Headquarters Nigerian Defence Academy

By Mohammed Tijjani

The Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) Armed Force Selection Board (AFSB) for the 72 Regular Course is to begin on Sept. 12.

Brig.-Gen. Ayoola Aboaba, the Academy Registrar who disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday in Kaduna, said that the process would end on Oct. 24.

Shortlisted candidates are to appear for interview before the Armed Forces Selection Board (AFSB) from Saturday,September 12to October 24 at the Nigerian Defence Academy, Ribadu Campus, Kaduna.

According to him, the candidates will appear in three batches.

Batch 1, which included Anambra, Bauchi, Delta, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Gombe, Kano, Kaduna, Nassarawa, Ondo and Plateau states, is to report forscreeningfrom Sept. 12.

Batch 2, Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Benue, Imo, Katsina, Kogi, Osun, Oyo, Rivers, Yobe and Zamfara states, is to report on Sept. 26.

Batch 3, Bayelsa, Borno, Cross River, Ebonyi, FCT, Jigawa , Kebbi, Kwara, Lagos, Niger, Ogun, Sokoto and Taraba States will report on Oct. 10.

Aboaba said that any candidate who failed to report on Sept. 12, 26, and Oct. 10 for batches 1, 2 and 3, respectively would not be allowed to attend the interview.

Any candidate in batches 2 and 3 who is seen around the NDA premises before Sept. 26 and Oct. 10 respectively , would be disqualified.

All candidates will be accommodated and fed throughout the duration of their stay for the AFSB and they must come along with their Bank Verification Number (BVN) and bank account number.

Other details and information would be contained in the portal, he said.

In another development, Aboaba said that the result of the NDA screening test which held on Aug. 15 had been released.

Candidates who sat for the Screening Test should log onto www.nda.edu.ng or www.ndaapplications.net to check for their names, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

CNPP

By Segun Giwa

The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP), said it had observed the recourse to violence by some politicians in Ondo state ahead of the Oct. 10, governorship election and sued for peace.

Mr Rotimi Boboye, the Chairman of CNPP in the state, expressed the concern on Tuesday in Akure at a news conference.

Boboye accused members of one of the political parties in the state of resorting to violence, intimidation and subterfuge.

He, therefore, called on President Muhammadu Buhari to take steps to discourage violence before, during and after the election.

This dangerous development was manifested in the recent local government election largely boycotted by many political parties while a few of our members participated.

Rather than abate such violence have taken new dimensions with meetings of political parties being invaded by known thugs, cronies and agents.

These have also been followed with illegal arrests, dehumanising treatment and detention.

We see these as a dress rehearsal to show the preparedness of the warmongers to let loose violence on the electorate in our dear state, he said.

Boboye said the only way to avoid a repeat of past bitter experiences was to arrest the descent into anarchy that current trend portend.

Also, the Chairman of Zenith Labour Party, Mr Joseph Akinlaja, said his party was concerned about the spate of violence.

Akinlaja said that although his party did not participate in the recently concluded Local Government election, political thugs allegedly still attacked his members.

He called on agencies that would be involved in the forthcoming poll to display neutrality and show fairness to all political parties.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has sworn-inDr Tella Rahmon as a Resident Electoral Commissioner.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, speaking at the brief swearing-in ceremony in Abuja on Tuesday, saidRahmon would be deployed to Ekiti as state REC.

Yakubu advised the new REC to be firmand prudent in discharging his responsibilities andthe management of resource under his watch.

The only business that the commission knows is conducting elections. You are going to be responsible for managing resources and personnel in the state you are going to be deployed to.

You should be firm and always mindful of the fact that ours is an onerous responsibility and you must always be on the side of the Electoral Act, our guidelines and regulations, and above all the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The policy of the commission at the moment is to deploy RECs to their geopolitical zones but on no account will they serve in their states of origin, not even deployment to assist the sitting RECs in their states of origin.

You are hereby deployed to Ekiti as the REC, he said.

Yakubu, fielding questions from newsmen on the allegations against, Mr Mike Igini, INEC REC for Akwa-Ibom, said that the commission would not be distracted by baseless allegations.

He said that Igini had alreadyresponded to the allegation and he directed his lawyers to initiate legal actions against the person who made the allegation.

Let me also say this, we stand by our REC.We know the kind of job we are doing.

On the eve of elections all manner of people come with all manner of accusations to slander officials of the commission and essentially to divert our attention from the onerous task of conducting elections in the country.

