By Lizzy Okoji

Some members the ECOWAS Parliament have called for concerted efforts by West African member states and the Authority of Heads of State and Government to tackle the growing insecurity in Nigeria.

The ECOWAS members of Parliament gave the recommendations on Thursday in Abuja following the presentation of a Country Report of the Nigerian delegation highlighting the spate of insecurity across the country.

According to the parliamentarians, Nigeria holds a significant position in the sub-region and the growing insecurity and communal clashes in the country has the capacity to impact negatively on neighbouring countries.

Hon. Shaka Sama, an Independent Representative from Sierra-Leone lamented the increasing level of insecurity across the region as presented by most member states in their reports.

Sama noted that it would be difficult to sustain economic development in the region given the worrisome level of insecurity in the area.

We have to mobilise concerted efforts of all ECOWAS institutions, the Authority of Heads of State and Government to look at the factors responsible for the security challenges and how to end them.

Nigeria is very strategic to the sub-region and concerted efforts to end Nigerias insecurity will help tackle the insecurity in other countries of the region.

A threat to peace and stability in a place is also a threat to peace and stability everywhere.

We have to work together as a region to stop this problem because a lot of countries in the West are benefiting from our insecurity, Sama said.

Similarly, Hon. Califa Seidi, a representative from Guinea Bissau said if Nigeria, the biggest country in the region could security challenge of the prevailing magnitude, then it meant the region was truly not safe.

Seidi, therefore, urged ECOWAS institutions to do what must be done to tackle the challenge.

It is important for ECOWAS to collaborate, particularly the Authority of Heads of State and Government to adopt effective measures to tackle the menace.

It has become a concern for us all Member States and we have to give serious thought to it because our citizens are dying and it is impacting negatively on our economy, Seidi said.

Hon. Sani Boucary, Third deputy Speaker and representative from Niger Republic, lauded Nigeria and its armed forces for being at the forefront of interventions across the region.

Boucary also commended Nigeria for the leading role it is playing to ensure political stability in the region.

He said all recommendations made would be duly noted and transmitted to the appropriate authorities.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that earlier, while presenting its country report, the Nigerian delegation said the security situation in the country was dire.

The delegation decried the spate of unfettered violence, abduction, and killings by terrorist groups, bandits, and other criminal elements.

Source: NAN News

By Kingsley Okoye/Naomi Sharang

Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures in Nigeria has sought for an amendment to impeachment procedures of Speakers of State Houses of Assembly.

Hon. Abdullahi Wuse, the Speaker of Niger State House of Assembly, made the call in Abuja on Thursday at the ongoing National public hearing on review of the 1999 Constitution.

Abdullahi, who spoke on behalf of conference of speakers of state legislatures, said there was the need to strengthen legislative procedures of removing a speaker.

He said the process of removing a speaker of a house of assembly without fair hearing was an embarrassing situation that had always played out in Nigeria.

The conference is proposing an amendment to section 92(c) of the constitution.

The speakers deserve fair hearing and not for those members to come up and remove the speaker without hearing from the speaker.

So, we are calling for the procedure where the speaker should be heard and the allegation properly investigated and, if found indicted, then a speaker can be removed.

He also said the current standard on issue of financial autonomy had brought untold hardship to people, hence the proposed amendment to section 123(3) to reflect implementation of financial autonomy.

We have inserted the issue of the allocation committee for each state.

We also provided how the accounts of the judiciary and state assemblies can be run.

This essentially is the amendment that is sought for in section 123(4) by the conference of speakers, it is essentially to strengthen that institution.

In addition to that, we have also called for amendment of part 2 of the third schedule of the constitution where you have state executive bodies.

Because the state Houses of Assembly Service Commission cannot be included in view of the need to have autonomy in the state assemblies.

The state houses of assembly service commission need to be included in that schedule where you have state executive bodies.

We have also proposed an amendment to chapter 1 part 2, section 5 of the Constitution calling for state police.

