The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has said no offender indicted in reported cases of rape and gender-based violence will go scot-free under his watch.
The governor spoke on Thursday when he received a 54-page compendium on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence compiled by the Stakeholders’ Committee set up by this wife, Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, to give recommendations on how the fight against the crime can be won.
Sanwo-Olu, who is the incident commander for gender-based violence in Lagos, reiterated his administration’s commitment to protecting the vulnerable demographics and getting justice for victims violated.
The governor said, “I am delighted by the work done by the Stakeholders’ Committee to bring attention to the problems facing voiceless adults and children in our society. Through your efforts, vulnerable people are building the courage to speak out on offences of sexual violence and heal their wounds.
“We will bring people, who have been perpetrating these crimes, knowingly or unknowingly, to book. We will ensure they never walk freely without the full wrath of the law brought upon them. It is part of our responsibility to ensure that the vulnerable members of our society have a voice and have access to where they can get justice when their rights are violated.”
Earlier, Ibijoke had called on the government to step up the response geared towards reducing sexual and gender-based violence to the barest minimum.
She said her drive was to work with the committee and create a society where gender-based violence would be reduced to barest minimum. She said, “The stakeholders have been having meetings for months and their discussions have focused on the key development pillars of the current administration as they relate to the rights of vulnerable citizens, especially those women and children. “The Office of the First Lady has been working with the vision to reduce sexual and gender-based violence to the barest minimum if it is impossible to eradicate the crime. We have activated our response, bringing all stakeholders and communities on board to forge a common front in addressing the issue.”
Nigeria’s Afro-beat legend, Femi Anikulapo-Kuti has said that not being nominated for the Grammys award does not mean a musician is not great.
Kuti said this while making reference to his father, Fela and Bob Marley who never got nominated or won Grammys award in his time.
The Afro-beat legend said Music is not about awards but spreading love and giving people will to go through hard times.
On his Twitter page, he wrote: “Music really isn’t about awards though. Fela never won or was never nominated. I don’t think Bob Marley was too.”
“Music is about spreading love, giving people the will to go through the hard times in live, etc and inspiration. Music must bring comfort too.”
He, however, clarified that he is not referring to anyone in particular who got nominated for the Grammys, but himself who has been nominated four times for the award.
“This tweet on Grammys was concerning me saying I have four nominations. And all I’m saying is that it’s not the objective. “Many GREAT musicians have never been nominated doesn’t mean they are not GREAT. I wasn’t referring to anyone but myself, some have chosen to abuse, or drag others. Pity.” He said.
The union will harmonise the positions of zones and branches at a meeting in Abuja today.
With some branches insisting that the government must meet all the demands before the strike is called off, the union may put the decision to a vote.
The Ahmadu Bello University branch agreed with the government on the N40 billion Earned Academic Allowance (EAA).The branch, however, called for payment of the allowance before the strike will be called off.
Lecturers at the Federal University of Petroleum Resources (FUPRE), Delta State, said negotiations with the Federal Government must be concluded before the strike is called off.
Ezekiel Agbalagba, chairman of ASUU at the university, said the congress on Wednesday accepted the EAA, but rejected the N25 billion for the revitalisation of the varsities.
According to him, the latest concession by the Federal Government is “an offer”, adding: “Let it land in our purse first.” He added: “We are willing to suspend the strike, but some of those contending issues should be thrashed and thrashed once.”
ASUU chapters of the University of Maiduguri, Yobe State University and Federal University Gashua resolved to get a serious commitment from the Federal Government before they call off the industrial action.
The Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi (UAM) ASUU voted to continue with the strike action until the Federal Government implements what was offered during the negotiation.
ASUU- UAM chapter said both their withheld salaries and sundry allowances must be also paid. A lecturer at UAM, who preferred not to be named, said they voted that the strike should continue until the government fulfils its part of the bargain.
ASUU national leadership will receive reports from zonal coordinators, following state congresses.
After considering the reports, the leadership is expected to take a position and present it to the Federal Government.
A source said some of the congresses voted to call off the strike; others did not.The source said the congresses agreed on the offers presented by the government to the union and with a timeframe to implement some of them. The source added: “All the reports will come in today (yesterday) and we can make a decision on it.”
Last Friday, the Federal Government agreed with ASUU’s demand for payment of lecturers’ salaries from February to June through the old platform – the Government Integrated Financial and Management Information System.
The government said the exemption of ASUU from the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) was temporary pending when the university lecturers will complete the development of its payment platform – the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS). After weeks of negotiations, the government offered to raise the EAA from N30billion to N35billion and the revitalisation fund from N20billion to N25billion.
Cumulatively, the government, through the Accountant-General of the Federation, offered the lecturers N65 billion to call off the strike.
