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  • Adhere to electoral law, CSOs urge politicians, INEC, others

    Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Kogi have called on politicians, INEC and other stakeholders to ensure peaceful conduct of the Nov. 16 governorship election through strict adherence to the electoral law.

    The representatives of the CSOs made the call at a two-day workshop on ‘Conflict Transformation and Election Violence Mitigation’, organised under Electoral Empowerment for Civil Society Programme (EECSP) by Search for Common Ground (SEARCH) on Tuesday, in Lokoja.

    Mrs Gift Omoniwa, the State Project Coordinator of SEARCH said that violence had the capacity to distort the legitimacy of elections.

    She, however, added that when the stakeholders upheld the tenets and played the game according the rules and in strict adherence to the laws, the outcome of such an election would be acceptable by all.

    Read Also: INEC trains security personnel for Kogi Gov race

    She said that electoral violence could be random or organised, with the intent to intimidate, threaten, inflict physical harm, blackmail, abuse, coerce, influence or affect an electoral process.

    According to her, the periodic election upon which the nation’s democratic process is hinged constitutes a major source of political conflicts in Nigeria because of the emotional attachment to elections.

    “We have also seen that violence during elections has the capacity to reverse all the progress made in the economy and every facet of our national life.

    “So there is the need for intervention in issues around elections by relevant stakeholders”, she said.

    Also speaking, Mr Idris Miliki, Executive Director, Conscience for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution (CHRCR), said that issues of violence during elections were crucial and should be addressed squarely to give credence to such election.

    Miliki said that all stakeholders should take the issue of violence seriously in view of its negative impact on elections, adding that the fact that INEC was already expressing fear of violence could generate voter apathy.

    Mr Nathaniel Abaniwo, Executive Director, Rehoboth Community Advancement Initiative, said opinions had shown that people were expressing more fears than optimism over the forthcoming governorship election in the state.

    Abaniwo urged all stakeholders, including security agencies, politicians, INEC, the electorate, CSOs, the media and those remotely connected with the smooth conduct of the election, to take a common stand and resolve to make the exercise successful.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workshop addressed issues like mapping election risks, election violence analysis, violence scenario identification and early warning response matrix as well as violence escalation and de-escalation.

    (NAN)

  • Katsina killings: Senate seeks FG’s intervention, relief materials for victims

    The Senate on Tuesday urged the Federal Government to halt kidnappings and killings by armed bandits in some communities in Katsina State.

    The Senate, which made the call during plenary in Abuja, also called for provision of relief materials to the victims of the banditry by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

    It also urged the Federal Government to further strengthen the security agencies to forestall further attacks on the rural communities.

    The resolution of the Senate, followed a motion of urgent public importance brought by Sen. Barkiya Kabir, APC Katsina.

    Kabir said that many people living in Batasri, Rumar, Tsohuwa, Kasai and Yargamji communities, especially women and children, had become victims of incessant attacks by armed bandits.

    He said that 17 people had been killed , while 49 women were kidnapped in Basari, Gobirawa and Safana local governments.

    Read Also: We won’t interfere in alleged Osinbajo, Presidency face-off-Senate

    He said that 20 people had been killed in Jibia Local Government where 30 people were also kidnapped.

    He said that 10 vehicles were burnt by the bandits who also looted the belongings of their victims.

    He said that the attacks, if allowed to continue, would deter farmers from going to their farmlands.

    Kabir, however, said that security agents had continued to engage the bandits to bring the situation under control.

    According to him, NEMA has yet to visit and provide relief materials to the victims of the attacks who have been displaced from their homes.

    Sen. Ahmed Kaita, APC Katsina, also stated that there was the need to increase the number of security personnel to successfully combat the banditry.

    President of the Senate Ahmad Lawan, called for better training of security agents, provision of required equipment and adequate funding to fight insecurity.

    Lawan also announced that the various standing committees of the senate would be inaugurated on Sept 25.

    He also said the senate was expecting the presentation of the 2020 Appropriation Bill and the Medium Term Expenditure Framework from the Executive.

    Addressing newsmen shortly after the plenary, Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Sen. Adedayo Adeyeye, said that the decision to inaugurate all the committees was to save valuable time for other legislative activities.

    On the alleged directive to the Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo to get approval in the conduct of affairs of some agencies, Adeyeye said that the Senate ” is not involved. We are not concern about what happened in the executive.

