₦airaland Forum

Following the path of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, the Abia House of Assembly has begun the consideration of anti-grazing Bill in order to check the menace of suspected herdsmen in the State, Deputy Speaker, Mr Cosmos Ndukwe, has said.

Ndukwe told a news conference at the assembly complex in Umuahia on Wednesday that the bill was initiated in response to public demand for a legislation to arrest the phenomenon in the state. Fulani herdsman with gun He said the bill, entitled: HAB 36-Control of Nomadic Activities, Rearing and Prohibition of Grazing Routes/Reserves in Abia State Bill 2016,” had passed its first reading. Ndukwe added that the absence of anti-grazing law had made it difficult to prosecute herdsmen, who allegedly fomented violence and destruction of farmlands in different parts of the state.

The deputy speaker said that the House passed a resolution on Tuesday ordering the immediate retirement of Mrs Uzoma Ukeje, a Chief Magistrate in the Osisioma Magisterial Division. He said Ukeje, who was due for retirement in Dec. 2015, having attained the retirement age of 60, was still in service. Ndukwe said the House Committee on Public Petition, which investigated the petition against her, indicted her for violating the law on retirement.

He said that following the recommendation of the House, Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu directed her to proceed on retirement without further delay. Ndukwe said that the governor had also, in line with the recommendation of the House, dissolved the board of the State Judicial Service Commission, following the expiration of its tenure. The deputy speaker, who is the Chairman of House Committee on Information, said that nine bills would soon be passed, adding that some of them had passed first and second readings. (NAN)

The National Organizer of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), Kofi Adams, has admonished Ghanaians not to make the same mistake as the Nigerians, who have regretted voting out Goodluck Jonathan.

Addressing party supporters on the President's second day campaign tour of the Greater Accra Region in Tema last Saturday, the NDC national campaign coordinator said Nigerians have regretted replacing Goodluck Jonathan's government with that of President Mahamadu Buhari who has deepened the economic woes of Nigerians.

"President Buhari in his maiden speech asked Nigerians not to expect any change from him culminating in his abysmal performance as he has succeeded in running down several policies and initiatives introduced by his predecessor. He has plunged Nigeria into serious economic hardship", Kofi Adams said.

He said it will be a suicidal if Ghanaians find themselves in similar situation by mistakenly voting the Manama led administration out of office.

"In order to make fair development comparisons between the NDC and NPP, it is expedient for Ghanaians to renew the mandate of the Mahama- led administration come December 7," he observed.

Several Ghanaians particularly sympathizers of the opposition NPP are yearning for change, making inference to their Nigerian counterparts.

HungerBAD:
Good.

A prudent President.

In today's edition of let us test how intelligent the wailers are. We will give them the opportunity to bring some ideas forward on how this 2.6 Trillion can be used to develop Nigeria.

The people on Nairaland complaining about Buhari,share one thing in common. And that is any lack of objectivity.

It usually starts with one always ,who will lead the way with their childish taunts of how does this help the economy?then another will say,how does this take us out of recession?then you can tell the least intelligent ones among them,by the "It is a Propaganda" chant.

So,now is the opportunity for you Criers to show us how intelligent you guys are.

The Government has just realized 2.6 Trillion from the TSA,so the wailers should educate us on how the money can be used,in a way that it can make an impact in the Society.

The process of appointing a new Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) has commenced, with the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC) recommending Justice Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen to the National Judicial Council (NJC) for further recommendation to President Muhammadu Buhari.


A source at the meeting, who confided in THISDAY, said the decision to recommend Onnoghen was informed by the need to ensure that there is no vacancy when Justice Mahmud Mohammed retires on November 10.

The incumbent CJN will retire from the bench when he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 70.
Justice Onnoghen was born on December 22, 1950 at Okurike Town, Biase Local Government Area of Cross Rivers State.

He attended the Presbyterian Primary School, Okurike Town between 1959 and 1965.
He proceeded to Accra, Ghana, to attend Odorgorno Secondary School, Adabraka between 1967 and 1972 and sat for his West African Examination Council (WAEC) exams.

