Author: The Nation

A Civil Society Organisation, Coalition for Good Governance and Economic Justice in Africa, has called on media practitioners to adopt self-regulatory approaches in discharging their duties.

The organisation noted that fake news had become a major problem for the society.

Country Director of the Organisation, John Mayaki said that certain people were using social media platforms to cause chaos in the country, through hate speeches, fake news and misinformation.

He said this during a workshop organised by the organisation for journalists in Abuja with the theme: “balancing Ethics and Patriotism: The Obligations of Journalists to their Country.”

Mayaki noted that negative effects of fake news have been taking a toll on both government and social activities.

He said: “While fake news has become a major problem for our society, disinformation on its own is particularly dangerous because it is frequently organized, well-resourced, and reinforced by automated technology. Those who engage in this prey on the vulnerabilities of recipients in platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, among others, whom they hope to enlist as amplifiers and multipliers.

“By exploiting our propensities, these purveyors of fake news and misinformation seek to animate us, entice us and recruit us into becoming conduits of their lies and to share the same. This is where the question of government regulation and self-regulation comes into play. Would it be better for the government to regulate social media to save the country from a possible breakdown of law and order, or should we simply self-regulate as patriotic citizens? The latter option looks more plausible to me.

“We must all refrain from over sensationalising news, refrain from exaggeration of news, and refrain from deliberate superimposition of different images to make us believe.

“As journalists and responsible and patriotic citizens, we must refrain from the hyper-partisan selection of facts at the expense of fairness. Besides, we must understand that sub-standard journalism being framed and colored by ideology is not only dangerous for the immediate survival of a nation, it has debilitating futuristic effects.

“Nevertheless, I quite understand that the problem with sub-standard journalism is not the existence of factual narratives, but poor professionalism and political biases of those who engage in it for their immediate benefits without considering its dangerous ripple effect to the society as a whole. Because, if you ask me, fake news has become a dangerous epidemic.”

Mayaki said the workshop was organised to confront the dangers of fake news, misinformation and disinformation in the country.  

The Nasarawa State House of Assemblý is considering a Bill for the extension of retirement for academic and non-academic staff of the state owned tertiary institutions to 65 years.

To this end, the House yesterday at plenary passed for second reading a Bill for a Law for Establishment of Nasarawa State College of Education, Akwanga and Other Matters Connected Thereto.

The bill seeks to extend the 60 years retirement age of both academic and non-academic staff of the college to 65 years.

Alhaji Ibrahim Abdullahi, the Speaker of the Assembly, announced the passage of the bill to second reading.

The speaker said that the Bill, if passed, would enable all staff of the institution to retire at 65 years.

Abdullahi committed the Bill to the Assembly Committee on Education for further legislative scrutiny and to report back to the lawmakers in a week’s time.

Also contributing, Mr Abel Bala, the Minority Leader; Mr Daniel Ogazi; and the Deputy Majority Leader, Mr Mohammed Okpoku, all supported the Bill to scale second reading considering its substances.

They said that the 65 years retirement age would enable the staff to contribute more to the growth of the institution.

Earlier, Alhaji Tanko Tunga, the Majority Leader of the Assembly, gave a substance of the Bill and moved a motion for the Bill to scale second reading.

Bala seconded the motion and the lawmakers unanimously passed the Bill into second reading.

The First Lady of Kebbi State and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Medicaid Cancer Foundation, Dr. Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu, recently received global recognition for her contributions to health, particularly in cancer screening and treatment in Nigeria.

Shinkafi-Bagudu, who received the award during this year’s Global Health Catalyst (GHC) Summit, in the United States of America (USA), noted that with partnerships and innovation, the acceleration of progress towards better cancer treatment options and outcomes for patients can be achieved, especially in low- and middle-income countries.

The GHC Summit brought together healthcare experts, policymakers, and global leaders to discuss innovative strategies for improving global health outcomes.