The government also shifted ground on some issues, including the insistence that all the academic staff of federal universities must be paid through the IPPIS platform.
The University of Ilorin (UNILORIN ASUU Chairman, Prof Moyosore Ajao, said the chapter was in alignment with the national body. He said: “Our president will make a pronouncement on our resolution after our meeting tomorrow (today).” A source at the ASUU UNILORIN meeting said the union resolved that “our salaries be paid and must henceforth not be stopped”. “We also resolved that ASUU is not and cannot be on IPPIS,” he added.
Chairman of University of Jos chapter of ASUU, Dr Lazarus Maigoro, said: “We are under a strict directive from the national body not to release our resolutions yet.”
Sokoto Zonal Coordinator of ASUU, Dr Jamilu Shehu, told our correspondent that the zones are expected to make their positions known at the Abuja meeting.
President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday admitted that Nigeria has 200 million poor people and asked the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to consider this when sharing production cuts.
The President stated that asides the 200 million poor people, the nation has severe deficit in infrastructure, saying that the weight of responsibility was too much.
Buhari also welcomed the decision of the African Petroleum Producers’ Organisation (APPO) to site the headquarters of the African Energy Investment Corporation in Abuja, pledging the full support of the country in ensuring the successful take off of the organisation.
At a meeting with Dr. Omar Farouk from Nigeria, who is the Secretary General of the organisation at the State House on Thursday, Buhari also gave assurance that Nigeria would pay for its share subscription.
The President, who received praises for the vision of setting up the APPO and the ratification of its charter by Nigeria back in 1985 as Military Head of State, said the peculiarities of the challenges facing African oil producers required them to come together under the association to share experiences and solve their problems collectively. The President said the growing clamour for a reduction in the use of fossil fuels notwithstanding, countries like Nigeria needed to produce more oil to feed the petro-chemical industry and create jobs.
In his remarks, the Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, informed the President that the proposed APPO Energy Investment Corporation to be sited in Abuja would start with USD 1 billion from the AFRO-EXIM Bank and is expected to bring employment and other benefits to Nigeria.
The Secretary General of APPO who was accompanied by Dr Adedapo Odulaji, the OPEC Governor in Nigeria, conveyed the appreciation of both the Congolese President and the Prime Minister for the President’s support in the relocation of the headquarters of the association to its chosen location, Brazzaville, the Congolese capital.
He expressed hope that members of the 16-member organisation will surmount the challenges posed by COVID-19 as well as that from receding fossil fuel use as a result of the climate change treaties signed by member states and other nations.
Former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and nominee for a fresh term of five years, Professor Mahmoud Yakubu has said the postponement of the 2019 general elections by one week was the most painful decision in his first tenure at the commission.
Professor Yakubu made the disclosure on Thursday while appearing before the Senate Committee on INEC led by Senator Kabiru Gaya for screening ahead of his confirmation.
The February 16 Presidential and National Assembly elections were postponed by a week in 2019, courting national outrage.
Speaking with newsmen at the commission’s headquarter on the eve of the election, Professor Yakubu said the conduct of the election was not feasible after his review of the implementation of its logistics and operational plan.
Asked by members of the Senate Committee for his most difficult challenge, the nominee said “it was having to postpone the 2019 general elections for a week. It was the most painful decision.”
He, however, told the lawmakers that INEC has since surmounted its logistics challenges, citing the seamless conduct of Edo and Ondo States governorship elections.
“But learning from that, we are working very fast to ensure that it doesn’t happen again as we approach 2023. We have learnt a lot and elections are getting better.”
Professor Yakubu said he was determined to ensure that the electoral process was transparent and credible in Nigeria to earn the trust of the electorate.
He tasked both chambers of the National Assembly to ensure speedy amendment of the Electoral Act.
“We have to be open and transparent in the way we manage public trust. My hope and commitment is for Nigerians to believe that their votes will count. I want to see how the electoral process will benefit from the use of technology.
“We can’t continue to work in an environment of uncertainty. So, I urge the National Assembly to expedite action on amendment to the electoral act and I am confident that the House of Representatives and Senate will do it expeditiously. I hope you will give us a brand new Electoral Act by the first quarter of next year.”
Responding to Senator Opeyemi Bamidele’s request for diaspora voting, Professor Yakubu said it has been a recurring decimal but maintained that INEC could only operate within the confines of the Electoral Act and the Constitution and noted that both documents have no provisions for Diaspora voting.
“We can’t run faster than what the law provides. We have identified the areas of the amendment to enable Nigerians to vote outside the country.
“So we need to amend the Electoral Act. On our own, we have contacted the National Intelligence Agency, the Ministry of Defence and the Diaspora Commission. But we must amend the electoral act to put smile on the faces of Nigerians outside the country. I think Nigerians living temporarily outside the country who are working in Embassies should be allowed to vote, including the media and Civil Society Organizations. The ball, like I said is in the court of the National Assembly.”