We will not be distracted. We know all these shenanigans; people have been doing this for a long time. It will not distract us from doing what is right.

My assurance to the people of Edo and the people of Ondo and then the people of the 13 constituencies where we are going to conduct by-elections on Oct. 31, is that they should expect from INEC free, fair and credible elections, professional conduct.

We will not compromise our Oath of Office for any reason. Whoever the people vote for becomes their governor or representative. This is our assurance to Nigerians, he said.

Yakubu said that the commission was making good progress in its preparations for Edo and Ondo states governorship elections.

On activities of political actors in Edo, Yakubu said INEC was concerned and was leaving no stone unturned in speaking to the political actors.

In his remarks,Rahmon appreciated President Muhammadu Buhari and Yabubu for his consideration to serve as REC, saying I consider it a great privilege.

He pledged to follow laid down rules, INEC guidelines, the Electoral Act and the Constitution of the country in the discharge of his duties. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Electricity

By Joan Nwagwu

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has urged the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to take decisive action on the plan by DISCOs to hike electricity tariff in the country.

Mr Ayuba Wabba, the NLC President on Tuesday in Abuja made the call in a statement titled: Increase in Electricity Tariff by Abuja DISCOs a taunting of the will of the Nigerian people gone too far.

Wabba said that the organised labour would mobilise Nigerian workers to resist the increase in electricity tariff by the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), effective from Sept. 1.

Wabba said that the NLC condemned the alleged deaf and dumb posture of the state electricity regulators the NERC.

We wish to state that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) seriously frowns at, completely condemns and totally rejects any plan to inflict further pain on Nigerians at this very time of great economic distress.

The new dribble by the Abuja DISCO is dead on arrival as it will be resisted by the Nigerian working class and people. The other DISCOs should not bother putting their ships of exploitation to sail.

It is important to put it on record that the NERC will be putting its name on the wrong side of history if it continues to play the ostrich while a group of portfolio investors make a blood meal of Nigerians.

Nigerian electricity consumers need the NERC to speak up and act in the defense of the rights of the Nigerian people, he said.

He noted that adamant desire by the DISCOs was to ram through an ill-conceived agenda to further impoverish Nigerians amid plummeting return on service delivery.

He said that the brazen decision was taken in spite of the fact that President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Assembly had ordered the DISCos to suspend the electricity tariff increase till further notice.

It appears that the adamant desire of DISCOs in Nigeria to ram through their ill-conceived agenda to further impoverish Nigerians through astronomical tariff increase amidst a plummeting return on service delivery has now been deregulated.

The DISCOs appear to have given themselves the ignoble tasks of taking turns to taunt the will of the Nigerian people.

Abuja DISCO has adorned the robe of the protagonist in this regard with its announcement of a new tariff plan for electricity consumers within its service area starting from Sept. 1, 2020.

This move is in spite of the resolution of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and even the direct orders of Mr President that the plans by DISCOs to hike electricity tariff should be suspended until further notice.

We are not aware of any order by the government or the elected representatives of the Nigerian people de-freezing the order to suspend any plans to inflict more pocket and psychological trauma on Nigerians by way of reckless and insensitive hike in electricity tariff, he said.

Wabba however, noted that since the unbundling of the former Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) to yield the DISCOs and GENCOs, electricity tariffs through the Multi Year Tariff Order (MYTO) had been increased a number of times without accompanying improvement in services.

He said that each hike in electricity tariff in Nigeria was trailed by huge leap in hours of darkness, de-metering of more Nigerians, exponential rise in incidences of estimated billing.

This has also increased the burden on citizens for the procurement of equipment and facilities for public electricity supply amidst other devious methods by DISCOs to cheat, exploit and despoil poor Nigerians, he said.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq

By Collins Yakubu-Hammer

The Federal Government has inaugurated the National Humanitarian Coordination Technical Working Group (TWG) to improve Civil Security Cooperation (CiSEC) framework and support the countrys Humanitarian coordination efforts.

Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, inaugurated the working group in Abuja on Tuesday.

She said that the TMG would provide the National Humanitarian Coordination Committee (NHCC) with the relevant technical support.

Farouq explained that the CiSEC Workshop, held in Maiduguri in November 2019, brought stakeholders together and deliberated on ways and means to ensure seamless delivery of humanitarian actions.

At the end of the workshop, the participants unanimously approved a communique.