She said: “I am honored to have had the opportunity to attend the Global Health Catalyst summit and to collaborate with so many talented individuals and organizations working towards a common goal.

“We need to work together to increase awareness about cancer, improve access to cancer screening and treatment, and support cancer patients and their families.”

Founder and Director of the summit Dr. Wilfred Ngwa, said: “We are thrilled with the success of this year’s GHC Summit. The summit provided a unique opportunity for healthcare experts and leaders to come together and develop new strategies for addressing the most pressing global health challenges. We are confident that the initiatives and partnerships established during the summit will have a significant impact on improving global health outcomes.”

Katsina State Government, in collaboration with United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), yesterday, began routine polio immunisation in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that no fewer than 2.9 million children are targeted for the exercise, expected to last for a week.

Executive Secretary of the state Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Shamsuddeen Yahaya, stated this while flagging off the immunisation.

Yahaya said the first phase of the exercise would cover 13 out of the 34 local government areas in the state.

He said the immunisation was against polio virus and other vaccine-preventable diseases in the state, adding that the target beneficiaries were children between the ages of zero and 59 months.

The executive secretary further stated that the agency was working with other development partners and NGOs to ensure that children in areas with security challenges were reached.

“Although Nigeria has been certified for vaccination polio-free since 2020, the country has two circulating variants of the polio virus which has the potential to spread and cause serious setbacks to its citizens.

“Based on that, the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) and all other partners deemed it fit to carry out this campaign to strengthen our immunity. It is also aimed at ensuring that the virus does not creep back into our communities. There is going to be an injection for children between six weeks and 59 months of age, while the other oral vaccine is going to be for children from zero to 59 months. All these vaccines are safe,” he said.

Yahaya also said the agency had since embarked on a series of campaigns and conferences, among other activities, aimed at mobilising the communities to come out and take the vaccines.

Similarly, Dr Ogu Enemaku, a social and behavioral change specialist with UNICEF, Kano field office, described the exercise as a very important development.

Enemaku noted that the state had the highest number of unvaccinated children, adding that the exercise was, therefore, an opportunity to have them all vaccinated.

“This flag-off is very important because it is not polio alone, routine immunisation is also part of it. So, it is an opportunity to have many unvaccinated children vaccinated. UNICEF is fully supporting this initiative in Katsina State. My message to the general public is that vaccination is safe and free. It is the easiest way to keep our family healthy. Therefore, every family or caregiver should make the children available for vaccination,” he said.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday asked the Federal High Court in Lagos to stay execution of a ruling which struck out its suit seeking the forfeiture of 14 properties and N400 million linked to Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello.

Justice Nicholas Oweibo, on April 26, 2023, struck out the Commission’s suit on the ground, among others, that Governor Bello was covered by immunity from prosecution under Section 308(1) of the 1999 Constitution, thus the court had no jurisdiction to try the suit.

The properties – in Lagos, Abuja and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) – include Hotel Apartment Community, Burj Khalifa, at Plot 160 Municipality NO 345-7562, Sky View Building No 1, Property No 401, Floor 4, Dubai U.A.E.

Justice Oweibo held that ‘given Section 308 of the Constitution, which provides immunity to a sitting governor from any civil/criminal prosecution, the court lacks jurisdiction to entertain the matter’, and the suit was struck out.

At the resumption of hearing yesterday, EFCC counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN) informed the court of an April 27, 2023 application seeking a stay of execution of the ruling, pending the outcome of the appeal on the case.

But Bello’s lawyer, Akoh Ocheni, filed an application seeking to strike out the EFCC’s application for ‘not complying with the rules of court by not filling a written address and attaching the same to the application’.

But Oyedepo replied that a written address was filed on the same day as the application. He showed the court a copy in his records, saying ‘the proceedings are no longer before the court, but in transmission to the Court of Appeal’.

Justice Oweibo thereafter adjourned the matter sine dine.