He was at the Accra Academy, Accra, Ghana between 1972 and 1974 for his WAEC A’Levels before proceeding to the University of Ghana (Legon) between 1974 and 1977 to obtain his Bachelor of Law Degree (LL.B Hons) and graduated with a 2nd Class Upper Division.

He attended the Nigerian Law School, Victoria Island, Lagos, between 1977 and 1978 for his B.L certificate.

His previous professional engagements include: Pupil State Counsel, Ministry of Justice, Ikeja, Lagos (1978-1979); Partner in the law firm of Effiom Ekong & Company, Calabar (1979-1988); Principal Partner/Head of Chamber of Walter Onnoghen & Associates, Calabar (1988-1989); High Court Judge, Cross Rivers State Judiciary (1989-1998); Chairman, Cross Rivers State Armed Robbery and Fire Arms Tribunal (1990-1993); Chairman, Judicial Enquiry into the Crisis between Students of the University of Calabar and Obufa Esuk Orok Community, Calabar (1996); Chairman, Failed Banks Tribunal, Ibadan Zone (1998); Judge, High Court of Rivers State (1992-2004); and Justice of the Court of Appeal (1998-2005).

A Fellow, Chattered Institute of Arbitrators, Justice Onnoghen has attended several conferences and seminars around the world.

He is a member of the Body of Bencher and Life Benchers, and was appointed a justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria (JSC) in 2005.

seunmsg:
The observations are general about the overall conduct of the election and did not in any anyway question the eventual outcome or the legitimacy of the winner.

They also observed correctly that all the party complained about inducement which mean that all of them were guilty. Going forward, I hope INEC can take a look at the observations and correct the loopholes in subsequent elections.

Amnesty International has said that Nigeria is trying to muzzle dissent by arresting and intimidating journalists and protesters.

London-based rights group cites examples of police blocking peaceful protests, reports Associated Press.

Those protests include activists demanding the government rescue more than 200 kidnapped Chibok schoolgirls, Shiite Muslims demanding the release of their long-detained leader and separatists calling for an independent Biafra in the southeast.

The statement Wednesday says Amnesty has documented cases of enforced disappearances and killings of pro-Biafra supporters by security forces.

It also cites the detention of several journalists critical of officials in the government of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Amnesty says the intimidation appears to be “a barefaced attempt by the Nigerian government to muzzle dissenting voices.”

It urges the government to halt detentions without trial and the excessive use of force.

The federal government, as part of efforts towards reflating the country’s economy and pulling it out of recession, has summoned an economic session to brainstorm on the issue.

President Muhammadu Buhari, his vice, Prof Yemi Osinbajo as well as ministers and heads of relevant federal ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) will today converge on Abuja for a one-day retreat to discuss steps to salvage the receding economy.

The Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS) had in August, reported that the nation’s economy had slid into recession for the first time in more than 20 years, as it announced a further contraction in the second quarter of the year. According to the NBS, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) contracted by 2.06 percent after shrinking 0.36 in the first quarter.

This has generated anxiety among Nigerians home and abroad, who have urged the current administration of President Buhari to urgently search for ways out of the economic woes confronting the country.

LEADERSHIP recalls that president of the Senate, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki, on Tuesday, said that on resumption next week, the Senate would investigate the cause of the country’s receding economy and also pass emergency pieces of legislation to tackle it. He said the time for identifying the cause of the economic recession and those responsible for it was over and that all political leaders should start working together to find a solution.

Saraki also disclosed that the Red Chamber will make “tough” recommendations to President Buhari on the matter.

The minister of budget and national planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, yesterday disclosed that the economic summit will also provide the forum for government to present and discuss priority areas of the 2017 budget and realign the priority areas of the MDAs with national growth and development objectives.

“The key objective of the retreat is to discuss the 2017 budget as well as discuss steps being taken to get the economy out of recession,” the minister said.

