.”

Before Governor Samuel Ortom dumped the All Progressives Congress, APC, for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, last August, rumour mills had it that he had a running battle with his political godfather and leader of the party in Benue State, Senator George Akume. Suswam and Ortom It was therefore not a surprise to many when he dumped the party after raising the alarm that Akume had issued him a red card, meaning he was no longer needed in the APC. Ortom’s defection to the PDP practically meant that he was left with no other option than to work with his predecessor, former Governor Gabriel Suswam with whom he had been at loggerheads since assuming leadership of the state in 2015, ostensibly fuelled by Akume, their political godfather, who had a hand in their emergence as governors of the state at different times. Thus, Ortom and Suswam have elected to forget the past and teamed up to oust a common enemy. And the first step to prepare a formidable political onslaught against the Akume dynasty, after supporting Ortom’s re-entry into the PDP, Suswam also supported Governor Ortom to pick the PDP governorship ticket. The duo who friends before the 2015 elections have found their political groove again and are determined to retire Senator Akume from the Senate on account of non-performance. So far, the PDP senatorial candidate for Benue North West district and serving federal lawmaker, Mr. Orker Jev, has continued to enjoy support from the entire PDP family including Ortom and Suswam who obviously felt that their estranged political godfather deserves retirement from the Senate after three terms of 12 years at the end of the current dispensation. Governor Ortom while applauding the PDP for picking him as the governorship flag-bearer of the party in the 2019 election said his emergence had put an end to godfatherism in Benue politics. Obviously referring to Senator Akume and his alleged overbearing influence on political allies, Ortom lamented that such acts were responsible for the below par performance of those entrusted with leadership responsibilities because political godfathers would not allow such persons space to perform. His words: “My victory therefore will mark an end to god fatherism in Benue politics because we will not allow it or encourage it. I am not prepared to be a political god father to anyone because I cannot ascribe such powers to myself, moreover you cannot become anything or get anything in life if not given by God so why would any man assume the position of god?” It is however left to be seen if Senator Akume would survive this double barrelled onslaught unleashed by two formidable political allies who are determined to change the political narrative in Benue.

Read more at: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/10/benue-ortom-suswam-sheathe-swords-to-fight-godfather/

THE Bauchi State government, at the weekend, closed the Sa’adu Zungur Model Primary and Secondary School in Bauchi, the state capital, over illegal marriages among senior students in the school.

The closure order, which also affected the primary section of the school, it was gathered, was given on Friday by the state deputy governor, Nuhu Gidado, who doubles as the Commissioner for Education, following a report received by the government on the illegal marriages among the students.

According to a press statement issued by his Special Assistant on Communications, Yakubu Adamu, the deputy governor attributed the illegal marriages among the students to moral decadence in the society.

Gidado stated the school would remain closed until a committee set up by the state government to investigate the matter came up with a detailed report and recommendations.

The Nigerian Tribune gathered that the illegal act among the students, said to have been rampant among them despite the fact that both male and female students had separate classrooms for learning, blew open last week during one of such illegal marriages.

It was further learnt that teachers in the school got to know about the act when a senior secondary (SS) 2 student organised one of such wedding ceremonies in the school premises to his alleged lover, also a senior student of the school.

The noise and cheers from jubilant co-students amidst the fun were said to have drawn the attention of the teachers, who rushed to find out what was happening only to discover that a ‘wedding’ ceremony was taking place between the two students.

They, however, reported their finding to the school’s principal, Mallam Ahmed Zailani, who in turn reported to the Ministry of Education with a view to taking appropriate sanction against the erring students.

Investigation revealed that male students used to pay N500 as bride price to their would-be ‘wife’ who are also students of the school as a condition for solemnisation of their marriages.

It further revealed that the ‘couples’ classmates also contributed money to buy snacks to eat during such ‘wedding’ ceremonies.

http://www.tribuneonlineng.com/71898/

Money looted by Nigeria’s former military ruler Sani Abacha is to be distributed to poor families, the government says.

The distribution is to start next month after more than $300m (£228m) was recently returned by the Swiss authorities.

The money, stolen by Abacha in the 1990s, is due to be given to around 300,000 households through monthly payments of around $14 each.

Some Nigerians have questioned whether this is the best way of distributing the money and there are also concerns that with elections just months away, the gifting of money could be seen as an effort to secure votes.

The National Pension Commission (PenCom) has commenced the final verification procedures for prospective retirees from the public service.

The exercise is scheduled to take place from 25th June to 17 August, 2018 in 15 centers across the country.

According to a statement issued from the Commission in Abuja on Wednesday, it said the exercise had become necessary in order to provide adequate sensitization and public enlightenment for would be retirees on the right steps to take towards a hitch free retirement life.

According to the Commission, the exercise is for “employees in the service of the Federal Government Treasury Funded MDAs, who are due to retire from service between January and December 2019 by virtue of attaining the applicable maximum age or length of service, whichever is earlier.”

The statement noted that affected employees are required to personally come along with the originals of the under-listed documents for sighting while photocopies of the same documents would be submitted for verification and enrolment: Letter of First Appointment, Evidence of Transfer of Service and Acceptance (where applicable), Birth Certificate or Declaration of Age, Letter/Evidence of promotion to the Grade Level as at June 2004, Letter/Evidence of all promotions obtained from 2004 to date, Letter of Introduction from the MDA, Staff Identity Card.

Read Also: Melaye: Verification peaceful, low turnout in Lokoja, Koton-Karfe
Other requirements are: Letter/Evidence of Retirement (Applicable to those who have retired, Mandatorily/Voluntarily/Disengaged /Termination and yet to enroll with the Commission), Letter of Indemnity from the MDA stating Non-Payment of Retirement Benefits (Applicable to those who retired / disengaged before 2009, Evidence of registration with a Pension Fund Administrator indicating Retirement Savings Account Personal Identification Number (PIN).

