“Please, open your minds so that you will benefit immensely from the skill acquisition training. Avoid cutting corners: drive your vision with passion; remain focused and the sky will be your limit,”

That assertion was made during the working visit of NYSC Director-General, Major General Shuaibu Ibrahim, while addressing the 2022 Batch ‘A’ Stream One Corps Members deployed to Kano State at the NYSC Orientation Camp kussala Dam karaye.

The DG advised the Corps Members to embrace the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development programme of the Scheme, aimed at empowering them for self-employment and wealth creation.

He urged them to avoid night travelling, lone movements and acceptance of ride from strangers, adding that they should report suspicious activities around them to the law enforcement agencies.

The Maj Gen.also enjoined them to use the period of the Orientation Course to imbibe teamwork, build lasting friendship, promote the unity of the country, add value to themselves and the NYSC.

The DG said many of their predecessors had made history by distinguishing themselves through participation in national assignments such as elections, immunization programmes, population and housing census and COVID-19 prevention, among others.

He also stressed the need for them to always be of good conduct, adding: “Shun cybercrimes, drug abuse, cultistism and other acts of criminality. You must be good ambassadors of your families, NYSC and your institutions”.

The Director-General urged the Corps Members to obey set rules and regulations in their places of primary assignment. He warned that the Scheme would not condone acts of indiscipline, and that every infraction would attract sanctions as stipulated in the NYSC Bye-Laws.

“You are the future leaders of this country, you must be disciplined, respectful, obedient, patriotic and hardworking. Note that the rules and regulations in your places of primary assignment are also binding on you,” he added.

General lbrahim sensitized the Corps Members on the criteria for selection of winners of the President’s NYSC Honours Award, stressing that they must excel in all the four cardinal programmes of the Scheme, namely: Orientation Course, Primary Assignment, Community Development Service and Winding-Up/Passing-Out activities.

“Once you relocate from Kano State or change your place of Primary Assignment, you are automatically disqualified,” he said.

He informed them that Bill for the establishment of NYSC Trust Fund that would empower Corps Members with start-up capitals to establish their businesses as they exit service had passed through the second reading followed by public hearing at the National Assembly. He said when actualized, the Fund would reduce the rate of unemployment and insecurity among the youths.

The Director-General enjoined the Corps Members to identify felt needs of their host communities and initiate projects that would positively improve their standard of living.

He warned against using their personal money or borrowing to fund the projects, stressing that they should source for funds from within the community.

He urged the Corps Members to be guided by the spirit and letters of their Oath of Allegiance even beyond the Service period.

“As Corps Members, you are supposed to propagate the ideals of NYSC.

“The unity of the country should be paramount to you and you should avoid anything that will jeopardise the unity, integration and cohesion of this country. You must let the spirit of NYSC live in you,” lbrahim added.

The DG warned against the negative use of the social media, advising that they should use same for promotion of national unity and development.

The Senate on Tuesday urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to allow duly registered and eligible prisoners to vote in general elections.
It also advised the electoral umpire to determine the status of inmates who are constitutionally and legally eligible to register as voters and vote at elections.
The commission and relevant agencies were also urged by the Red Chamber to conduct voter education in all Nigerian prisons, informing inmates of their rights and the importance of exercising their right to vote in general elections.
According to the Senate, INEC and all relevant agencies should update voter registration lists to reflect the prison population for election purposes.
The upper chamber also urged INEC to work with the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCS) to establish voting centers at detention facilities across the country.
Senator Patrick Abba Moro sponsored a motion that led to the adoption of the Senate resolutions (Benue South).

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‘The right of prison inmates to vote in general elections in Nigeria: Statutory, Inalienable, and Non-negotiable,’ read the motion.
“The Senate notes that certain human rights are inalienable and come with the birth of the individual,” Senator Moro said in his presentation. Citizenship is an example of one such right. Despite the fact that incarceration is one of the legal grounds for depriving a person or an offender in custody of certain rights, citizenship cannot be taken away at any time.”
He went on to say that citizenship comes with many defined rights and civic responsibilities, one of which is the right to vote in general elections, as enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended).
“It should be noted that certain individuals in prison custody awaiting trial, undergoing trial, or awaiting conviction for one or more offenses retain their right to vote and citizenship.