Today, we begin the journey of one of the most important components of the CiSEC Framework, that is, the TWG, of which you have been invited to be members.

The TWG, is a multi-sectoral committee that will propose a national vision for humanitarian action.

It will also ensure an evidence-based approach to the implementation of any recommendations related to operationalisation of the CiSEC framework and guidelines.

It is important you understand that your committee will not only cater for the North East but Nigeria as a whole, she said.

The minister highlighted the functions of the TWG as;, dispensing its functions as a technical body to the NHCC on all matters relating to CiSEC framework and its implementation.

Propose a national vision for humanitarian action, propose policies that enhance coordination and seamless delivery of humanitarian aid to affected communities in the country.

Ensure the implementation of any NHCC recommendations related to operationalisation of the CiSEC framework and guidelines and many others.

It is my sincere appeal that you will live up to the high expectation of the NHCC, the general public and our humanitarian and security partners, Farouq said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) report that members of the TWG included, Civil Society Organisations, Security Agencies, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development.

Others were office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) National Security Adviser, Development Partners, International Non Governmental Organisations, among others.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

Police IG Mohammed Adamu

By Aminu Garko

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Alhaji Mohammed Adamu, has urged traditional rulers to support the fight against armed robbery, banditry, kidnapping and cattle rustling.

Adamu, who was represented by Alhaji Adamu Usman, Commissioner of Police in Niger, at a meeting with traditional rulers from Kontagora Emirate, told the monarchs that they were very critical to the success of the community policing policy.

The monarchs, led by the Emir of Kontagora, Alhaji Saidu Namaske, were in Minna to thank the Nigeria Police Force over successes recorded in the ongoing fight against crime in Niger.

The IGP, in a message to them, said that the Police Force would continue to partner with stakeholders to tackle security challenges in Niger and the entire country.

He called for reliable and credible information on the movement of suspected criminals in the society to enable security agencies rid the country of bad elements.

The IGP said that more security men were being deployed to rural areas to flush out bandits that were terrorising rural communities.

Speaking earlier, Namaske said that people of Kontagora emirate were grateful to the Police Force for introducing measures that had reduced armed robbery, banditry, kidnapping and cattle rustling.

Residents of Rijau, Magama, Wushishi, Kontagora, Mashegu and Mariga Local Government Areas can now go about their normal activities without fear.

The Police Command in Niger has restored sanity through the establishment of Special Police camps in rural areas.

Most of the bandits come from Zamfara, Katsina and Kaduna states. We are happy that sanity is being restored, he said.

The royal father urged the Police and other law enforcement agencies to sustain the momentum, and pledged their support to their efforts.

We will continue to support the Police with required intelligence that can lead to the arrest of bad elements in the society. It is a responsibility we will never toy with, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Mr Joe Ajaero

By Esenvosa Izah

The Nigeria Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) says the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)s directive authorising banks to ring-fence collection accounts of electricity distribution companies (DisCos) in Nigeria is counter productive.

ItsGeneral Secretary,Mr Joe Ajaero, said on Tuesday in Lagos that the directive wouldresult to operational and over head cost challenges.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that CBN on Aug. 21, had issued a circular authorising banks to ring-fence collection accounts of electricity distribution companies (DisCos) in Nigeria.

The apex bank instructed that all the collections and remittances of the DisCos to both NBET and TCN, would now be the responsibility of banks providing guarantees to DisCos.

Ajaero said: CBN is not a regulatory body for the power sector and has very minute knowledge about its operations and cannot be in a position to issue directives in a sector where it lacks expertise.

Since the privatisation of the Nigerian power sector on Nov. 1, 2013, not much has been done toward ensuring that electricity consumers are issued prepaid meters.

This is to properly account and justify payments being made for energy consumers,rather than the estimated billing system which has further placed huge financial burden on Nigerians.

He said also that the CBNs directive would not guarantee jobs security.

According to him, it will throw thousands of electricity workers into the labour market, thus increasing hardship and hunger on family members of those affected.

The directive will further increase the unemployment index which the current administration is working assiduously to prune down.

The CBN directive is a subtle attempt to take over jobs in the power sector which will be resisted.

You cannot work in the financial sector of the economy and collect your pay from the power sector; enough of this usurpation, he said.

Ajaero urged the Federal Government to concentrate on metering every electricity consumer in the country, instead of asking them to keep paying for electricity not consumed. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo

By Chijioke Okoronkwo

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Tuesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, met with Gov. Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa over humanitarian and security situation in the North-East.