The Commission also urged Pension Desk Officers (PDOs) of each MDA to be available at the designated centers to authenticate the documents and endorse the Retirement Bond Registration Form of each potential retiree from his/her MDA,

PenCom added that “medically unfit employees are exempted from the physical enrolment, however Pension Desk Officers of the medically unfit employees were advised to come along with a letter from a suitably qualified physician or medical board certifying that the employee is no longer physically or mentally capable of carrying out the functions of his/her office in addition to documents listed above.

“For ease of access of participant, the exercise is scheduled to hold at fifteen centres through-out the Federation. Participants are advised to adhere strictly to dates assigned to each service sector” the statement said.

http://thenationonlineng.net/fg-commences-2019-retirees-verification-enrolment/

Nigeria has overtaken India as the country with the largest number of people living in extreme poverty, a new report by the World Poverty Clock has said.

According to the report, extreme poverty in Nigeria is growing by six people every minute, the highest number in the world.

India on the other hand, is witnessing a decline in its level of extreme poverty.

At the end of May (2018), the survey showed that Nigeria had an estimated 87 million people in extreme poverty, compared to India’s 73 million.

The report further stated that in Africa, D.R Congo may soon overtake India as number two, while Africa may be home to additional 3.2 million people living in extreme poverty by the end of 2018.

With the report, the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) to end extreme poverty by 2030 may be unattainable even as Africa faces major population increase.

According to the UN, By 2050 around 2.2 billion people could be added to the global population and more than half of that growth will come from Africa.

It also predicts that Nigeria will become the world’s third largest country by then.

The World Poverty Clock report further states that of the 10 countries on this extreme poverty list, only Ethiopia is on track to meet the United Nations’ SDG of ending extreme poverty by 2030.

It also says outside the top 10, only Ghana and Mauritania are on track with the target.

See the list of top 11 extremely poor countries below.

Nigeria leads with 86.9 million people and is closely followed by India with 73 million and D.R Congo with 60.9 million people.

Ethiopia is next with 23.9 million people, followed by Tanzania with 19.9 million.

Mozambique comes next with 17.8 million while Kenya has 14.7 million people living in extreme poverty.

The least four are Uganda, South Africa, South Sudan and Zambia with 14.2, 13.8, 11.4 and 9.5 million people respectively.
https://www.channelstv.com/2018/06/25/nigeria-overtakes-india-in-worlds-extreme-poverty-ranking/

Opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday said Nigeria is in perilious times following a “desperate clampdown” on opposition leaders and perceived opponents of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

Addressing a press conference at the PDP national secretariat, the national publicity secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan declared that as the 2019 election gets closer, the APC administration is already panicking and has deployed various machinations to suppress the opposition.

“The All Progressives Congress, APC, having realized that they stand no chance in the 2019 general elections, is now deploying all wicked machinations to cause confusion, heighten political tension, hounding and arresting of opposition leaders, making spurious allegations and attacking influential Nigerians, including former heads of state, all to instill fear on the polity.

“Today, our dear nation, Nigeria, has finally fallen into a perilous time! There are fears and trepidation everywhere. The safety, personal freedom and wellbeing of Nigerians, particularly, opposition members are threatened.

“Having failed in their corruption smear campaign against the PDP and many notable Nigerians, the APC and the Presidency cabal have now devised a devious machination to rope in, frame up, implicate and ultimately incarcerate marked opposition leaders and other dissenting voices over fabricated security charges.

“Part of this design, as already exposed by the Special Adviser to President Buhari, Mr. Femi Adesina, on Arise TV, is to link such opposition leaders and dissenting voices with the widespread killings in various parts of the country, while forgetting that President Buhari had earlier blamed the attacks on invaders from Late Muammar Gaddafi’s Libya, while his Director General of State Security Services, SSS, blamed it on herdsmen from neighbouring countries.

“The wicked clampdown has started. Only yesterday, we were made aware of the arrest and detention of former Benue State governor, Hon. Gabriel Suswam, who has been kept incommunicado without access to his lawyers, while the Federal Government is not forthcoming with the details of the reasons behind the arrest and detention.

“There are already fears that other opposition leaders and dissenting voices have been placed under watch and will be dragged in and framed up on security charges, so as to keep them out of circulation ahead of the elections.

“Nigerians are already aware of the alarm raised by former President Olusegun Obasanjo of alleged plots by the Buhari administration to frame, arrest and detain him indefinitely on trumped up charges, ostensibly following his criticisms and open rejection of the administration for its failures and manifest misrule.

“The world is also aware of the numerous alleged plots by the APC and its Federal Government to frame up and humiliate Senate President Bukola Saraki, Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremmadu, Senators Dino Melaye and Shehu Sani, as well as Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike and his Ekiti state counterpart, Governor Ayo Fayose.

“Also, there are concerns about the safety of former Chief of Army Staff and former defence minister, Gen. Theophilus Y. Danjuma (rtd), following the fear expressed by Rivers State Governor Wike that Gen. Danjuma’s life might be in danger after his comments in March, this year, on possible complicity of the State in the killings in Taraba state.

“Only yesterday (Wednesday), an explosive device was discovered at the Ebonyi state PDP secretariat, either planted to blow up our secretariat and kill our members or to set up our leaders.

“These attacks, threats and intimidation targeted at influential Nigerians, particularly, past leaders, show clearly that the APC and the Buhari Presidency are very scared of their inevitable defeat in the 2019 general elections and now seek to apply all machinations to overheat the polity and ostensibly frustrate the process.”