Spokesperson of the minister, Akpandem James, quoted the minister as saying that the meeting was part of a scheduled arrangement to fine-tune and set the right parameters for the 2017 budget.

“It (the meeting) will provide an opportunity to discuss the framework of the 2017 budget, the key priorities and the deliverables of the budget,” he explained.

“The retreat is expected to deliver improved understanding of the measures being taken to get the country out of recession, improve synergy among the various ministries for enhanced implementation of planning and budget, and enhance knowledge of how to develop 2017 budget, which is effectively linked with the medium term plan.

“The meeting will also review prioritised projects and programmes of ministries to fit into the 2017-2019 MTSS, 2017-2020 Medium Term Plan and 2017 Budget, and improved understanding on budget ceiling for MDAs for 2017 Budget,” he said.

Akpandem said President Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo would participate in the meeting, while private sector facilitators and some experts on economics are also expected to provide perspectives during the technical sessions.

He said the retreat became necessary as years of the country’s growth and development had been impeded by mismatch between planned targets and budgetary outcomes at the national and sectoral levels, due to the lack of synergy between the various federal MDAs.



Seek experts’ advice – Emir Sanusi

Meanwhile, the Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, has called on the federal government to seek the advice of experts on economics in tackling the current economic crisis in the country.

Sanusi gave the advice during the traditional Sallah Durbar (Hawan Nasarawa) at Government House, Kano.

He said consulting the experts would help in bringing about proper solution to the crisis and reducing the hardship people are currently facing in the country.



The emir, a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), also urged wealthy Nigerians to support the less-privileged in the society in order to alleviate their sufferings.

He also urged the people of Kano to remain law-abiding and be their brother’s keeper irrespective of religion or ethnic background, for all Nigerians to continue to pray for economic growth and development of the country.

The royal father appealed to the state government to empower the people with economic skills that would make them self-reliant.

Also, an economist and managing director of Financial Derivatives Company Ltd, Mr Bismarck Rewane, said that in order for the country to come out of recession, the federal government needs to borrow and sell assets to raise funds that would be injected into the economy.

Speaking on the current state of the nation’s economy, Rewane said the government must, first and foremost, inject money into the system.

According to him, since there is a fall in oil revenue, the government has to increase the deficit plan for 2016.

“The government must inject funds into the system and the executive is fully engaged because they know they cannot hide; they have to deal with the problem,’’ he said.

Similarly, the immediate past finance minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, also urged the present administration to look inwards for solutions to the current economic crisis in the country.

“The solutions to the country’s economic decline could still be found in the country,” she said in an interview on Aljazeera programme, The Stream.

sheyguy:
Stop combining irrelevant fact with lies. Those govts had lots of reserve fund to fall back to. Our present situation is such that the reccurent expenditure has been bloated more than 60% from the time of Yar' adua. Stop making this APC vs PDP. It will help your thinking alot.
The last admin left a declining economy and did with a clear warning.

redcliff:
Confused group you want the girls released by all means necessary then you dont want them to exchange prisoners so you can have ur girls back... someone should please tell me the logic i am not understanding!

Heavily armed policemen on Tuesday sealed one of the Kano residences of former Kano state Governor, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

The house, which is situated at Lugard Road, is a few minutes’ drive from Kano Government House.

Kwankwaso’s residence at Lodge Road also serving as headquarters of Kwankwasiyya Movement was sealed by the police over an alleged plan by the former governor to conduct mass wedding.

Confirming the sealing of the residence, the state Police commissioner, Mr. Rabiu Yusuf, said: “We have directed our men to seal the residence because of an intelligence report that there is a plan to conduct mass wedding at the house “

Rabiu spoke through the police spokesman, DSP Magaji Musa Majia.

“Police did not permit for any mass wedding at the residence, “ he added.

However, an insider of Kwankwasiyya movement told our correspondent that the mass wedding was conducted on Monday secretly with attendance of only brides and grooms’ next of kins, including some selected Islamic scholars .

Details follows

LORDOFAFONJAS:
no hope bro