Also answering questions from lawmakers, nominees for the position of North West National Commissioner, Professor Abdullahi Abdu Zuru said he has no affiliation with any of the registered political parties.
“I haven’t been a card-carrying member of any political party and I haven’t contested any election.”
Nigeria is back into a recession. This time, it is the worst the country has experienced since 1987…
It is still uncertain whether the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) will end soon as the president of the union, Professor ‘Biodun Ogunyemi has said there are certain steps to be taken to reach a final conclusion on the issue…
Sylvanus, a civil servant with the Universal Basic Education, told the panel that the incident happened at his residence in Rumuohalu, near Port Harcourt on August 14, 2014.
Nyordeh Sylvanus, a petitioner at the ongoing public hearing by the Rivers State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Police Brutality, has appeared before the panel to narrate how his three-day-old daughter was allegedly killed by stray bullets from operatives of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad.
Sylvanus, a civil servant with the Universal Basic Education, told the panel that the incident happened at his residence in Rumuohalu, near Port Harcourt on August 14, 2014.
He said the SARS operatives shot sporadically in the area with one of the bullets penetrating the roof of his house, killing his three-day old daughter.
Sylvanus demanded justice for his late daughter as well as the re-roofing of his house allegedly also damaged by stray bullets from SARS operatives.
He said, “We woke up in the morning of August 15, 2014 to observe that one of the bullets from SARS operatives, who were shooting from the night of August 14, 2014, penetrated my roof and killed my only daughter, a three-day-old baby.
“I picked the bullet on August 15 morning and went to SARS office, but was stopped at the entrance of the office by operatives who ordered me to turn back or join my dead daughter.”
However, counsel to the Commissioner of Police, Mercy Nweke, during cross-examination, dismissed Sylvester’s claim, arguing that the bullet he presented hadn’t been used and so couldn’t have killed anybody.
She also asked why he didn’t report the case at a police station.
The Kano State Government has spent N1.8bn to sponsor students to private universities.
The programme, which was started by the former administration of governor Rabi’u Kwankwaso, involved the American University of Nigeria, Yola, Crescent University, Al-Qalam University, Bells University of Technology, Otta, and Igbinediom University, Okada.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Abba Anwar, on Wednesday, in Kano said Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, spoke during the presentation of certificates to 20 of the students at the Government House, Kano. They were the set of students who were taken to the university during the administration of Kwankwaso, with the payment of their tuition and other fees at less than 10 per cent.
“When we came in by the year 2015, we were told that all the students sponsored by the then administration, all their payments were settled 100 per cent,” the statement said. While congratulating the students for their outstanding performances, the governor promised to support them to be on their own.
Ganduje said his administration inherited over 1,150 students from the administration of Rabi’u Kwankwaso.
Oyo State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde, on Wednesday, laid the foundation stone of the N1.5 Billion Bodija Premium Estate, saying that the state is prepared to work with authentic investors to lower the housing deficiency in the state.
The governor executed the foundation laying ceremony at Oba Akinyele Street, Bodija Estate, Ibadan, saying that one of the benefits of the project is that there will be a greater rise in the internally generated revenue of the state on land premium through enacted charges and enhanced taxes.
Mr. Taiwo Adisa, Chief Press Secretary to the governor, in his statement indicated that Governor Makinde, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs. Olubamiwo Adeosun, stated that the project is situated on premium land spanning 12,209.45 square metres. According to him: “Bodija Premium Estate was birthed when Project Scope Limited bidded competitively for this State-owned moribund asset as advertised by the Oyo State Investment and Public Private Partnership Agency (OYSIPA).
“This is yet again, one of the clear evidences of a transparent political will backed by this administration to encourage and attract investments into Oyo State. This investment is valued at N1.5 Billion.”
He explained that the Bodija Premium Estate will comprise 45 housing units consisting of six (6) units of 2-bedroom flats in 4 blocks; twelve (12) units of 3-bedroom flats in 4 blocks; fifteen (15) units of 3-bedroom terraced houses; and twelve (12) units of 4-bedroom semi-detached duplexes.
Other features of the estate are to include Club House, Gym, Swimming Pool and Children’s play area, quality infrastructure drains, roads, security house/access control and alternative power supply, water, sanitation and waste disposal systems.
“We will continue to ensure that our processes are transparent and fast in a bid to make Oyo State the preferred investment destination in Nigeria,” the governor added.
He said the project will be completed within 18 to 24 months, noting that indigenous artisans and building materials suppliers within the state will be engaged by the company.
Earlier, the chairman, Housing Corporation of Oyo State, Barr. Bayo Lawal, hinted that when the project is fully developed in 18 months, it will be another day for the state to celebrate.