He also said the conference was proposing devolution of power to states and local governments on issues relating to mineral resources, mining, geological survey and aviation among others.

According to him, the conference believes that there is the need to strengthen the local government administration.

This, he said would enhance service delivery at the grassroots.

Dr.Oby Ezekwesili, former Minister of Education in her presentation called for a single issue amendment to the constitution to allow for a referendum by Nigerians for a deliberation of a new constitution.

We need to center the citizens in our democracy, we need to call for a deep sense conversation, Ezekwesili added.

Source: NAN News

By Salisu Sani-Idris

The FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, says submissions seeking amendments to the 1999 Constitution should be guided by the principles of national unity, patriotism and peaceful co-existence of all Nigerians.

Mr Anthony Ogunleye, Chief Press Secretary to the minister in a statement on Thursday in Abuja, said Bello made the call in his goodwill message to the National Public Hearing by the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, held in Abuja.

He equally urged Nigerians to seize the opportunity provided by the exercise to strengthen national bond and cohesion.

The strength of our country lies in the diversity and dynamism of her people. We should seize the opportunity provided by this exercise to strengthen our common bond as a people and guarantee the growth and development of our country.

The minister prayed for amendments to certain sections of the constitution which would amongst others,bring governance closer to the people and also guarantee funding for the development of the FCT.

He also sought amendment to section 7 of the constitution, proposing the inclusion of a new sub-section immediately after Section 7(5) to read as follows:

A: (6) The functions to be conferred by law upon the Area Councils may include those set out in the Fourth Schedule to this Constitution and, where so conferred, shall be performed outside the Federal Capital City (FCC) and such areas as may be designated from time to time by the minister in charge of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

The justification for this is that Section 7 (5) as presently constituted, gives room for duplicity of roles, conflicts and mismatches in planning, provision of infrastructure and service delivery in the FCT.

Bello explained that the amendment would address various arising challenges between the FCTA and the area councils.

Bello, stated that collaboration between the FCTA and the area councils was necessary because the FCT was a planned modern project with a centralised planning system, cohesive infrastructural coordinates and interconnected engineering designs. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Jessica Onyegbula

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has charged the National Assembly to remove the immunity clause from the constitution, thereby making every Nigerian equal before the law.

The General-Secretary, CAN, Barr. Joseph Daramola, gave the charge at a press conference, on Thursday, in Abuja.

Daramola said that the Association was demanding for the creation of new states across the country, which, it said, would ensure administrative impartment and governmental dividends.

CAN also demanded for devolution and decentralisation of power, and governance system, through formal introduction of geo-political zones and regions with clearly assigned roles.

These demands and others were presented by the Christian Apex body at the public hearing on Constitution Review by the National Assembly.

Other recommendations the body made include, Gender Equality, Women empowerment through education and inheritance, equal opportunities in all social-political affairs, 18 years as the age of maturity and consent for marriage.

Federal structure and power devolution: confederation of independent regions or federation of states or regions.

Devolution and decentralisation of power and governance system through formal introduction of Geo-Political Zones and Regions, with clearly assigned roles.

Constitutional recognition for traditional rulers and religious leaders, by strengthening their cultural and socio- religious leadership responsibilities.

Constitutional backing for the operational decentralisation and recognition of law enforcement agencies, expunge sections 214 and 215 (4) OF the 1999 constitution, he said.

Daramola noted that CAN, similarly demanded the redefinition of courts of superior jurisdiction, to accommodate the purpose of regional and zonal systems, with respective appellate structures, and removal of religion provisions or, if need be, inserting constitutional provisions for ecclesiastical courts.

Revenue allocation and sharing formula to be guided by the principles of sustenance and benefits, to sources of derivation on ratio of 70% retained by regions and 30 per cent for the centre.

Maintain the Financial autonomy and independence of the Judiciary. Separation of the office of Attorney General from the office of the Minister of Justice. Proper constitutional definition of an indigene and residency rights.