While declaring that members of the PDP cannot be cowed, he appealed to Nigerians “to stand firm, remain united in condemning and resisting the intimidations and all anti-democratic tendencies of the APC administration.”

http://nigerianpilot.com/nigeria-in-perilous-times-over-clampdown-on-opposition-pdp/

The scheduled trial of a former Inspector General of Police, Sunday Ehindero, and a former Police Commissioner, John Obaniyi, at the Abuja Federal High Court was stalled due to the absence of Justice Silvanus Orji, the presiding Judge.

The former IGP and CP were arraigned on a five-count charge preferred against them by the Independent Corruption Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

They were accused of offences bothering on conspiracy and corruption to the tune of N16.4 million, an accusation they both pleaded not guilty to.

According to the counsel to the commission, O.G. Iwuagwu, the duo committed the alleged offence between May and November 2006.

He said allegedly conspired and used their positions to place N500 million in two fixed deposit accounts.

The sum is allegedly part of the N557,995,065 meant for the purchase of ammunitions.

Iwuagwu said the money was donated by the Bayelsa State government.

The prosecutor alleged that the said N500million placed in fixed deposits yielded N16.4 million interest.

The matter could however not move on because the presiding judge was not available.

Consequently, hearing was adjourned to June 26.


http://saharareporters.com/2018/06/19/absence-judge-stalls-n164m-corruption-trial-ex-igp-sunday-ehindero

THE Ekiti State House of Assembly has suspended its immediate past Chief Whip, Mr Sunday Akinniyi, for allegedly “breeding terrorism sleeping all through plenary in the last three years.”

A statement by the chairman of the House Committee on Information, Dr Samuel Omotoso, on Wednesday, said: “the suspension follows series of allegations levied against him by the Leader of Business after due diligence investigation carried out by Ayodele Fajemilehin-led committee of the Ekiti State House of Assembly.”

The statement added that “the suspended Honourable Member was also regularly regular in absenting himself especially when issues relating to his constituency is slated for discussion.”

http://www.tribuneonlineng.com/ekiti-assembly-suspends-ex-chief-whip-for-sleeping-too-much/

The United States, Mexico and Canada won the right to host the 2026 World Cup after easily beating Morocco in a vote by FIFA member nations, on Wednesday.

The North American bid received 134 of the 203 votes, while Morocco polled 65 in the ballot at a FIFA Congress held in Moscow on the eve of the 2018 World Cup.

Football’s showpiece event will return to the North American continent for the first time since 1994 when the United States hosted the tournament.

Delegates had been faced with a clear choice — the joint North American bid boasts modern, established stadiums and well-developed transport links underpinned by Mexican football fervour.

Morocco, on the other hand, promised a “European” World Cup in Africa, playing on the north African nation’s proximity to Europe.

But compared to North America, Morocco’s bid existed largely on paper — many stadiums and roads would have had to have been built and critics questioned how it would have coped with the 2026 tournament, which will be expanded to 48 teams.

FIFA inspectors classified the north African nation’s stadiums, accommodation and transport as “high risk”, awarding it just 2.7 out of five in an evaluation report, with concerns raised over several critical aspects.

They warned “the amount of new infrastructure required for the Morocco 2026 bid to become reality cannot be overstated”.

The report made the US-Canada-Mexico bid the clear favourite after rating it four out of five, and Morocco was not able to bridge the gap.

http://sunnewsonline.com/fifa-drops-morocco-picks-us-canada-mexico-to-host-2026-world-cup/

Despite the noble mandate of making the nation’s highway safe for motorists and other road users, the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, is gradually metamorphosing into a revenue generating agency and in the process, recklessly endangering the lives of those it is legally established to safeguard and preserve.

Thirty years after the creation of FRSC, the nation’s high ways are still plagued with high rate of road carnage, as well as increased deaths, arising from preventable accidents. Some road users lament.

Giving credence to the foregoing lamentation, the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, while presenting its CCC report for January, signed by its Corps Marshal, Boboye Oyeyemi, the commission said that 456 people died and 3404 others were injured in 826 accidents recorded nationwide in January.

The report added that the Abuja-Lokoja highway, witnessed the highest number of accidents with 47 cases, Kaduna-Abuja Road, 44 cases; and the Ilesha-Ipetu Ijesa Road in Osun least with five cases.

The report which was silent on mechanism been put in place by the commission to nip this ugly incident in the bud, outlined some of the factor responsible for the increased carnage.

“Speed violation by commercial vehicles remained the highest contributors to road traffic accidents in the country. Out of 948 identified causes of accidents in the month under review, speed violation accounted for 426 cases, representing 44.9 percent, followed by tyre burst with 73 cases or 7.7 percent.

“Others were: dangerous driving, 71 cases representing 7.5 percent; wrongful overtaking, 64 cases or 6.8 percent; and brake failure, 39 cases or 4.1 percent, among others.

Bad road, which is generally believed to be the leading cause of accident on the nation’s highways, is on the ninth position on the chart with 15 cases or 1.6 percent.

A total of 1,285 vehicles were involved in the January accident cases out of which 757 were commercial, representing 58.9 percent.

The other vehicle categories involved were: private, 510 cases or 39.7 percent; government vehicles, 17 cases or 1.3 percent; and diplomatic vehicles, one case representing 0.1 percent.” The report concluded.

Consequently, some stakeholders in the sector said that this indecent episode is against the decade of action the commission signed unto, which states that “The mission of Safe Road in Nigeria is to reduce road crash deaths and injuries by 50 percent by 2020.”

This United Nation’s Decade of Action for Road Safety signed unto by Nigeria through Federal Road Safety Commission is premised on promoting safety on the nation’s roads.