“This particular project is unique in all ramifications, as it is meant to provide for high-end users within Bodija Estate
“It is not going to be a massive project, it is for high end users and that is why when we decided to go on partnership, we sourced for those people who have the capacity to bring about the kind of project that we envisioned within the Bodija Estate.
“We have 45 housing units to be developed by Project Scope and I understand that they will do this within the timeline specified, because the major constraint that developers of their kind often face is that of funding. But they have given us assurance that funding is not a problem. So, we can look up to the 18 months timeline for completion and delivery of the project.
“You will agree also that this is just high-end housing units, which is not for the masses because of the cost. This administration is taking care gradually to address mass production and delivery of housing units.
“Your Excellency Sir, we appreciate you indeed because you have given this kind of arrangement full support, the arrangement of PPP. There is no way by which we will begin to build one housing unit here and there and expect that we will bridge the gap of housing delivery in Oyo State; but this kind of arrangement has provided a big opportunity for people of Oyo State to access housing units in large numbers.”
In his response, the Managing Director, Project Scope Company, Alhaji Omodele Rufai, said that the company will build a high-quality project, premium luxury and the best of the best.
He said that the project is targeted at growing upwardly mobile demographic, which, according to him, will rejuvenate Bodija generally and add value to the Oyo State Government.
“I congratulate Oyo State and its people on the achievement of the laudable objectives of Governor Seyi Makinde.
“We are bringing in nothing less than a billion Naira investment into Oyo State with the added value of having direct cash in-flow into the economy. We are using local suppliers, local artisans. We are buying materials locally. We are paying taxes for the people working here. So, it is a double-value-sided arrangement.
“Having said this, we encourage everyone here to spread the work that we are doing here.”
Garba had dragged Dorsey to court for endorsing and supporting the recent #EndSARS protest in Nigeria.
Former presidential aspirant, Adamu Garba, has absented himself from court in a suit against Twitter Chief Executive Officer, Jack Dorsey.
Garba had dragged Dorsey to court for endorsing and supporting the recent #EndSARS protest in Nigeria.
Tope Akinyode, a lawyer, who joined the suit to defend Twitter, revealed that both Garba and his lawyer were not in court, forcing the judge to adjourn the case.
BREAKING: I was at the Federal High Court today to defend Adamu Garba’a lawsuit against @jack and @Twitter. However, @adamugarba & his lawyers failed to show up in Court without given reasons & the Court has now adjourned case to 22nd April, 2021.
Announcing his joining of the suit against Twitter and its CEO, Akinyode said, “I’ve filed court processes to challenge @adamugarba’s lawsuit against @jack and @Twitter. Jack’s support for Nigeria’s cause is commendable. We’ll protect our freedom of expression and resist the move to ban Twitter in Nigeria.”
In the notice of joinder filed in the case, Adamu Garba v. The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and nine others, Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/1391/2020 and sighted by SaharaReporters, Akinyode said he was an avid user of the online microblogging platform, Twitter, adding that it had been a significant avenue for him and other Nigerians to air their opinions and exercise their freedom of expression.
The lawyer said his tweets and that of many other Nigerians have formed a bedrock of public discourses, which have shaped and are still shaping government decisions.
Garba had instituted a $1bn lawsuit against Twitter and its founder, Dorsey, at the Federal High Court Abuja, over his role in the #EndSARS protests, which had led to violence across the country, resulting in the destruction of properties and loss of lives.
Jack was accused of actively supporting the funding of the #EndSARS protests across the nation as disclosed by Adamu Garba through a series of tweet posted on his official Twitter handle on Tuesday, October 20, 2020.
The motion on notice was brought pursuant to order II Rules 1, 2, 3 of the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules, 2009 and Sections 34(1), 35(1) and 41(1), and 43 of the 1999 constitution.
The Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, has presented a budget proposal of N266.6billion to the State House of Assembly for the 2021 fiscal year.
The appropriation bill which was presented on Monday was tagged “Budget of Continued Consolidation” was 25.16 percent more than the 2020 revised budget.
In his breakdown of the bill, Makinde noted that the budget was 25.16 percent more than the 2020 revised budget adding that N130.3 billion was allocated to the capital expenditure, while the recurrent expenditure received over N136.2billion.
He said that the aim was for the capital expenditure to surpass the recurrent expenditure, and assured the public that the state would get to such a position. Meanwhile, the education sector was allocated the highest share of the budget with an allocation of N56.4billion, which represents 21 per cent of the total budget estimate.
The Governor explained that the allocation also represents a 12 per cent increment over the 2020 budget, adding that the allocation to the education sector also surpasses the recommendation of the United Nations Educational Science and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
A former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Kingsley Moghalu, said on Monday only an intellectual and competent leader can truly transform Nigeria as the country slid into its second recession in five years.
