The Nation Newspaper

Tag: group

  • Group faults EFCC’s probe of Akwa Ibom account

    A socio-economic group Akwa Ibom Media Advocates ( AMA) has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) not to tarnish its goodwill with its probe of the state government.

    The group in a statement drew the attention to the media report of invitation to Akwa Ibom state officials and investigation into the financial situation in the state.

    Noting that the EFCC was established to fight financial crimes, the group said: “We did not react to the first report in August of the investigation of the accounts of the state government as we thought that it could have been a mistake. That the state government even went to court was reassuring. However, the latest report clearly indicates an agenda that is out of place with the purpose of the establishment of the commission.

    “We believe that the commission has fully delved into the political arena and is carrying out a partisan agenda aimed at destabilising the state government. If not, we wonder why the agency left the investigations of the period between 2007 and 2015 despite the lack of immunity of the senior officials at that time.

    “It is trite that the power to investigate the finances of a state government is domiciled in the State House of Assembly and this is a fact that has been proved by the courts.

    “We are not aware of any petition that may have triggered the EFCC in its present mission other than the now popular notion of a partisan interest to destabilise the government in favour of the ruling political party at the federal level.

    “The EFCC was built on the solid pedestal of clearing graft and not on the pursuit of political goals as it is now seen to be doing in Akwa Ibom and the present efforts will in no small way diminish the agency both locally and among its international peers.”

    “We call on the commission to be unbiased in all their efforts in order to leave a lasting legacy for posterity.”

  • Group seeks govt support on education

    A group, the Private Education Developers Association of Nigeria (PEDAN), has urged the government to support it in its quest to contribute to educational development.

    Speaking at the inauguration of the body in Lagos with the theme: “Private Schools as Agents of Genuine & Functional Education,” the President, Mr. Festus Awodoyin, said: “We are school proprietors and proprietresses determined to develop the Nigerian child.

    “We are supporting the government to develop the education sector. Government cannot do it alone, this is why we are  supporting it to develop education. But the government needs to support PEDAN so that it will realise its objective of developing education.”

    He said the establishment of PEDAN had opened a new page in collaboration, cooperation and building bridges among service providers in the education sector, adding that the association had come as an umbrella body, a platform and a medium to protect members from the harsh economic environment in the country.

    “PEDAN has come to provide, through our programmes, the right impetus needed by members for growth, healthy rivalry and exposure that will lead to development in our schools.

    “PEDAN has come as a medium through which the needed information, ideas, research findings and discoveries are made available to member-schools at little or no cost.

    “We are here to ensure professionalism, proficiency and ethics of the teaching profession. PEDAN is here to ensure that over 13 million are captured and provided for by the supervisory agencies and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), Awodoyin said.

    A co-founder and member of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of PEDAN, Dr. Comfort Ojikutu-Esebamen, said: “Our schools are low fee paying schools. Our school fees are very cheap. We are contributing to eradicating illiteracy in the society. This is why the government should assist us PEDAN’s growing. The registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission. PEDAN is operating in the six education districts in Lagos state.”

     

  • Group explains why South must return Buhari for second term

    Apressure group within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, Ifesowapo Society, has explained why the people of the Southern part of Nigeria must return President Muhammadu Buhari for the second term. In a statement by its President, Samuel Jegede, the group said if a Northern candidate different from Buhari is voted into office in 2019, the South will have to wait for another eight years to produce a president. He said it is wise for the people of the south-east and south-west geo-political zones, to support the second term bid of Buhari in their own common interest. Jegede said, now is the time for the Southern politicians and people to rally support for Buhari to complete the eight-year tenure which is due constitutionally for him rather than allow a fresh candidate from the north to open a new chapter of another two term tenure. He advised Nigerians to make the Buhari administration continue its fight against corruption in order to consolidate on its gains so that Nigeria could regain respect among comity of nations. The leader of the group described Buhari’s integrity as uncommon, stressing that he fears no man but only God, and therefore, needs “the support of every Nigerian to succeed.” He maintained, that, no one among the current presidential candidates, could match Buhari’s integrity, patriotism and commitment to Nigeria. Jegede, who also commended Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, for his commitment to good governance, said, that his contribution to the development of Osun in the last eight years would remain evergreen.

  • Osun 2018: Group tasks political parties on financial reports

    A faith-based Non Governmental Organisation (NGO), the Justice, Development And Peace Makers’ Centre (JDPMC), in partnership with the International Foundation For Electoral Systems (IFES), has called on all political parties that participated in the just concluded Osun governorship election to submit their audited reports on campaign finances to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before or by next March.

