The Nation Newspaper

Tag: eliminate

  • Card reader ‘ll eliminate electoral fraud, says Ekiti Rec

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Ekiti State, Sam Olumekun, has identified the use of smart card reader as an antidote to  malpractices afflicting the nation’s electoral system.

    Olumekun spoke on the readiness of the electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a free, fair and credible general elections next month.

    Addressing  reporters in Ado-Ekiti, he also debunked rumour making the rounds that the general elections will be postponed. He said:  “We are not contemplating changing the date of election”.

    He explained that, although the 2011 polls were widely acknowledged to be credible, some flaws noticed in the elections made INEC to go back to the drawing board to fashion out a strategy to curtail malpractices in future elections.

    Olumekun said this necessitated the resolve of the commission to use smart card readers for the 2015 general elections.

    The INEC chief said the device would electronically confirm prospective voters during accreditation and record them centrally which would prevent over-voting and other malpractices.

    Olumekun said: “The era of electoral malpractices are gone for good and those that will be elected  will be truly the choice of the electorate and we are going to deliver free, fair and credible elections.

    “INEC went back to the drawing board after some flaws were noticed during the 2011 elections and we decided to raise the technological content of the electoral process.

  • ILO to eliminate forced labour, trafficking

    The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has adopted a new legally binding protocol designed to strengthen global efforts to eliminate forced labour. The protocol, supported by a recommendation, was adopted by government, employer and worker delegates to the International Labour Conference (ILC) with 437 votes for 27 abstentions and eight against.

    Speaking at the adoption ceremony, the ILO’s Director-General, Guy Ryder said: “The protocol and recommendation mark a major step forward in the fight against forced labour and represent a firm commitment among governments, employer and worker organizations to eliminate contemporary forms of slavery.

    “This Protocol on forced Labour aims to advance prevention, protection and compensation measures, as well as to intensify efforts to eliminate contemporary forms of slavery.”

    According to Ryder, forced labour violates the human rights and dignity of millions of women and men, girls and boys. “Forced labour violates the human rights and dignity of millions of women and men, girls and boys. It contributes to the perpetuation of poverty and stands in the way of the achievement of decent work for all. “There are currently an estimated 21 million forced labour victims worldwide”, he said.

    He emphasised that the Protocol strengthens the international legal framework by creating new obligations to prevent forced labour, to protect victims and to provide access to remedy, such as compensation for material and physical harm.

    “It requires governments to take measures to better protect workers, in particular migrant labourers from fraudulent and abusive recruitment practices and emphasizes the role of employers and workers in the fight against forced labour”, he said.

    Also speaking, the President of the ILC Committee on Forced Labour, David Garner said: “The new instruments will complement and strengthen existing international law, in particular the United Nation (UN) protocol to prevent, suppress and punish trafficking in persons, especially women and children. The committee had to decide whether to push for a legally binding Protocol supported by a recommendation or a recommendation on its own.”

    On the need for a legally binding instrument, Garner stressed that government, employer and committee members emphasised the vital role played by the Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29), and the Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 (No. 105) but concluded that gaps in their implementation called for additional measures.

    “The committee agreed on the need for a legally binding instrument that establishes a common framework for the 177 ILO member states that have ratified convention 29 as well as the eight countries that have not – to move towards the elimination of forced labour”, he said.

  • ‘Water bill will eliminate conflict in water management’

    ‘Water bill will eliminate conflict in water management’

    There is need for a water bill for the effective management of water sector in the country, The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources, Baba Umar Faruk, has stated.

    He said the Water Bill when passed by the National Assembly would provide the legal framework for the entire sector.

    It will also eliminate all areas of conflict in the management of water resources at all levels of government, he added.

    This was contained in a statement in Abuja by the office of the Deputy Director, Press Mrs. Oyeboade Akinola.

    Faruk further explained that the bill is expected to address the issue of proper coordination in the use of water as well as the problems of indiscriminate sinking of boreholes by unqualified/uncertified drillers.

    Faruk noted that the ministry has made the issue of water legislation a priority.

    He said: “On passage of the bill by the National Assembly, the water sector would attain greater heights through the realisation of its vision and mission.”

    He commended the patriotism and commitment demonstrated by the Sub-Committee in the production of the document for the development and management of water resources in Nigeria.

    Chairman of the Legal/Technical Sub-Committee, Professor Joe Goldface-Irokalibe, explained that the water bill would enable stakeholders’ participation at the hydrological catchment areas, key political highlights in proper administration of water.