Creation of new states for administrative impartment and governmental dividends, to include: Southern Kaduna, Kataf, Gurara State, Adada State, from present Enugu State, Cross River North State, Okun State, Okigwe State, Oke Ogun State, he added.

In a similar vein, CAN said the National Assembly should: Amend Section 3 (2) and delete sections 3 (6) of the 1999 constitution, to allow for the creation of local government areas of such autonomous administrative units, to be created by the respective regions and confederating units.

Constitutional provisions for enforcement of our fundamental human Rights and review of the legislative lists contained in the second schedule of the 1999 constitution, Daramola also said, on behalf of the association. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuella Anokam

The Federal Government has assured United Kingdom companies operating in Nigeria of its support at ensuring that they thrived amidst dwindling foreign exchange earnings.

The government also vowed to create the enabling environment for them to carry out their businesses unhindered.

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Chief Adeniyi Adebayo, and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele, gave the assurance at an interactive session with a UK Business Team in Abuja, on Thursday.

Adebayo, in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr Ifedayo Sayo, noted that the government was doing everything to ensure that investors in the Nigerian economy received the necessary support to grow their businesses.

The minister, who facilitated the meeting, posited that the growth of the companies would mean more money for the government to build more infrastructures and also create jobs for Nigerian youths.

This was as representatives of the companies lauded the CBN for the funding of local companies and the various reforms put in place to assist them in running their businesses.

They, however, solicited for more forex to continue in business, saying that they needed foreign exchange to pay their lenders and maintain their machines.

Some of the companies present at the interactive session included: GlaxoSmithkline, Savanna Energy, AzuraPower West Africa and Guinness Plc.

Omon Elyhibro, a representative of GlaxoSmithkline, a pharmaceutical company, lauded the minister and the CBN governor for the support extended to the company by the government in their 50 years of operation in the country.

Elyhibro said it was their desire to make the country an export hub for pharmaceutical products, through their partnership with local manufacturers, pointing out that the CBNs support for local manufacturing companies was commendable.

Also, Managing Director of Azura Power West Africa, Edu Okeke, lauded the CBN for its support to the company, but sought more support in terms of forex, to enable the company to stay afloat.

He said the company needed forex not only to pay their lenders outside the country, but also for the maintenance of their plants.

Okeke, who commended the CBN for the various reforms that had helped the growth of the sector, stated that the reforms had helped in unlocking the sector.

Emefiele, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Economic Policy, Dr Kingsley Obiora, had explained that the CBN was doing its best to assist manufacturers with forex.

He added that there were only three main sources of forex inflow to the Nigerian economy, including the sale of crude oil, remittances from Nigerians abroad and foreign investors, noting that the fall in crude oil prices had affected the inflow of forex.

This situation informed the ban on the importation of goods that can be produced locally to ensure judicious use of the available forex.

Emefiele, however, assured that some of the suggestions raised by the companies would be looked into to assist them in their daily operations. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Raji Rasak

A soldier attached to 243 Recce Battalion Ibereko, Badagry, LCP Mahmud Sulaiman, turned the gun on himself after he shot dead a customs officer at Seme border on Wednesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) gathered that the incident occurred when the team leader was trying to retrieve the gun from Sulaiman following his strange behavior.

In the process of retrieving the cocked weapon from him, which he resisted, he accidentally fired a shot and the stray bullet hit one Inspector of Custom, C.N Walter.

The customs officer, who was attached to Seme Border Area Command, was rushed to Badagry General Hospital for treatment.

But unfortunately, the customs officer died at about 6:40 a.m. on Thursday in the hospital.

Subsequently, Sulaiman also shot himself and died on the spot, the source said.

NAN gathered that the incident occurred at about 7:45 p.m. on Wednesday at Oloko checkpoint, Gbaji on Badagry-Seme expressway.

It was learnt that Sulaiman, who was recently redeployed to the Ibereko Battalion from the Theater of Operation in the North-East, had been behaving abnormally since assumption of duty in Badagry.