    Addressing reporters at a press briefing in Osogbo, the state capital, the General Coordinator of the JDPMC, Rev. Fr. Peter Akinkunmi, said the political parties are also expected to publish the reports in at least two national dailies in compliance with the provisions of Electoral Act of 2010, as amended. He further disclosed that the INEC is expected to make copies of the financial reports of the political parties available to the public as required by the provisions of section 93 of the Electoral Acts.

    Akinkunmi, who advised the INEC in collaboration with other regulatory agencies to ensure any political party that fails to comply is sanctioned, disclosed that all political parties in 2015 general elections failed to submit their financial report six months after the exercise. He lamented that the INEC has not initiated any legal action against defaulting political parties in the past elections.

    Akinkunmi also disclosed that the JPDMC ‘s findings include tracking of all political activities such as rallies, expenses on posters and bill boards, branded campaign vehicles and media engagement by three political parties in the poll, the ruling All Progressives Congress, the People’s Democratic Party and the Social Democratic Party, across the 30 local governments of the state for three months, spanning the beginning of their campaigns up to the rerun election on September 27. According to him, the findings revealed that the APC spent N969,516,000 million, the PDP expended N597,678,000 and the SDP incurred N349,707,000.

     

  • NBA, group mourn Kutigi

    The judicial pronouncements of former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) the late Idris Kutigi will remain reference points for future generations, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President Paul Usoro (SAN), has said.

    Justice Kutigi, who died on October 21, aged 79, was Niger State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice before becoming a high court judge.

    Usoro, in a statement, said Kutigi’s death has robbed Nigeria of one of its icons.

    “This is a loss, not just to the Nigerian judiciary or even the legal profession, but a loss to Nigeria, as a nation, and it comes at a crucial time when strong and respected voices need to be heard in defense of our national ethos such as the rule of law, democracy, Nigerian unity and oneness as a nation, respect for the fundamental rights of our people and much more,” NBA president said.

    A human rights group, the Access to Justice, said the late Kutigi served Nigeria and the Judiciary inspirationally and faithfully.

    A statement by its Convener Joseph Otteh reads: “It was him who promulgated, in 2009, the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) (FREP) Rules (2009) that is currently used to enforce fundamental rights in our courts.

    “The FREP Rules fundamentally changed the landscape of enforcing constitutional rights in Nigeria.

    “It simplified fundamental rights litigation, made it speedier, and created a separate, inexpensive filing-cost regime for human rights cases, thus ensuring that poverty was, as far as human rights cases go, not a significant barrier to access to justice.

    “The Rules also direct courts to ensure that international norms of human rights are applied in the resolution of domestic human rights claims.

    “Hon. Justice Kutigi’s legacy will live on, not only in the tremendous contributions he made to national development but also in the FREP Rules.

    “No narrative of the struggle for judicial activism in the protection of constitutional rights in Nigeria can be authentic or complete without a mention of his prodigious contribution to it.”

     

  • Comply with global standards, group urges exporters

    The Institute of Export Operations and Management Nigeria (IEOM) has advised agro   exporters to comply with global norms for quality and standards or lose their export market share to other countries.

    It said it was important to adopt best standards for goods and services because it is critical to promote agro exports and enhance participation of domestic industry into global value chains.

    Its Executive Secretary/CEO, Mr. Ofon Udofia, said situations are now prevalent in United States and Europe, where Nigerian producers are unable to meet mandatory obligations for standards, including the sanitary and phyto-sanitary.

    Also, agro exports suffer high rejection on account of pesticide residues, stating that there was need to fix processes.

    While there is a strong commitment from the government to promote exports of fresh and processed food products, and a strong willingness on part of the exporters and farmers to export, of late, he noted that Nigeria exports of food products are facing rejections and bans in key markets on grounds of lack of compliance with food safety and health standards.

    Produce such as beans have faced rejections and even bans in markets such as EU, due to issues such as presence of higher than approved levels of chemical residues, and pest and bacterial infestation.

    He said formulation of sanitary and phyto-sanitary (SPS) measures are very important as Nigeria seeks more markets, adding that importing countries are increasing food safety standards which they expect exporters to respond more appropriately and efficiently to them.

    He insisted on a wide range of policy directions such as standard settings, conformity assessment, accreditation, SPS and technical regulations as well as awareness building, training and education.

    According to him, agric value chains should be drivers of standards, and participation in activities which requires uniform standards worldwide.

    He added that Nigeria needed to strengthen institutions and procedures to meet safety standards for exports to the EU, one of its main trading partners.

    Further, with growing consciousness about food safety and health standards even in the domestic market, he  stressed  that Nigeria  needs to focus on food safety and nutritious diet for its own consumers and this will enable to upgrade food safety and health standards from farm to the market.