Moghalu, who was reacting to the confirmation that Nigeria has now entered its worst recession in 33 years, said the report was not surprising, adding that the government’s excuse that the recession was occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic was untenable.
He said on his Twitter handle that “unless the problem of leadership selection and constitution structure is addressed, Nigeria’s economy cannot create wealth for its citizens except for those with political connections.”
Moghalu urged the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to fix the economy so that Nigeria can quickly come out of the recession.
He wrote: “No surprise Nigeria is entering yet another recession. Until Nigeria is led by an intellectually competent leader, with visionary politics backed by sound economic thinking and knowledge, economic transformation will remain a dream. It’s for citizens to do the needful.
“COVID-19 contributed to our current recession, but is no excuse. Nigeria’s economy has been weak for several years. Was the 2016 recession caused by COVID-19 too? The deeper problems of economic management led to our weak response to the COVID-19 crisis.
“South Africa’s budgetary fiscal stimulus response to the crisis was $26 billion. Ours was a budgetary provision of N500 billion ($1.3 billion) and a @cenbank intervention of N1 trillion ($3 billion). And only a fraction of our desperately poor households received the 20K disbursements from the money budgeted.
“Unless we address the problem of our constitutional structure and the leadership selection problem in our politics, Nigeria’s economy simply can’t create prosperity for its citizens, only for a very few with the right political connections for rent-seeking.
“The few real entrepreneurs who make it do so in spite of, not because of the government.”
The meeting between the federal government and the organised labour on the hike in fuel pump price and electricity tariffs ended in disarray on Sunday as the labour leaders walked out of the parley in anger, barely 10 minutes after it commenced.
As soon as the meeting started at 8:18 pm at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, the Trade Union Congress (TUC), President, Mr. Quadri Olaleye, raised the issue of the latest hike in fuel pump price from N160 to N170.
The labour expressed disappointment at the manner in which the federal government treated its negotiations with the unions.
It frowned at the decision by government to further increase fuel price while discussion was still not concluded on the effects of the earlier hike in prices.
Addressing the meeting, Olaleye described government’s action as a slap on the face of labour and an attempt to blackmail them in the minds of the public as compromised unions.
Representatives of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), also spoke in similar tone, accusing the federal government of reneging on their understanding with the labour team.
Olaleye said that nothing has been done in terms of implementing the promises made to labour during the previous talks held over a month ago.
The labour leaders staged the walk-out when the Deputy President of NLC, Mr. Joe Ajero insisted that the issue of the recent increase in fuel price should be put first on the agenda for discussion but the government side said that it would rather have other issues deliberated on before delving into the fuel price increase.
At this stage, there was heated argument with the two sides engaging in a shouting match, leading to the walk-out by the labour team.
Speaking to journalists shortly after, Olaleye said:”We decided that it is not going to be business- as-usual because we have seen the insincerity of government and that they are putting us at risk.
“They are taking us for a ride. We are in the process of negotiations and in the middle of discussion, they just announced an increase in the pump price of petrol…and it is no other authority but the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
“When has the NNPC become the sole authority to approve fuel price increase? Government is taking us for ride , we are leaving the meeting. We are going to consult with our organs and will brief the media on our next move,” he said.
Also while speaking on the fallout of their disagreement with government team, the NLC General Secretary, Mr. Emma Ugbaja said: “We came to a meeting with the federal government and you are aware that we have been having these meetings for sometimes over two key issues, hike in fuel price and electricity tariff.
“We have had some understanding over time, but while these meetings were ongoing, we were slapped with a new increase in petrol price. We felt that was beyond our understanding with the federal government and we felt that should be the first item on the agenda for discussion but government side said the discussion should be on some imaginary palliatives before what was causing the need for the palliatives and we felt that was putting the cart before the horse.
“At this point, we felt that we should not continue with a meeting whose agenda is wrongly prioritised.”
However, the Minister of Labour and Employment Senator Chris Ngige told journalists that the government team was willing to discuss issues of the petrol price but that it felt that the meeting should follow the fixed agenda.
Ngige said that the government side accepted to include the issue of increase in petrol in agenda but to be discussed after other related issues.
Ngige said that there was nothing bad about what happened, since labour said they were going to consult their organs, adding that government would fix a date for another meeting.
While welcoming labour to the meeting, the Secretary to Federal Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha thanked them for giving the federal government strong support so far.
He also explained some of the efforts being made by the government to reduce the sufferings of Nigerians.
Brigadier-General Ibrahim Taiwo, Commander of 81 Division of the Nigerian Army, who spoke before the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Saturday, said the soldiers were going for an operation along the Epe axis and had no alternative route that was why they took the Lekki Toll Gate area that had been taken over by protesters at the time.