This is in addition to its core mandate of making the highway safe for motorists and other road users; recommending works and devices designed to eliminate or minimise accidents on the highways and advising the Federal and State Governments, including the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, and relevant governmental agencies in the localities where such works and devices are required. Educating motorists and members of the public on the importance of discipline on the highway, preventing or minimising accidents on the highway, clearing obstructions on any part of the highways, designing and producing the driver’s license to be used by various categories of vehicle operators, determining, from time to time, the requirements to be satisfied by an applicant for a driver’s licence, designing and producing vehicle number plates, standardisation of highway traffic codes, giving prompt attention and care to victims of accidents, conducting researches into causes of motor accidents and methods of preventing them and putting into use the result of such researches.

“Determining and enforcing speed limits for all categories of roads and vehicles and controlling the use of speed limiting devices, cooperating with bodies or agencies or groups in road safety activities or in prevention of accidents on the highways, and regulating the use of sirens, flashers and beacon lights on vehicles other than ambulances and vehicles belonging to the Armed Forces, Nigeria Police, Fire Service and other Para-military agencies among many others.”

But is the commission living up to the aforesaid responsibilities to Nigerians? Some road users who speak to Nigerian Pilot on condition of anonymity provide the followings answers to this nagging question.

“The Answer to your question is an emphatic no; FRSC had metamorphosed into a revenue generating agency instead of a safety agency. It no longer care about the safety of road users, its preoccupation now is how it can meet its revenue target. If FRSC official ask you to park your vehicle, you would be rest assured that he/she is coming to issue you a receipt for one infraction or the other, instead of giving an advice or caution. They had drifted completely. They rarely come up with policies or programme that would ensure safety on the nation’s road. If it is not introduction of speed limiter, which is aimed at creating business for the friends and cronies of the Chief Executive, it would be changing of drivers licence aimed at generating revenue for government. Thanks to the parliament that put a stop to some of those anti people’s policies.

“You hear of continual rivalry between FRSC and VIO over issuance of drivers licence and other issues concerning revenue as if they are not agencies of the same government.” They observed.

A passenger, Mr. Chinonso Ebube, said that the highhandedness of officers and men of FRSC on the nation’s roads is becoming worrisome.

He said, “Recently, I was going to work and when the vehicle I boarded got to sharp corner in mararaba, some FRSC official asked the driver to park, and while he was trying to navigate his way, one of them came and opened the door of the passenger seat and I almost fell off from the car if not for the seat belt. How on earth can someone who was trained to save life turn self to an agent of accident and death because of money? It is also common to see them breaking side mirrors of drivers that refuse to obey their arbitrary command. They are also in the habit of pursuing drivers with their Hilux van or power bike, which could cause accident on the road.”

Ebube however, opined that rather than pursue deviant drivers and cause harm to innocent road users in the process, the commission should device other means, like copying the plate number and tracing the owner to answer for his infraction instead of endangering other road users.

“You see them causing artificial traffick jam and terrorising drivers in the early hours of the day because they want to issue receipt to drivers over frivolous infractions so as to meet their daily target. The target of road safety official should be to make the road friendly and safe for users and not revenue generation. If they are now a revenue generating agency, their mandate should be reviewed to reflect that.” Ebube posited.

He also observed that though there is a subsisting ban of park and pay policy in Federal Capital Territory, the FRSC in federal secretariat are busy clamping down vehicles and charging unsuspecting citizens outrageous fees before releasing their vehicles to them.

Ebube added that the federal secretariat had turned into a theatre of drama as scene of drivers who attempts to resist the clamp down and toying away of their vehicle on the guise of wrong packing is common place.

It is however on the premise of this plethora of complaint and lamentation of drivers and road users that one is compelled to appeal to government to investigate this matter with the view to ameliorating the foregoing rascality by officers and men of FRSC. He concluded.

http://nigerianpilot.com/is-frsc-a-safety-or-revenue-generating-agency/

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned that some bad weather faces the global economy as tensions rise over US President Donald Trump’s protectionist trade policies.

IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde said on Tuesday that despite the relatively stable economic situation in Europe and many other parts of the world, "the clouds on the horizon that we have signaled about six months ago are getting darker by the day."

She made the remarks in a meeting with leaders of major economic organizations of the world in the German capital, Berlin.

She said challenges to the way trade was conducted were damaging business confidence although the IMF believed that global growth would continue to stand at the forecasted rate of 3.9 percent both this year and next.

“The biggest and darkest cloud that we see is the deterioration in confidence that is prompted by (an) attempt to challenge the way in which trade has been conducted, in which relationships have been handled and in which multilateral organizations have been operating,” said Lagarde.



The IMF chief did not mention Donald Trump and his “America First” trade policy when she spoke of the attempt to change the global trade order. However, the comments came days after Trump decided to pull out of a joint communiqué of the group of G7 industrialized nations in Canada to protest the G7's call for fighting protectionism.

Trump, whose controversial metal tariffs have angered allies in Europe and elsewhere, mocked a call in the G7 statement for “free, fair and mutually beneficial trade”.

“Fair trade is now to be called fool trade if it is not reciprocal,” read a Monday posting on Tweet from the US president, who has repeatedly criticized key allies for maintaining a large trade deficit with the United States.

Many fear Trump’s consistent threats for imposing more tariffs on trade with the European Union would trigger a trade war between the two sides of the Atlantic. The EU has announced that it would certainly impose its own tariffs on American products and says a series of such tariffs on US imports, including bourbon and jeans, would be implemented as of July to target 2.8 billion euros' worth of American imports.

The trade row between the US and its allies began in March when Trump announced 25-percent tariffs on steel and 15 percent on aluminum. Trump refused to grant the Europeans a permanent exemption from the measure, which is mostly aimed at overproduction in China.

European powers had hoped the G7 summit in Canada could provide an opportunity to mend ties with the US.

Germany, Europe’s biggest exporter to the US, is fearful that Trump’s protectionist policies could risk more than one million jobs in the country. German exports to the US stood at 112 billion euros ($132.04 billion) last year.