  • Group pledges leadership school for youths

    The co-founder of Hozana World Movement, Emmanuel Jerry, has pledged the organisation’s commitment to set up a leadership school that would help prepare youths and other stakeholders for effective leadership.

    Jerry made this known at The Mandate Leadership Conference 2018 organised by Hozana World Movement held at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, House of Manna, Ajangbandi, Lagos.

    The event tagged Emerge 18, A Revolutional Move brought together over 50 youths for seminar, music, and interactive sessions.

    According to him, Nigeria has enormous human and mineral resources but lacks credible leaders whose actions have continued to impede Nigeria’s development.

    He stated that good leadership helps to provide direction and mobilise the needed resources to help a nation progress.

    Jerry opined that ineffectiveness of most leaders across Nigeria is not a problem with the public servants but a reflection of our society’s leadership principles.

    He asserted that countries that have maximised their potential do so because they had leaders who are competent, accountable, open and are willing to serve.

    “Leadership does not happen by chance but it is a culture engraved in an individual from childhood by the religious institutes, schools and other agents of socialisation and it becomes part of his lifestyle.

    Jerry added: “We want to create opportunities for developing leaders that would bring the desired change in this ever complex world.”

    He said that our dreams is replete with much dreams and possibilities,  every soul is pregnant with numerous images of extraordinary feats earnestly seeking for manifestation, but only those who have leant to reach  beyond their own realities and seek for potential outside their would eventually emerge. In the end, everybody breaks forth.

    A life coach and psychologist, Ezeogu Chukwumeka, challenged youths to rise up and lead the desired change in Africa.

    He said that “this is my charge to you African child; my call to you Nigerian child, rise up out of the rubbles, get out of every despondency you’ve allowed besiege your soul. Pick yourself up, and deliver your significance! We’ve waited long enough for you to get it together. We can’t any longer. Tomorrow cannot wait!

    “We need to shift emphasis; we need to move from positional and titular leadership to one that is rooted in responsibility. A leadership borne out of a passion to birth the new. A leadership that rides on our collective consciousness – and concerted action.”

     

  • Group to protest alleged death of girl

    A youth activist from Benue State, Ukan Kulugh, will tomorrow lead other Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to protest the alleged rape and death of a 13-year-old girl by her foster parent in Benue State.

    The deceased, a pupil of the Federal Government Girls College, Gboko was left in the care of a lecturer at the Benue State Polytechnic, Ugbokolo.

    It was alleged that for the six years the deceased lived with the lecturer, she was raped.

    The lecturer’s son also allegedly joined his father in defiling the teenager until she contracted a disease and died in hospital last week.

    Ukan said although the police had charged the suspects to court, it was not enough, “as we will protest peacefully in Abuja to draw the attention of Nigerians to sexual abuse of underage children.”

    He said the protest was also to call on NGOs, CSOs and other well-meaning Nigerians to fight the cause sexually-abused minors.

    Police spokesman Moses Yamu told The Nation that the command had charged the suspects to court.

  • NDE, group graduate 93

    National Directorate of Employment in Lagos State in partnership with First Massive Achievers Limited (MAF) has graduated 93 in catering, hairdressing, solar energy, soap making and agric skill acquisition training.

    The trainees went through a three-month intensive programme facilitated by MAF, a non-governmental organisation.

    Lagos NDE Coordinator, Ologbenla Adebowale, who represented the Director General of the agency, Dr. Nasir Arugungun, challenged the graduates to use the opportunity given them as a platform to develop their potentials and national economy.

    Ologbenla stated the programme was in line with the federal government policy on skill acquisition and self- employment to curb the menace of unemployment amongst youth.

    He thanked the management and staff of MAF for the successful collaboration with NDE to combat unemployment in Lagos state.

     

  • Group urges govt to prosecute Hauwa’s killers

    A group, the International Charitable Initiative for Girl Child and Woman Development Foundation (ICI-GWODEF), has urged stakeholders to team up with the Federal Government to stop Boko Haram’s attacks.

    The President, Mrs. Helen Ibeji, in a statement yesterday in Lagos while reacting to the killing of Miss Hauwa Liman, an aide worker with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), by Boko Haram insurgents, condemned the killing.

    She asked the government to ensure those responsible for her death are prosecuted.

    “We cry and seek justice and compensation for the deceased’s family and other families who have lost their dear ones to the Boko Haram insurgents,” the body said.

    Mrs. Ibeji noted that humanitarian workers, especially the ICRC, who work in conflict zones, risk their lives to save humanity.