    ” We don’t interfere. It is an issue that doesn’t concern us. We are not investigating NEMA. We are not aware any role constitutionally assigned to vice-president have been taken off him.

    “We are aware the president has the constitutional role to assign duties to people that work with him.

    “Where the constitution is violated, even in the judiciary, we can intervene”.(NAN)

  • We won’t interfere in alleged Osinbajo, Presidency face-off-Senate

    The Senate will not interfere in the alleged face-off between President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, its spokesman Senator Adedayo Adeyeye has declared.

    Answering questions from Senate Correspondents after plenary in Abuja, Adeyeye said while the President reserves the prerogative to assign duties to his aides, he is not aware that any roles assigned to the Vice President have been withdrawn.

    Adeyeye, who is the Chairman Senate Committee in Media and Publicity, was responding to a question on whether the Senate would intervene to solve the allegedly crisis.

    He said: “The Senate is not involved with that and we are not concerned about what happens in the executive (or) things that are happening with the Executive.

    “I am speaking for the Senate. I do not speak for the Executive and I do not want to concern myself with the issue of the Vice President or the Executive. It is not our business.

    Read Also: ICYMI: Disquiet in Presidency over Vice President Osinbajo

    “That is the executive arm of government and we do not interfere. Why do we have to do that?

    “It is not our concern, why do you want to drag me into something that does not really concern me and that does not concern the Senate.

    “So, we are not bothered about that and we are not concerned. I am not aware if any role constitutionally assigned to the Vice President has been taken away from him. Nothing like that has happened.

    “Constitutionally assigned duties remain the same. Get it right, The President has the prerogative to assign duties to all those who work with him in the executive.

    “He has the constitutional power to (assign roles to his aides.) He can call the Minster of Works and say ‘okay go to that ministry tomorrow, Finance (Minister) go to labour. The Senate will not inquire into that because that is his duties.

    “He can say my Vice President, I give you this additional responsibilities. Where is the power of the Senate to investigate that.

    “We do not have the power… Of course, that will warrant the intervention of the Senate. That has never happened, and that has not happened.

    “I do not think that will happen, even judiciary will have a role to play in that as well, not only the legislature, only where the constitution is seen to have been violated.

    “I do not think we have any cause to be discussing that, because that itself has not happened. So we are not bothered about that and we are not concerned. I want to tell you that at this moment we are not investigating it.”

  • Edo restates commitment to tourism devt

    …High Priest Ebohon donates museum, artefacts to polytechnic

    The Edo State Government has assured of the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration’s commitment to repositioning the state as a destination of choice for tourists in the country.

    Edo State Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu, said this in his speech at the maiden edition of the Edo State Polytechnic Festival of Arts (Edo Poly FEST), held at the institution’s premises, in Usen, Ovia South-West Local Government Area of Edo State.

    At the festival, the Osewengie Ebohon Museum was unveiled, which is to be built and furnished by High Priest Osewengie Ebohon, who donated cultural artefacts to the polytechnic.

    The deputy governor, who was represented at the occasion by Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Diaspora Affairs, Pastor (Mrs.) Dorcas Idehen, said the state government will continue to promote arts, culture and tourism for the benefit of Edo people.

    He said the state got the hosting rights for the 2019 National Festival for Arts and Culture (NAFEST) in recognition of Governor Godwin Obaseki’s effort in promoting and preserving the state’s cultural assets.

    According to him, “This is worth celebrating as arts is celebrated worldwide. As a state, we are poised to project the state and transform it into a tourism hub in the country. We will be celebrating the coronation of the Oba of Benin as well as NAFEST in October this year. These are remarkable events.”

    tourism in Edo
    L-R: Librarian, Edo State Polytechnic, Ehikioya Uduebor; Registrar, Edo State Polytechnic, Simire O. Cyril; High Priest Osemwegie Ebohon; Rector, Edo State Polytechnic, Prof. Abiodun Falodun; representative of Edo State Deputy Governor and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Diaspora Affairs, Mrs. Dorcas Idehen, at the maiden edition of the Edo State Polytechnic Festival of Arts (Edo Poly FEST), held at the polytechnic in Usen.

    Shaibu urged residents in the state to support the successful hosting of the 2019 NAFEST, which will be used to positively project the image of the state globally.

    Commissioner for Arts, Culture, Tourism and Diaspora Affairs, who was represented by Director, Edo Arts Council, Moses Obakpolor, said Edo Poly FEST is a prelude to the 2019 NAFEST, noting, “culture remains the bedrock of society. It represents our past. Anyone without a past will certainly not have a future.”