The Nigerian Army has again contradicted another of its claims on the October 20 Lekki Toll Gate incident in Lagos by stating that its soldiers did not go to enforce curfew but were on another mission when they were attacked by some hoodlums, who joined the EndSARS protest.
Brigadier-General Ibrahim Taiwo, Commander of 81 Division of the Nigerian Army, who spoke before the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Saturday, said the soldiers were going for an operation along the Epe axis and had no alternative route that was why they took the Lekki Toll Gate area that had been taken over by protesters at the time.
He said that immediately the soldiers got to the toll gate, they were “pelted and stoned by hoodlums”, adding that soldiers responded by firing into the air in order to clear the way for them to continue their operations.
“The place was cleared at about 8:45pm and they said they were going back to their respective units.
“Later in the day, they went out again at about 11:00pm,” Taiwo added.
Taiwo, however, insisted that soldiers fired only blank bullets while admitting that some soldiers were with live bullets.
He also stated that given the same circumstance, the army would act in a similar way to that of October 20, 2020.
Recall that the he had said that the army was called to end the violence going on as a result of the #EndSARS protest and were at the Lekki Toll Gate.
He added that the army was not informed by the state government that the curfew had been shifted to 9:00pm on that day.
Also, in a statement credited to the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Sagir Musa, the Nigerian Army said its officers were simply ensuring compliance with the curfew put in place by the Lagos State Government.
The army revealed that they were invited by Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-olu, as it expressed its disappointment at the governor for publicly denying his involvement in the matter.
Recall that due to the involvement of the military, about a dozen protesters were killed at the Lekki Toll Gate on October 20 with many others left with gunshot injuries.
The killing of the protesters sparked an outrage in the state leading to wanton destruction of properties by hoodlums.
Governor Seyi Makinde has promised not to sack Osun indigenes working in the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso.
He also said there should be no discrimination of any sort following the new ownership status of the institution.
Governor declared that the state now has the opportunity to restore the lost glory of the university.
The governor also maintained that the real work to reposition the university and take it back to the glorious days when it was adjudged the best state-run university has now begun.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr Taiwo Adisa, indicated that the governor stated these while speaking on Ibadan-based Fresh FM’s Political Circuit, on Saturday.
The statement added that Governor Makinde appreciated his Osun State counterpart, Governor Gboyega Oyetola, for his cooperation all through the discussions.
He also stated that with the amicable ending of the joint ownership, a situation that has bogged down the university for years, he was ready to reposition the institution in line with his campaign promise.
He added that Oyo State under his watch will readily reposition the school for excellence, noting that his administration’s drive to industrialise the state will get the much-needed boost with an effectively run technology university like LAUTECH.
He said: “So, we give God all the glory. Now, the real work starts because we have to ensure that the university is properly funded so that it will be contributing to the economy of Ogbomoso in particular and Oyo State in general.
“If we are saying we want to industrialise the state and We have a university of technology adding value in Ogbomoso, the industrialisation effort can proceed very quickly.”
The governor further maintained that Oyo State is ready to fully shoulder the financial responsibilities of LAUTECH, as it has been doing since the beginning of the year 2020.
He said that the state government has appropriated enough funds to the institution in the 2021 budget, adding that his administration will continue to discharge its responsibilities on the institution.
According to him, his administration is renowned for putting its money where its mouth is.
He added: “The arrangement that we met when we came in May 2019, was that Oyo State usually will fund the University from January to June and then Osun state will fund it from July to December.
“We had to intervene a couple of times last year, and between May and December, we had to intervene to get the university running.
“I, already, indicated that we wanted to take it over and because of that, Osun felt why should they be putting their money and negotiation was still on?
“So, for this year 2020, Oyo State has been funding LAUTECH alone. After our January to June, from July, we have been funding LAUTECH alone basically and we appropriated enough money in the 2021 budget to continue doing that.
“So, we anticipated that we were going to get to this position and we are putting our money where our mouth is.”
Makinde, who described Oyetola as a statesman, equally said there is no victor nor vanquished in the arrangement that has seen the National Universities Commission (NUC) transfer LAUTECH ownership solely to Oyo State.
He added that the situation is a win-win for both states, even as he urged staff of the university never to discriminate against members of the workforce who are of Osun State extraction, saying: “Now, there is no Oyo Forum or Osun Forum anymore, it is LAUTECH Forum and it should be focused on the output and growth of the university.”
The governor added that the winners in the latest development are students of the institution and its stakeholders who can now have a stable environment that is conducive for learning and research, stating that he would visit Ogbomoso soon to meet with the stakeholders.
“Well, the only victor now are the students and the stakeholders of the university because they can now get a stable university environment that is conducive for learning and research.