A major car exporter to the US, Germany is concerned that Trump may further target the country’s industry by implementing tariffs on automobiles.

Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, Tuesday in Abuja requested President Muhammadu Buhari to institute an award to ‘‘name and shame’’ all those who truncated Nigeria’s democratic transition with the annulment of June 12 presidential election.

Speaking at the National Honours Investiture for heroes of democracy, Soyinka said: “Today perhaps is also a day to inaugurate our hall of shame so that as we have hall of heroes in one hand we also have hall of shame as a lesson to future generations.’’

According to the Nobel laureate, ‘‘It is not possible to honour MKO Abiola in one breath and admire his tormentor in another breath.

‘‘Loyalty is all very well but loyalty can become perverse if that loyalty is retained to an individual who if he were alive today will be before the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity.”

Soyinka, who did not mention the name of the Nigerian, described him as one who ‘‘broke the laws of Nigeria, broke international law and committed crimes against humanity”.

He added: “It is confusing if professional loyalty is carried so far as to be accorded to such an individual.”

The Nobel laureate recounted his private conversation with the president, where he had argued why a notorious corrupt ruler was honoured by the federal government while the martyrs of democracy and philanthropists were left unhonoured.

Soyinka commended the president for tendering an apology to Nigerians and the family of Chief MKO Abiola for the wrong done to democracy in 1993 by the annulment of the June 12 presidential election.

‘‘There are too many traumatised individuals walking the streets as a result of the policies and attitudes of one of the most brutal dictators that this nation has ever known.

‘‘Closure will come by responding to those traumatised individuals, the victims of unspeakable tortures, some of whom were compelled to watch their beloved ones being tortured,’’ he said.

Soyinka, therefore, appealed to the federal government not to forget the ‘‘nameless and unsung heroes and heroines of the June 12 struggle”.

https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2018/06/12/soyinka-asks-buhari-to-institute-hall-of-shame-award/

Again, no fewer than 13 persons were early hours of Thursday, were reportedly killed by rampaging herdsmen in Logo and Guma Local government areas of Benue State.

Commissioner of Information and Orientation in the state, Lawrence Onoja (Jr.) who disclosed this to newsmen on Thursday said the killings took place barely 48 hours after the Minister of Defense, Mansur Dan-Ali called for the suspension of the anti open grazing law in Benue and other states.

“Facts available to the Benue State government confirmed that in the attacks, 13 Benue indigenes sadly lost their lives to these militant herdsmen, among them, a farmer, Emmanuel Kwaryina of Zongu settlement of Mbagwen, Mbalagh council Ward of Guma local government area.

“Chairman of Guma local government, Hon. Anthony Shawon who immediately briefed Governor Samuel Ortom and reported the incidents to security agencies regaled that the armed herdsmen invaded Tse Ishav in Saghev Ward where they brutally killed eight mourners at a wake keep while inflicting serious injuries on many others.

Onoja said the timing of the killings suggested that the herdsmen must have been encouraged by the unfortunate statement of the Defense Minister who had only on Tuesday, called for the suspension of the anti-open grazing law.

“The implication of such provocative statement is that these militia herdsmen could have been inspired in their attacks on Benue communities and the Benue State government completely lays blame on this most recent attack on the Minister of Defense for such unguarded utterances.

“Mansur Dan-Ali should understand that his position as Defense Minister calls for a high sense of responsibility and composure in expressing his personal feelings through public utterances as such could be misinterpreted rightly or wrongly as an official position.

The Information Commissioner also commended the government and people of Abia State on the passage of the anti open grazing law even as he called on security agencies to support the implementation of the law which is meant to promote peace and develop agriculture and livestock.

Nigeria has been ranked the 16th least peaceful country in the world, according to the 2018 edition of Global Peace Index, GPI. The report, released yesterday, ranked Nigeria 148 out of the total 163 countries surveyed. Iceland is the most peaceful country, closely followed by New Zealand and Austria while Syria is ranked least peaceful, coming after Afghanistan and South Sudan respectively. In Sub-Sahara Africa, Nigeria is ranked 40 out of 44 countries, with Mauritius topping the list, while South Sudan is ranked least. According to the report produced by the Institute for Economics and Peace, IEP, global level of peace has deteriorated by 0.27 percent in the last year, marking the fourth successive year of deterioration. It also said the world is “less peaceful today than at any time in the last decade.” It added that 92 countries deteriorated, while only 71 improved. Nigeria is one of such countries, up one place from its 2017 ranking of 149. In 2016, Nigeria was pegged at 149, while the figure was 151 for both 2015 and 2014. The report said the global economic impact of violence was $14.76 trillion PPP in 2017, equivalent to 12.4 percent of global GDP, or $1,988 per person. The report covers 99.7 percent of the world’s population and uses 23 qualitative and quantitative indicators from “highly respected sources” to compile the index. These indicators are grouped into three key domains: ‘ongoing conflict’, ‘safety and security’, and ‘militarisation.’ All three domains deteriorated over the last year. “There’s been a gradual decline in peacefulness over the last decade,” said Steve Killelea, head of IEP. “The reason for this slow, gradual decline in peacefulness really comes back to the conflicts in the Middle East and North Africa, and the spillover effects into other areas.”