He always cock his AK 47 rifle fully loaded with ammunition, an action that made his Team Leader to report the matter to the Commanding Officer of 243 Recce Battalion, Col. Nicholas Rume, where he was serving.

The commanding officer immediately ordered for the retrieval of the weapon from him, he said.

Contacted, the Customs Public Relations Officer in Seme border, Mr Abdulahi Hussiain, confirmed the incident, saying that the situation is under control.

It is true, it was an accident but the situation is under control now.

It is unfortunate the soldier committed suicide, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Mohammed Tijjani

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Usman Alkali, has presented cheques worth N6.5 million to 14 families of deceased policemen who lost their lives in the line of duty in Kaduna State.

The Commissioner of Police, Kaduna Command, Umar Muri, presented the cheques on behalf of the IGP, on Thursday in Kaduna.

A statement issued by the commands spokesperson, ASP Mohammed Jalige, said that the money was from the IGP Family Welfare Insurance.

Alkali said that the insurance policy was aimed at supporting families of deceased policemen who died in defending the country.

The initiative is not only to support the immediate families of the fallen heroes, but also to boost the morale of other gallant Officers who are in active service in all nooks and crannies of the country.

In order for them to do more in reclaiming public spaces as their welfare remains paramount to the current administration of the Force, he added.

The IGP advised the beneficiaries to judiciously use the money to ameliorate their financial situation and cater for their children.

The beneficiaries appreciated the gesture accorded by the Inspector General of Police and prayed for his success.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Taiye Agbaje

As zonal public hearings on the constitutional review continues, a group of lawyers have again sought better working conditions for the office of the clerk to the National Assembly (NASS) and staff members.

The legal practitioners, under the auspices of Alpha and Rohi, a legal firm, made their presentation at the three-day public hearing of the House Committee on the Review of 1999 Constitution on Thursday.

Some of the lawyers, who made the groups position known, included Wole Abiola at Akure Centre; Oladimeji Ekengba, Lokoja Centre; Maude Abdulkareem, Kano Centre; Kamal Kabir, Bauchi Centre and Adeola Adedipe at Uyo, Centre, among others.

Delivering the paper, Lawyer Abdulkareem called on the need for harmonious redesignation of the office of the National Assembly clerk as contained in Section 51 of the constitution and Section 9 of the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) Act.

He argued that designating the clerk as Head of Legislative Services was one of the right steps towards strengthening the National Assembly and steering it towards its rightful place as a co-equal arm of government.

According to him, it is only apt that the office should rank next to that of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and Accountant General of the Federation.

Abdulkareem said the clerk is the chief accountant of the National Assembly and the institution s backbone.

The office is a lubricant machinery for an efficient administration, with patent and inherent complexities.

He said although this consideration was already recognised by Section 9 of the NASC Act, it was not wholly integrated by the constitution.

It is the grundnorm, he stated.

The Managing Partner of the firm, Mr Adedipe, also clamoured for the upward review of the service year and retirement age of the clerk and the staff members of the National Assembly and National Assembly Service Commission.

The lawyer, who restated that the service year of the clerk and staff members should be put between 40 and 45 years, said their retirement age should be reviewed upward to 65 or 70 years in the new amendment to the constitution.

According to him, the parliamentary support service and legislative management is a specialised field that is developed over time.

Undoubtedly, training and re-training of staff members over time, is an investment, the benefit of which must be maximised, he said.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ismaila Chafe
The Federal Government has enjoined all citizens to continue to observe the COVID-19 non-pharmaceutical protocols, saying there is no declaration of victory yet over the pandemic.

Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, made the call at the weekly Press briefing organised by the Presidential Communication Team in Abuja on Thursday.

Ehanire said: We are not yet out of the woods; there is no declaration of victory yet. We are still going to continue all the measures needed to keep our country and citizens safe.

These are called the public health measures; non-pharmaceutical interventions wear your masks and avoid all forms of public gathering and congregations that will make people too close to each other especially where you have enclosed space, which usually have a super spreader status.