“So, they can go ahead and do it but between Governor Oyetola and I, there is no victor, no vanquished. We just want our children to be able to go to school and also contribute their own quota to the development of the state and our country.
“It is a win-win for everybody; for the students, lecturers and stakeholders. Now, the major issue has been removed. So, they do not have any reason not to excel anymore.
“I will also use this opportunity to thank my brother, Governor of Osun State, for his cooperation and for being a statesman.
“When we were campaigning, I remember that my opponent then said that higher education should not be something you won’t pay for and that it should be commercialised.
“It was a major point of disagreement between us then and we maintained – and we are still of the view to date – that higher education should be affordable.
“So, when we came in on May 29, 2019, we found out that LAUTECH students, instead of spending 4 or 5 years for a programme, they had spent almost double of that and it was not the students’ fault but because of some people who benefit from a bad system.
“I appealed to my brother [Governor Oyetola] and told him that we need to resolve this problem. Let us keep our egos aside. University is from the name universal; I told him that we need to let the institution live up to its name.
“He saw reasons with me and we were able to come together and resolve it.”
Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, has said that the Federal Government’s proposal to exempt members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities from the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System is a temporary measure pending the conclusion of integrity test on the University Transparency and Accountability Solution.
Ngige, who clarified the position of the government team on the negotiation with ASUU said that it was not true that the government had abandoned the IPPIS or that ASUU should not be on the platform.
Making the clarification on Saturday, the minister said, “I think it is better because a lot of people are quoting us out of context saying that we abandoned the IPPIS and that we said they should not be on IPPIS, it is not true.
“What we said in the meeting and what we agreed was that in the interim for the transition period that UTAS is being tested by NITDA and the Office of National Security Adviser for cyber security.
“For that transition period, ASUU members that are not yet on IPPIS will be paid through the platform with which they were paid the President’s compassionate COVID-19 payment done to them between the months of February and June.
“That platform is a hybrid platform between IPPIS and GIFMIS platform (Government Integrated Financial and Management Information System) for the transition period. That was what was used, it’s a hybrid.”
He said the reason for reaching that position was because no government payment will be done outside the IPPIS platform.
“So there is a handshake between IPPIS and GIFMIS platform and that was what was used in paying them for that period and so we are going to continue with that until UTAS undergoes all the integrity test and cyber security test and it is confirmed for use, ” he added.
On the N65 billion offer made to ASUU, the minister said that prior to the Friday meeting, the government made an aggregate offer of N50b to the union.
He said, “The offer made was clear. You can understand it this way. Prior to meeting of yesterday (Friday), government brought an aggregate offer of N50b to ASUU; N20b for revitalisation, to show good faith that government is still with them on the issue of funding for revitalisation and pending the affirmation of the new sources of funding public education. There is a committee on that and the committee is working on sourcing new education funds, it is a NEEDS committee.
“So, pending that NEEDS committee effecting a new funding source and strategy, government offered them N20b for revitalisation, apart from the funds that are coming from TETFUNDS that is also used for revitalisation.
“They refused the N20bn and said that they wanted N110b which was 50 per cent of a tranche of N220bn. Government said they didn’t have that kind of money and then increased that N20bn by N5bn to become N25bn and if it becomes N25b, the Earned Allowances will be raised to N40b immediate payment, making for a total of N65 billion for revitalisation and Earned Allowances in the universities.”
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, presides over a meeting between government and ASUU representatives in Abuja on November 20, 2020.
The Federal Government has offered a cumulative sum of N65 billion to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to address earned academic allowances and revitalisation of universities.
Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, made the proposal on behalf of the government to the striking lecturers when they met on Friday in Abuja.
Briefing reporters at the end of the meeting, he described the negotiation as fruitful as the government has decided to shift grounds on the lingering issues that have kept students out of the classroom for several months.
Ngige noted that in its bid to resolve the impasse with ASUU, the sum of N15 billion from the amount offered by the government would be for more funds to revitalise the universities.
He explained that the fund was in addition to the N20 billion paid earlier, making it a total of N35 billion committed as revitalisation fund by the government.
A newspaper vendor was shot by a policeman attached to the convoy of the Speaker House of Representatives , Femi Gbajabiamila, at the federal secretariat Abuja on Thursday.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has described the killing of a newspaper vendor in Abuja by one of the security details as horrible, saying he is distraught by the incident.
Gbajabiamila, in a statement he personally signed and issued in the early hours of Friday, said he did not know that someone was killed in the attempt to protect him until he arrived his destination.
The incident, which occurred at the Federal Secretariat, Abuja, around 3 pm on Thursday, had caused panic in the area.
The victim, identified as Ifeanyi Okereke, was subsequently rushed to the National Hospital by his brother and some police officers, where he reportedly died.