Read more at: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/06/nigeria-ranked-16th-least-peaceful-country-world/

Tax
With two Executive Orders and five tax policy Amendment Bills, the Federal Government is set to reduce the tax burden on Nigerians and boost the ease of doing business.
Minister of Finance Kemi Adeosun broke the news after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja yesterday.
The two Executive Orders are: Value Added Tax Act (Modification) Order and Review of Goods Liable to Excise Duties and Applicable Rate Order. The five Amendment Bills include the Companies Income Tax Act (Amendment) Bill and the Value Added Tax Act (Amendment) Bill.
Others are Customs, Excise, Tariff ETC (Consolidation) Act (Amendment) Bill; Personal Income Tax Act (Amendment) Bill and Industrial Development (Income Tax Relief) Act (Amendment) Bill.
The minister said the approval followed the presentation of a memorandum to seek the consideration and approval of the Council for the report of the National Tax Policy Implementation Committee on Tax Laws Reform.
FEC on Feb. 1, 2017 approved the revised National Tax Policy in order to have a robust tax system to promote investment and improve revenue for sustainable national development.

http://thenationonlineng.net/govt-okays-bills-to-reduce-tax-burden/

By Dzungwe Solomon
Ashiwaves 99.9 FM is precisely located at KM 2 Katsina-Ala/Zaki-Biam Road Benue state.

Established in 2011 Ashi Waves radio station has carved a big nitch for itself already in the competitive broadcast industry by introducing a new and colorful wave in the broadcast industry.

Our slogan, “Here and everywhere that matters” demonstrates our determination to reach and serve our listeners everywhere. Our 30KW transmitters, 840ft mast and other ultra-modern, world-class facilities and digital studios coupled with a corps of vibrant presenters make the station the listeners delight in Benue state and beyond.

We broadcast lively and highly educative and interactive programmes, talk shows, musicals, as well as commercials in different languages including English, Tiv, Hausa and Pidgin English.

We transmit on 99.9Mhz on the Frequency Modulated band FM.

Undoubtedly, given the size of our transmitters our coverage has given us a comparative advantage over other stations by being received far and wide in the whole of Benue state, parts of Cross River, Taraba, Nasarawa, Plateau and Abuja.

You can also listen to us live on listen.ashiwavesradio.com or visit our website on www.ashiwavesradio.com.

We also pledge to give our customers favorable discount to advertise their products and services and make sure customers and clients benefit maximally from our cutting-edge facilities and personnel which carry their messages to the nooks and crannies in the sub-region.

We simply provide the widest reach ever to market their products. Surely, Ashi Waves is a station to beat in speed

What we need so much now...

What we need so much now in Nigeria and especially in Benue, Tiv land is Peace. Do we know that peace surpasses all understanding? In his farewell discourse, Jesus grants peace as his gift to his disciples. We can ask ourselves, what kind of peace does he offer?
Looking at what we are passing through in our homes, Benue, and Nigeria, it is clear that day in day out, there are sad news, bitterness, and anger from different corners of the State and the country as a whole.
The peace of Christ is more than the absence of trouble. It includes everything which makes for our highest good.
The world's approach to peace is avoidance of trouble and a refusal to face unpleasant things. Jesus offers the peace which conquers our fears and anxieties. Nothing can take us from the peace and joy of Jesus Christ. No herdsmen, No sorrow or grief, no danger, no suffering can make it less.
How can we attain the peace which the Lord Jesus offers his followers? Through the gift and work of the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, the Lord Jesus shows us how to yield our passions of anger, fear, and pride to him so we can receive his gift of peace.
It is our prayers these days that the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness and strengthens us with his gifts and supernatural virtues which enable us to live as wise and holy disciples of Christ.
Lastly, brothers and Sisters, Jesus speaks to his disciples about his destination and their destiny as well. He tells them in plain words that He must return to His Father in Heaven (John 14:28).
We are His disciples, to be with the Father in heaven is our destination. Therefore, let us continue to pray that peace be restored back to our country and also pray for our Saints, Bishops, Priests, Religious Brothers, and Sisters, and lay faithful who have gone before us. Let us ask them to pray for us too...

President Muhammadu Buhari has withheld assent to three bills passed by the National Assembly over issues bothering on inconsistency and conflict with the Constitution.

Buhari expressed his reservations in a letter to the Senate which was read by the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the plenary on Tuesday.

The bills are the Police Procurement Fund (Establishment) Bill 2017, Chartered Institute of Management of Nigeria Bill 2017, and the Nigerian Council for Social Works (Establishment) Bill 2017.

The letter read in part, “I hereby convey to the Senate my decision on 25th January 2018 to decline presidential assent to three bills recently passed by the National Assembly, namely Police Procurement Fund (Establishment) Bill 2017, due to lack of clarity regarding the manner of disbursement of the fund as well as constitutional issues regarding the powers of the National Assembly to appropriate funds allocated to the 36 states and 744 local governments which conflicts with Sections 80 to 82 and 120 to 122 of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

“The Chartered Institute of Management of Nigeria Bill 2017, due to lack of clarity over the scope of the profession of public management, that this bill prohibits persons who are not members of the institute from practising.

“Nigerian Council for Social Works (Establishment) Bill 2017, due to last of clarity over the scope of the profession of social works, that this bill prohibits all persons who are not members of the institute from practising.”

Eighty female students of Government Girls Secondary School (GGSS) Mabera, Sokoto State, on Sunday night escaped death after fire completely razed down their hostel.

It was gathered that the inferno destroyed the four-room A’isha hostel and valuables but no student was hurt.

The fire which was suspected to have originated from electrical sparks took the combined efforts of officials of State Fire Service and other security personnel to put off.

According to the The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) , the school authorities declined to speak on the incident, saying that they have no authority to entertain media enquiry.

NAN reports that, efforts to speak to officials of the state Ministry of Education and state Fire Service were unsuccessful as they failed to pick phone calls and did not reply text messages.

http://dailypost.ng/2018/01/22/80-students-escape-death-fire-razes-hostel-sokoto/

Fresh attacks by suspected armed herdsmen on innocent people in Logo and Guma Local Government Areas have claimed four lives.

Governor Samuel Ortom disclosed this today at the Benue Peoples House Makurdi when he received former military administrator of the State, retired Brigadier-General Dominic Oneya who led a delegation of his Foundation on a condolence visit to the Governor.