    “Edo State is not a pushover in terms of cultural heritage. The state hosts several cultural assets. We are proud of our culture and determined to promote and preserve it,” he added.

    READ ALSO: Edo restates commitment to reposition education sector

    The Rector of the Polytechnic, Prof. Abiodun Falodun, said the festival is a celebration of talent and creativity in Ovia community, the institution’s host community, adding, “The festival is aimed at promoting cultural values among students, staff, and provide an opportunity for the exchange of information and ideas.”

    “Culture is not just the economic value of our creative industry. It defines our civilisation, as it helps us explain and understand the world around us. The festival will help us project and resuscitate Edo cultural values and heritage as well as enlighten the youth to cherish their cultural heritage and preserve their creative language.”

    In his lecture entitled “Advancing Edo Culture Through Education, Language and Arts: A Cultural Re-Awakening,” the guest lecturer, High Priest Osemwegie Ebohon, called on stakeholders to work towards correcting misplaced and misrepresented values and norms.

    According to him, “We no longer speak our language and value our inspiring adages, proverbs, parables, idioms and poetry. Superstition and wise-saying are now treated as unholy and one can conclude that we may soon lose our heritage, which codifies our identity.”

  • Illegal Tax deductions: FIRS to refund $2m, others to General Electric

    The Federal Government has urged General Electric to refund two million dollars excess withholding tax (WHT) deducted from Arco Petrochemicals Engineering Company Limited, through its business dealings with General Electric (GE) International Operations Nigeria.

    This was part of outcome of the negotiations between FIRS officials, General Electric, ARCO and the Trade Union Services Department of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment in Abuja on Tuesday.

    GE, a multinational company operating in Nigeria, had engaged Arco, an indigenous Nigerian oil servicing company, for the supply of local personnel.

    But Arco in one of its letters dated June 5, 2018, claimed that GE deducted 10 per cent as withholding tax for the contract between 2006 and 2015 against the five per cent stipulated by Nigerian law.

    The company said the applicable tax rate should be five per cent in line with the FIRS Circular No. 2006/02, dated February 2006.

    Following the controversial tax remittance disputes between General Electric (GE) and Arco Group Plc, 60 per cent of the worker’s entitlement has not been paid since 2009.

    An official of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, who pleaded anonymity said, although the Federal Government was not a debt collector, it intervened because ARCO accepted responsibility that they have financial obligation to settle people’s salaries and Union dues.

    “The ministry is not a debt collection agency, it came into the matter because ARCO accepted its financial obligation for the settlement of salaries and union dues, the company said the only way it could complete the payment is if GE made a refund to it.

    “We gave them three weeks to begin process of refund for those monies that they have an understanding that they were actually over-payment to FIRS. If there is no contention on that, within one week, GE should initiate the process of refund.

    READ ALSO: FIRS gets N23b unpaid tax from corporate firms

    “FIRS said they have to go through some processes before they can get cash back to pay. For those that there are contentions, let them try to get their books together and reach an agreement within two weeks.

    “The unions involved said they have the list of what is due to their members that has not been paid by ARCO. We expect that those reconciliations will be completed and payment will be made.”

    Mr Amadike Ikechukwu, Branch Chairman, ARCO Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), said ARCO paid field workers 100 per cent of their entitlement but paid only 40 per cent to other categories of staff when their employments were terminated.

    He said ARCO claimed that it could not complete the payment because the American company, General Electric, deducted 10 per cent withholding tax from workers earnings and paid the sum, which runs into millions of dollars, to FIRS.

    “As union leaders, we agree with the commitment made by FIRS and GE. We are optimistic that the remaining 60 per cent will be paid to the workers,” he said.

    (NAN)

  • Nigerian professionals take black women’s advancement to UN

    The African Women on Board (AWB) will on Thursday at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York launch its global movement to project the advancement of women of African heritage.

    The meeting will bring together female entrepreneurs, professors, medical doctors, farmers, mothers, activists, artists and scientists of African heritage, the non-profit organisation.

    AWB was founded in 2017 by a former Law teacher at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) Nkiru Balonwu and boasts a membership comprising Nigerian women professionals including UNILAG Law Professor Chioma Agomo.

    Balonwu, in a statement to The Nation, said speakers at the event will include Liberian Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Oscar Onyema and Mrs Aisha Oyebode, who co-founded the “Bring Back Our Girls” support network for those kidnapped by Boko Haram.