It was learnt that the shooting happened when Okereke and other street vendors selling on the Shehu Shagari Way, Three Arms Zone, flocked around the convoy of the Speaker, who was said to be in the habit of giving out money anytime he passed them.
The Speaker’s statement read; “A horrible incident has taken place. This evening as I left the national assembly, I stopped as usual to exchange pleasantries with the newspaper vendors at the corner. Many of them have known me since I first moved to Abuja and it was a friendly exchange.”
“Unfortunately, after the convoy set out in continuation of movement, unidentified men obstructed the convoy which got the attention of security men in the convoy who shot into the air to disperse them.”
“Some hours later, after getting to our destination, it was brought to my attention that someone was hit by a stray bullet, contrary to an earlier report by men in the convoy that they applied their security discretion to shoot in the air.”
“I have caused a report to be made to the local police station and an investigation has commenced.”
“In the meantime; the officer who fired the fatal shot has been suspended from the convoy pending the conclusion of the investigation.”
Gbajabiamila further wrote, “My value for human life and my respect for all people – irrespective of social-economic status – is what endeared me to these vendors and these are the reasons why I stop my convoy quite often to connect with them. For one of them to have been shot by my security detail is horrific and I cannot begin to imagine the grief and loss Ifeanyi’s family must feel on this sad day. No family should have to go through this.”
“I am personally distraught about this incident and my deepest sympathies go to the victim, his family, and Abuja vendors.”
The National Universities Commission has transferred ownership of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology LAUTECH Ogbomoso to the Oyo State Government while the Osun state Government is to take over the College of Health Sciences in Osogbo.
The resolution followed the lingering ownership of LAUTECH over the years. The Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission Professor Abubakar Rasheed stated this at a media briefing in Abuja.
Professor Rasheed said both Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and Adegboyega Oyetola signed a memorandum of Agreement to the development.
The NUC boss expressed optimism that the new arrangement would restore peace to LAUTECH.
According to a statement, Soraz Refinery in Zinder, Niger Republic, has an installed refining capacity of 20,000 barrels per day compared to the nation’s 5,000bpd domestic requirement.
The Nigerian Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of Niger Republic for petroleum products importation.
In a statement in Abuja, Group General Manager/Special Adviser on Media to the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Garba Deen Muhammad, said the MoU was reached following bilateral agreements between President Muhammadu Buhari and President Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger.
According to a statement, Soraz Refinery in Zinder, Niger Republic, has an installed refining capacity of 20,000 barrels per day compared to the nation’s 5,000bpd domestic requirement. This leaves a surplus of 15,000 barrels per day.
Mele Kyari, Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, signed the MoU on behalf of Nigeria while Alio Toune, Director-General of Niger Republic’s National Oil Company, Societe Nigerienne De Petrole, signed on behalf of his country.
Speaking shortly after the MoU signing, Sylva expressed delight over the development, describing it as another huge step in developing trade relations between both countries.
He said, “This is a major step forward. Niger Republic has some excess products which needs to be evacuated. Nigeria has the market for these products. Therefore, this is going to be a win-win relation for both countries. My hope is that this is going to be the beginning of deepening trade relations between Niger Republic and Nigeria.”
Also commenting on the development, the Secretary General of African Petroleum Producers Organisation, Dr. Omar Ibrahim, said he could not be happier with what he witnessed in terms of co-operation and collaboration between the two APPO member countries in the area of hydrocarbons.
He said, “I want to commend the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Republic of Niger and their leadership for this milestone.”
Georgia has confirmed Democratic President-elect Joe Biden as the winner of the Nov 3 election in the state after completing a hand audit of ballots on Thursday, November 19, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said.
The audit, launched after unofficial results showed Biden leading Republican President Donald Trump by about 14,000 out of more than 5 million votes cast, ended with Biden winning by 12,284, according to data from Raffensperger’s office.
“Georgia’s historic first statewide audit reaffirmed that the state’s new secure paper ballot voting system accurately counted and reported results,” Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, a Republican, said in a statement.
“This is a credit to the hard work of our county and local elections officials who moved quickly to undertake and complete such a momentous task in a short period of time.”
The confirmation makes Biden the first Democratic presidential candidate to win the southern US state in almost three decades, since Bill Clinton in 1992.
The Biden campaign’s communications director for Georgia, Jaclyn Rothenberg, said in a statement Thursday evening that the recount outcome, “simply reaffirmed what we already knew: Georgia voters selected Joe Biden to be their next president.”
“We are grateful to the election officials, volunteers and workers for working overtime and under unprecedented circumstances to complete this recount, as the utmost form of public service,” she said.
Raffensperger, a Republican, is expected to formally certify Biden’s victory today, November 20th, despite pressure from Trump, who has claimed without evidence that there were widespread irregularities and fraud in states that he lost to Biden, including Georgia.
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