He said two women had been reportedly killed in Guma and two persons in Logo, stressing that pockets of killings were still going on and reiterated his call on security agents to arrest the leadership of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore whom he said are still issuing threats of resisting implementation of the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law in the state.

The Governor expressed appreciation to General Oneya for identifying with people of the State in their trying moment, stressing that it was a demonstration of a true friend.

Governor Ortom stated that crises between herdsmen and farmers had lingered for years without anyone coming up with a bold step to address same, saying the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law in Benue was meant to permanently address the challenge.

Earlier, retired Brigadier-General Oneya said his mission was to commiserate with the Governor and Benue people over the gruesome murder of 73 persons by herdsmen.

He stated that as the last military administrator of the state who handed over to former Governor George Akume, he considers the state as his home and would always identify with it in good and difficult times.

While presenting a faze cap and T-shirt bearing the name of the foundation to the Governor, General Oneya said he also brought assorted food items to donate to the displaced persons to alleviate their suffering, even as he prayed God to grant the souls of the victims eternal rest and the bereaved the fortitude to bear the loss.

http://thenationonlineng.net/four-killed-in-fresh-herdsmen-attack-in-benue/

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday assured Benue State leaders who met with him on recent killings in the state that he will never protect criminals.
He has again ordered the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators of the recent killings in the state.
Governor Samuel Ortom disclosed these while speaking with State House correspondents at the end of the meeting that lasted about an hour.
Ortom said the state could not spare 10,000 hectares the Federal Government requested to establish cattle colonies in the state.
Ortom said they also appealed to Buhari to cause the arrest of Miyetti Allah leaders who, he said, were still issuing threats of attacks.
He said the President assured them that there is no room for impunity and that he would ensure there is peace in Benue.
The governor also denied the allegations that he was arming militias.

The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has restated its position that the teachers in 10 states that are still owing salary arrears should not resume work until all arrears were paid.
Mike Ike-Ene, General-Secretary of the union, spoke on the directive in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja.
Mr. Ike-Ene said that 10 out of 36 states still owed teachers several months of salary arrears in spite of the Paris Club Refund given to states by President Muhammadu Buhari.
He listed the states to include: Abia, Adamawa, Bayelsa, Benue, Delta, Ekiti, Kogi, Ondo, Kwara and Taraba, describing them as chronic debtors as far as teachers’ salaries are concerned.
According to him, Abia owes primary school teachers four months and secondary school teachers one month, Adamawa; two months to primary school teachers and one month to secondary.
“Others are Bayelsa; seven and half months to primary school teachers and four and half months to secondary, Benue owes 12 months to primary school teachers and seven months to secondary.
“Ekiti owes eight months to primary school teachers and five months to secondary, Kogi; three months to primary school teachers and three months to secondary.
“Taraba; six months to primary school teachers, Delta; four months to primary school and one month to secondary. Kwara and Ondo owe teachers three and four months’ salary arrears of 2016 respectively,’’ he explained.
Mr. Ike-Ene said that the union has directed its members in the affected states, especially the primary school teachers not to resume work until all the arrears were cleared.
He also said that NUT had in 2017, appealed to the governors concerned to use the period of the Christmas holiday to clear all the arrears, but yet some still failed to do so.
NAN reports that President Muhammadu Buhari had in 2017, advised state governors to use the Paris Club Refund to liquidate any form of arrears they owe workers. (NAN)

2019 presidential election
A presidential aspirant, Prof. Olufunmilayo Adesanya-Davies, has said she will contest under the Peoples Democratic Party.
Adesanya-Davies, who is a Professor of Language and Communication Arts at the Rivers State University of Education, pleaded with the National Chairman of PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, to ensure that candidates emerge through free, fair and credible primaries.
According to her, such primaries should have credible processes to
allow for quality outcome, so that PDP will not lose out but produce
popular and credible candidates and have landslide victory in 2019
general elections.
The don, who is from Ira, Kwara State, spoke via a statement made
available to journalists in Ilorin, Kwara State, on Sunday.
She advised party delegates and electorate to concentrate on the
background, personality, integrity and credibility of the individual
contestants/candidates rather than on money politics, ethnic, religion, gender or even political platform, as they choose their candidates.
She said good leadership, with sacrificial mind, as well as great
concerns for the future are lacking in the nation.
She said leaders should demonstrate certain level of intelligence, discretion, maturity and civility; while focus, consistency, loyalty and tenacity should be the watchword and pride of all leaders.
She added that leaders should be without selfishness and greed.
Adesanya-Davies said, “On the deteriorating state of our economy, to
transform the country, proper consultation and co-ordination toward industrialisation and diversification are the way forward for the country.
“We need to fix power to be at par with oil. Nigeria, a very blessed, rich and enviable country currently being a consuming economy
would have to stop. Entrepreneurship, mind-set skills to strengthen the youths and encourage skills acquisition for women, with a view to empowering the nation, is vital.
“Again, when the woman, the mother is empowered, the whole nation prospers.
“I am aspiring to be the next president of Nigeria. I am out to put
laughter and joy on the faces of all Nigerians. The tension is getting
too much. The agenda is almost fully mapped out.
“Moreover, we have paid the price in Kwara State as the ‘State of Harmony’ and it is going to happen from the North Central by the grace and mercy of the Almighty God.”

Newly crowned CAF Female Footballer of the year, Asisat Oshoala says the Nigeria Football Federation must hire a top professional coach for the Super Falcons in order to challenge with other great teams in World football.

The former Arsenal and Liverpool star, who is currently lacing her boot for Chinese side, Dalian Quanjian has enjoyed a great height for both club and country.