    Others are “Dr. Joyce Payne, Founder of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund; Hilary Pennington, Executive Vice President of the Ford Foundation; Elisabeth Moreno, Managing Director, Africa at HP Inc: Christine Soufrant Ntim, Founder of the Haiti Tech Summit: Betty lrabor, Publisher and Founder of Genevieve Magazine; Derrick Ashong, Emmy-nominated producer and founder of Amp.it; and lgwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe, the Obi of Onitsha.”

    The event will celebrate black women’s journeys and discussion of their contributions to the advancement of global affairs.

    AWB will also at the event announce an international-scale project to showcase the success of African female leaders from the past, present and of the future.

    According to Balonwu, the non-governmental organisation is already working with Wikipedia to profile notable African women, partnering with the London Stock Exchange Africa Advisory Group to produce a report on activating female entrepreneurship.

    READ ALSO: The President and his women

    It is also collaborating with the Ford Foundation for master classes on women in politics, investment and financial literacy.

    She said the campaign has reached into African villages by partnering with schools to recruit and train more girls in science, technology engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects that lead to better paid jobs and opportunities.

    The UN General Assembly’s meeting is the 7th Annual High Level Dialogue on Financing for Development.

    Balonwu said: “No discussion on finance in developing nations is complete without an examination of the gendered disparities experienced at the society level.

    “We are letting out a clarion call for a global movement by and for women of African heritage where we can collectively mobilise to support African women and unlock growth on the continent. Our mission is to advance narratives and improve realities for African women and girls globally by fast tracking women and girls of African heritage into the leadership roles of the future.”

  • NAF airstrikes destroy terrorists’ camp in Borno

    (NAF) on Tuesday said its attack aircraft detailed by the Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation LAFIYA DOLE has destroyed a Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs) camp at Abulam, a settlement on the fringes of the Allagarno Forest, in Borno State.

    According to a statement signed the Director of Public Relations and Information Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, the operation was executed on 22 September after series of Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions revealed that some buildings within the settlement were being used by the terrorists to store their supplies and other resources.

    READ ALSO: Air Force strikes Boko Haram terrorists in Sambisa, kills scores

    “The ATF therefore dispatched helicopter gunships and ground attack aircraft to engage the location in successive strikes, scoring devastating hits on the target area leading to destruction of several of the buildings and neutralization of their BHT occupants,” it stated, adding “the NAF, operating in concert with surface Forces, will sustain its efforts to completely destroy all remnants of the terrorists in the Northeast”.

  • India’s investment in Nigeria hits $15b – envoy

    The High Commissioner of India to Nigeria, Mr Abhay Thakur has declared said his country has invested $15 billion in Nigeria through Indian companies operating in the country.

    Thakur also said that India companies were among the highest employer of labour in Nigeria with about 35,000 under its direct employment in Lagos State alone.

    He disclosed this during the unveiling of a new showroom by Simba group and TVS Company in Abuja on Tuesday.

    The envoy said that Nigeria had also benefitted economically from the Simba group, adding that such economic relations were not going to stop.

    Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Tayo Alasoadura urged Simba group to set up factories in Nigeria to create more jobs for the citizens.

    The minister assured the envoy that the Federal Government would encourage whoever is ready to empower Nigerians through job creation.

    READ ALSO: Indian woman commits suicide after husband stops her tobacco intake

    He said: “On behalf of the Federal Government, I invite the Simba group to come and set up factories in Nigeria, so that you can give to us what you do in India and we can replicate it and give to our people.

    “I believe that in the whole of Africa, Nigeria will be your biggest market. You should come down to Nigeria and start manufacturing your products. We have the manpower and land.

    “Our electricity is improving. You can do everything you are doing in India here. It will pay you more.

    “You can empower and employ more people and Nigeria will be happy with you.”

    Also, the Managing Director, Simba Group, Mr. Vineh Grover, said that the company has trained about 500 on how to ride motorcycle.

  • How Buhari plans to lift millions out of poverty – Osinbajo

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN on Tuesday revealed how President Muhammadu Buhari plans to lift millions of Nigerians out of poverty.

    According to him, the Federal Government’s policies and programmes aimed at promoting financial inclusion remain key to the actualization of the plan.

    Prof. Osinbajo spoke in Abuja at the opening session of the 2019 Annual Conference of Chartered Institute of Bankers.