Also at the meeting were Hajia Sadiya Umar-Farouq, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, National Security Adviser (NSA), Babagana Monguno, Comptroller General, Nigeria Customs Service, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd) among others.

Fintiri told State House correspondents afterward that the meeting was successful and fruitful.

These are strategies we need to keep for ourselves so that we move the country and the North-East forward.

I think it is too early to divulge the information at the moment.

He said that a key humanitarian issue in the region was the movement of food and other aids to the badly affected areas.

According to him, the military has been doing well of late while the communities are opening up.

The governor said that serious efforts were being made to address the issue of the flooding in the region.

The flooding does not affect the North-East generally; but my state is one of those that have been identified by NEMA to have flooding this year.

And personally, I have been making efforts in addressing the flooding challenge in my state.

On the issue of shelter for Internally Displaced Persons(IDPs), he said that the IDP camps in the region were well taken care of.

He said that more houses were being built for IDPs in Borno.

They are building more houses in all the local governments in that state for them to relocate IDPs camps to their various local governments of origin.

That is also happening in Adamawa; we are addressing them headlong and we are moving forward in ensuring that our citizens are well taken care of and they are settled properly the way it should be in their communities.

On COVID-19, Fintiri said that the curve had been flattened in the whole North-East, adding that efforts would be stepped up to ensure that the protocols were kept.

On her part, Umar-Farouk said that it was only Borno that still had a high concentration of IDPs.

In Adamawa, there are one or two IDP camps and they originated from Borno State.

In Yobe, we do not have official IDP camps; they are all back in their communities.

So, what we are really working on now is Borno where we have high concentration of these IDPs; and the government is doing everything possible to support, assist and to ensure that they are being catered for, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Housing project

By Salisu Sani-Idris

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) through its Satellite Towns Development Department (STDD) has concluded plans to roll out 30,000 housing units for its staff members and the FCDA in Karshi.

The FCT Minister of State, Dr Ramatu Aliyu, made the disclosure at the assessment tour of the project at Karshi in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) on Tuesday in Abuja.

Aliyu reiterated the FCTA committed to provide affordable housing as mandated by President Muhammadu Buhari, to ensure that indigenous people and residents of the FCT across the six area councils had affordable housing.

The minister assured that the developers were committed to the early realisation of the project.

First, the Karshi tour is to assess the affordable housing project designed for the staff of the FCTA and Federal Capital Development Authority.

So, it happens that we have a site in Karshi and we came to inspect it and to look at some possible encroachment.

Practically, we are ready to tradeoff and do the needful. We have assessed the whole place to ensure that all the infrastructures are already in place and to ensure that the houses are truly affordable and structures are qualitative.

We came out today with our development partners, the Family Homes. We have over 30, 000 staff waiting already and we are set to proceed.

As for the takeoff, it is as soon as now, but the COVID-19 pandemic which is not peculiar to us but a global pandemic really slowed down the pace of development.

By and large, it is never too late. The developers are also giving us a time frame to expedite action on the project. And quality and affordability as the name implies matter to us.

The population of FCT staff without credible house is alarming, so if we want adequate concentration for our staff, then we have to provide them with good accommodation.

These housing facilities will encourage them to do more, give them sense of ownership in the territory. This will boost their standard of living, she said.

Earlier, the Director of Housing, FCT Satellite Towns Development Development, Usman Bala, maintained that the project would be completed within 24 months.

Bala added that modalities were in place to ensure that staff of the administration were beneficiaries of the scheme.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

National Pension Commission (PenCom) and National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) sign Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to revise regulation on Retiree Life Annuity and guidelines on Group life Insurance policy.

By Rukayat Adeyemi

The National Pension Commission (PenCom) and the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to revise regulation on Retiree Life Annuity and guidelines on Group life Insurance policy.

Mr Peter Aghahowa, Head, Corporate Communications Department, PenCom said in a statement that the regulation was for employees and Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) retiree pack.

Aghahowa explained that the revised regulations and guidelines provide clarity on the Provisions of the Pension Reform Act (PRA) of 2014 in areas relating to Retiree Life Annuity.

He said that they focus on guiding stakeholders to make informed decision, ensure safety of Retiree Life Annuity funds and assets, address concerns of mis-selling and de-marketing by pension and insurance operators .

According to him, the guidelines will also bring stability into the financial sector of the economy.

Todays landmark event is the outcome of the collaborative efforts of PenCom and NAICOM, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News