Having won the golden ball and the golden boot at the 2014 Under-20 Women’s World Cup as Nigeria finished runners-up – added to an African Cup of Nations winner’s medal the same year – Oshoala has started to turn heads internationally.

She revealed that for the Super Falcons to reach the highest peak of football like other countries such as Germany, Japan, USA and South Korea, the NFF must hire a very good coach.

“We don’t want to be sharing with the men’s team anymore and waiting for the funds to be able to do things,” she said.

“We need our own committees that can run things for the women. We also need top professional coaches. Football is getting harder. There are a lot of teams out there that are getting better every year. We need to do everything within our reach to move forward, keep people in Africa and make us strong enough to compete on a world stage.”

INEC
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has sworn in Dr Mahmuda Isah as Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), bringing the total number of serving RECs in the commission to 25.
The INEC Director of Publicity and Voter Education, Mr Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, said in a statement that the new REC was sworn in at the commission’s headquarters on Tuesday in Abuja. The INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, congratulated the new REC and urged him “to immediately settle down for the task ahead’’. “There is no time to waste, please endeavour to familiarise yourself with the constitution, the Electoral Act and INEC guidelines as well as the commission’s strategic plan 2017-2021,” Yakubu said. Yakubu said that the appointment came at a time when INEC and Nigerians had begun countdown to the 2019 general elections. He added that the REC assumption of office coincided with the on-going nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) which was critical to the success of the 2019 general elections. Yakubu urged Isah to be fair to all members of staff, be prudent in managing resources and “ensure his personal integrity is not put to test’’. He expressed confidence that the new REC would deploy his education and experience to the work of the commission and add value to the successful conduct of the 2019 general elections. The chairman said 3.9 million voters had been registered at the end of the third quarter of 2017 in the on-going nationwide CVR. On his part, Isah promised that he would discharge his duties with utmost professionalism. Isah, who hails from Kebbi, appreciated the warm welcome accorded him. Until his appointment, he was a Deputy Director at the National Assembly. He holds a PhD in Petroleum Law.

The Senate committee probing the ongoing fuel crisis was thrown into confusion Thursday as three persons introduced themselves as president of the Independent Petroleum Marketers of Nigeria, IPMAN.
The first person to introduce himself as IPMAN president was Obasi Lawson,before two others, Sanusi Fari, Okoronko Chinedu, also introduced themselves as Presidents of the association.
“I am Okoronko Chinedu, elected IPMAN Chairman affirmed by the Appeal Court two week ago,” Mr. Okoronkwo said much to the surprise of the audience.
In dramatic manner, Mr Fari, almost immediately, rose up to introduce himself also as IPMAN President.
The chairman of the Senate committee on Petroleum (Downstream) Kabir Marafa, called on the Permanent Secretary of IPMAN to meet with the three to have a common ground for presentation to the hearing.

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/more-news/254453-drama-three-officials-claim-ipman-president-senate-hearing.html

•••ENEMIES OF PROGRESS ARE AFTER TSTV•••
A LOT has been going on behind the scene to ensure TSTV doesn't become a reality. From internal issues that are not meant for public consumption to issues of letters and screen shots against TSTV flying all over the Internet. 

While TSTV Africa was test-running their signals with the free promo decoders distributed just 3 days ago, hackers waited for when it was time for the Arsenal match, took down TSTV signal for 30 minutes and inserted the *"You are viewing Bein Sports content illegally via TSTV Nigeria"* and sent it online for circulation. The entire team was frustrated and awake all night to figure out where the hacking was coming from. 

So BEIN Sports even know the location and company airing their channels illegally and cannot Institute a law suit? THINK!! 

First, it was a disclaimer letter from BEIN Sports that was circulated last month and now this viewing phony message when TSTV finally went live. *Why TSTV sports channels? Who is only interested in TSTV sports channels if not detractors?* Are other TSTV channels not showing? Why the 2 BEIN sport channels? They even told BEIN Sports that TSTV don't have a license to operate in Nigeria sef. That they have been blacklisted by the NBC. *That's the height of desperation. Let's be wise.*

Oh well... TSTV detractors should know one thing, that no matter the pressure and online propaganda to bring down TSTV with regards to BEIN Sports, the management of TSTV would never disclose the agreement they have with BEIN Sports because it's a non-disclosure agreement. They won't breach their part of the agreement. Know this! 

If TSTV is airing BEIN illegally, BEIN Sports should make the move and sue. Let BEIN announce it on their official website and social media handles. BEIN Sports is a Qatar company and they have the all money and resources to fight TSTV. So I don't understand why the illegal messages aren't coming from their official channels but from some Nigerian social media handles. Funny... 

Therefore, if you don't see these messages on their website, then disregard letters, screen shots and fake Qatar tel numbers on display in a time when anybody can have a UK phone number and the person is actually chilling somewhere in Ikotun. Phew! 

Finally, Nigerians should know that the management of TSTV isn't selling decoders so you can't say they are defrauding you rather their decoders are FREE for now. So if the business crumbles at this early stage of take off, the young CEO of TSTV, Echefu Bright has nothing to lose. He would move on to another business and recover his loss from there. He's been doing well with his Africa Health Television Channels. Nigerians are the ones who have everything to lose as an alternative entertainment platform and job opportunities would be lost! 

Everyone working at Green Glass House would be sacked. That your friend, relative, spouse or neighborhood that would have been employed by TSTV or as an accredited dealer would lose that opportunity of having an income or additional income. Some of you who would later want to provide program contents will never get to see that opportunity . Let wisdom guide us. Every company that adds an additional number to the number of employed Nigerians is important even if it's akara selling business, let's support it. 

Whatever digital television services provider you want to stay with, do so without grudges and support more alternatives to spring up and give you more value for your money. 

*I give salute to the entire team at TSTV. Well done and good luck.*