    Osinbajo, in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Laolu Akande, was referring to the President’s June 12 speech where he stated that “we are working to lift Nigerians out of poverty and set them on the path to prosperity. We intend to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty over the next 10 years”.

    According to the Vice President, “Financial inclusion, of course, is the key to realizing so much of what we expect as an economy and the President promised in his June 12 speech to lift 100 million people out of poverty in ten years, that is the commitment of the government of Nigeria.

    “We started that journey with our collaboration with the Bank of Industry to deliver the GEEP programme, better known as TraderMoni and MarketMoni by providing microcredit to almost 2 million petty traders. The Bank of Industry has now brought this huge bottom of the pyramid into the formal financial system and that has been recognized worldwide. Recently the programme won the AfDB prize for financial inclusion because of the work that was done with TraderMoni. This is a huge task.

    “Going forward, we now need to embark on financial training for all of those who have been brought into the net. As you know, when they’re given N10, 000 and they pay back, they are given N15, 000, N20, 000 and it goes all the way.

    “But at that point they’re given their BVNs, they’re formally included in the financial system, they’re formally included as formal traders, and so we are able to give them financial training and all that.”

    Continuing, the Vice President said “…for very long, that bottom of the pyramid has been completely excluded and yet informal trade is a significant part of trading that is going on in our country.

    “So, there’s a real need out there and we must devise the methods by which those at the bottom of the pyramid can be uplifted and we must look at how we can even resource the entire value chains. What we find is that the petty trader, who just has a trade, is usually selling little bits and pieces from many of the manufacturers or fast-moving products and we found that just by giving them credit, we can resource the whole value chain all the way up.”

    Read Also: Full text of Buhari’s speech at UNGA

    Speaking further on what the Federal Government intends to do in improving opportunities for those at the bottom of the pyramid, Prof. Osinbajo said “we’re working with the Bank of Industry, with several players in the market, especially the marketing services people to identify how to work through those value chains so that more of these people can move from petty trading, higher up in the value chain as they’re resourced”.

    He urged stakeholders in the banking sector to support government’s efforts in resuscitating the MSMEs and real sectors.

    He said “All of that will depend on what the banking industry is prepared to do, how adaptable the banking industry will be to giving loans, especially microcredit. Everything is changing very quickly.

    “We must create good jobs and opportunities. We must rapidly industrialize, we must provide the environment for local businesses, small and large to create wealth and value. We must also address the concerns of young entrepreneurs and startups, and the small traders, the millions at the bottom of the economic value chain, the millions at the bottom of the pyramid, those who sell from their trays and table tops all over the markets in our country.

    “We must develop the housing sector both to provide much needed shelter but also to boost local opportunities in the local building and building materials sectors. We know that we must ramp up our agricultural production, and provide a more efficient farm-to-market value chain, again creating millions of jobs in farming and Agribusiness generally.” he said

  • Senate summons Aregbesola, Dingyadi over Police Colleges

    The Senate on Tuesday summoned the Ministers of Police Affairs, Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi and Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, over the deteriorating condition of police colleges across the country.

    The Senate also called on the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, to as a matter of national security, intervene in the deteriorating condition of the Police College in Tai Local Government Area of Rivers State.

    It further urged the Police Service Commission to take adequate measures and inventory of police colleges in the country to ensure that they meet acceptable global standards for efficient policing.

    These resolutions followed a motion titled: “The Deteriorating status of the Police College located at Tai Local Government Area of Rivers State and its implication to rising insecurity in the state and in the nation” sponsored by Senator Mpigi Barinada representing Rivers South East in the Senate and nine other Senators.

    Senator Mpigi in his lead debate underscored the role of the police in the provision of security in the country.

    He said that the establishment of police colleges was for the purpose of training effective police officers for the prevention and detection of crime.

    READ ALSO: ‘6000 constables pass out from police colleges’

    Mpigi said, “The Police College, existing in Tai Local Government Area of Rivers State, which serves for the training of police officers across the nation, has been virtually abandoned and at the brink of collapse. Poor staffing management and other facilities make the college unfit for habitation.”

    He said that the Senate is worried that that the College has been allowed to deteriorate despite its laudable functions.

    “The Police College is therefore in a steady degeneration, especially within its institutional setting and through its poorly inducted officer trainees scattered in areas of police operations across the nation,” Mpigi said.

    He lamed that the state of the college has become an urgent security concern instead of being there to train quality officers “primed to check and combat insecurity, law and order in Tai LGA, Rivers State and the country in general.”