We want to particularly advise religious congregations, sporting congregations, markets and all those places where people gather.

We have been improving therapeutics and the government has been very supportive with that.

While commenting on the proposed oxygen plants approved by the Federal Executive Council on June 2, the minister said 38 of such plants would be built, with Lagos State having two while the remaining 35 States and the Federal Capital Territory will have one each.

Just yesterday, the Federal Executive Council approved 38 brand new oxygen plants for the country.

One will be sited in the States of the country and the Federal capital Territory but Lagos, because of the high proportion of illnesses that they have suffered, they are going to have two. So the supply of oxygen will be assured when the plants come on board in 20 weeks time, he said.

On the expected supplementary budget for the purchase of vaccines, the Minister said the prices for the vaccines had not been ascertained yet.

There are different prices for the vaccines and we do not really know exactly which one were getting.

In addition, we know that the ones we are getting from COVAX are at no cost to us.

So what youre doing is that the additional ones that were going to get will take care of 50 million Nigerians, COVAX will take care of 20 million. They are even offering to take care of more than that, maybe up to 30 million.

The prices vary, some vaccines are in the neighborhood of 20 or 30 dollars, and others are five or six dollars.

Therefore, to make a budget, we are working on a rough sketch, some money earmarked.
However, Mr President has also announced that there will be a supplementary budget. But we want to get a clearer picture first, before we actually submit a budget, he said.

The Nigerian government says it will strongly collaborate with religious and traditional leaders, to convince more citizens to take the COVID-19 vaccine.

The Executive Secretary of the National Primary Healthcare development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr Faisal Shuaib, who also spoke at the event, stressed the need to enhance collaboration between government, religious and traditional leaders in convincing more citizens to take the COVID-19 vaccine.

According to the NPHCDA boss, the COVID-19 vaccine is safe, and called on those who have not yet taken to do so.

Shuaib revealed that already over 1.9 million Nigerians had so far taken the first jab of the vaccine while over 148,258 had taken the second jab.

In terms of specific numbers, as of today, 1,961,883 of the targeted eligible Nigerians have been vaccinated with their first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Similarly, about 148,258 Nigerians have already received their second doses across the 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, he said.

He said Nigerians should embrace the community ownership of the vaccination exercise, saying already the Sultan of Sokoto and President of the Christian Association of Nigeria had accepted to help. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Salisu Sani-Idris

Alhaji Ahmed Wadada, the Chairman, Peugeot Automobile Nigeria Ltd. (PAN) has pledged educational support to the Commonwealth Society of Nigeria towards upgrading educational facilities in the country.

Wadada made the pledge shortly after receiving the prestigious Ambassadorial Award in recognition of his selfless service to the nation, by the society, on Thursday in Abuja.

Represented by Alhaji Umar Danyaya, who holds the traditional title of Dan Amanan Keffi, Wadada said that the award had motivated him to do more for the countrys educational sector.

The former two-term member of the House of Representatives revealed that he had been contributing to the nations educational sector with the proceeds realised from his annual Keffi Polo Ranch Tournament.

Wadada, therefore, gave assurance that members of the Commonwealth Society of Nigeria would be included in future projects of the Keffi Polo Ranch tournament and his foundation.

According to him, the decision to include the society in his foundations programme was to enable more indigent students to achieve their dreams in education.

The PAN boss argued that the ravaging youth restiveness and other criminalities could be curtailed by empowering the younger generation with sustainable means of livelihood.

Earlier, the Secretary-General of Commonwealth society, Mr Musa Abubakar, explained that the award was in line with the annual commonwealth agenda to honour deserving individuals during the opening ceremony of the Africa Inter Tertiary Schools Debates Competition.

According to Abubakar, the nomination of Wadada for the award is in recognition of his contribution to national development.

The extensive verification of your record and credentials confirmed your exceptional and unblemished stewardship of service to the nation.

Your selection is also in recognition of your inestimable contribution to the wellbeing of mankind, Abubakar said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event was attended by students from all member countries.

Source: NAN News