Note that being a prison inmate has no bearing on a prisoner’s right to register and vote under Section 24 of the Electoral Act, 2022, and denying prison inmates access to the electoral process is an infringement of their rights as citizens of Nigeria under Section 25 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), which confirms the definition of who a citizen is, and Section 12(1) of the Electoral Act, 2022.
The Senate also postponed its consideration of a report on the Proceeds of Crimes (Recovery and Management) Bill, 2022, on Tuesday.

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The Joint Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes, as well as the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, and Legal Matters, produced the report.
While calling for the report to be pushed back, Senate President Dr. Ahmad Lawan stated that doing so would allow for more robust contributions from lawmakers who were unable to attend the session.
Nevertheless, he stated that the report would be discussed in plenary on Wednesday.

President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed his sorrow over the “brutal murder of tens of vigilante members in Kebbi State by bandits who ambushed them in the Sakaba/Wassagu Local Government Area,” as he put it.

According to a statement released by the President’s spokesman, Mallam Garba Shehu, “this egregious level of criminality is shocking,” and that he will do everything possible to tackle the monster decisively.

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“My greatest concern is the threat to life posed by these murderous gangs and merciless outlaws who have no regard for the sanctity of life,” he says.
While expressing his condolences to the victims’ families, President Buhari also urged the country’s security agencies to be more proactive and redouble their efforts in order to thwart terrorists’ operational plans before they launch attacks.

A security source and local residents said on Tuesday that gunmen suspected of being bandits killed at least 57 members of a local vigilante group in clashes in northwestern Nigeria.

The violence in Kebbi State’s Zuru district was confirmed by police on Monday, but no casualties were reported. However, a security source claimed that 57 bodies had been found, while two local residents claimed that 62 people had been killed.

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Local residents frequently form Yansakai, or informal vigilante units, to protect villages from bandit raids, though some states have outlawed them after allegations of abuses and extrajudicial killings.

“There was an incident involving Yansakai and bandits that left several dead on both sides,” said Nafiu Abubakar, spokesman for the State Police Command. We don’t have a specific death toll yet; we’re still compiling information.”

Almu Sallami, a local resident, said vigilantes from various villages had gathered to confront a large convoy of heavily armed bandits.

Criminal gangs maintain camps in Rugu forest, which straddles Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, and Niger states, in northwest and central Nigeria.

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According to police, the bandits attack villages in Kebbi state near the border with Zamfara and Niger states on a regular basis before retreating to their camps.

Anxiety as the FG goes to court to prosecute terrorist financiers Trending Anxiety as the FG goes to court to prosecute terrorist financiers
Bandit gangs, motivated by financial gain, are increasingly forming alliances with jihadists from the northeast, who are fighting a 12-year-old Islamist insurgency, according to security experts.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo arrived in Awka, Anambra State’s capital, on Tuesday morning ahead of the inaugural Chief Emeka Anyaoku Institute for International Studies symposium, which will be held at Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka.

At the Anambra International Airport, the former President was greeted by the state governor, Willie Obiano, and the Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Professor Charles Esimone.

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On arrival, Obasanjo gave the airport a high rating in terms of standard and class.

The event will be held at the ASUU Secretariat Conference Hall at Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, and will be chaired by the former President.

He’ll then travel to Umuahia, Abia State, for another Vision Africa event on Wednesday.

Under pressure from women across the country, the House of Representatives rescinded its resolution on three gender bills it had previously thrown out during voting on 68 clauses of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill.

After an executive session on Tuesday, the House made the decision.

The decision came after women stormed the National Assembly again yesterday in protest of the bills’ rejection in both chambers of the National Assembly.

Women from all walks of life had been protesting the bills’ rejections, urging the National Assembly to reconsider the bills, which they claimed would give women more power in the country’s political development.

This comes as the wives of 36 state governors pledged to occupy the National Assembly yesterday to express their displeasure with the rejection of women-related bills.

The bills failed to pass last week during a vote on 68 amended clauses in the 1999 constitutional amendments, as previously reported.

Indigeneship, Citizenship, and the 35% affirmative action on Political Parties bill are among the bills that will be reconsidered.

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The bills will be up for vote in four weeks, according to House Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, who announced the House’s decision.

“That action is to rescind three of the decisions that were made on that day,” he explained (March 1). They’ll be up for voting in the next four weeks.”

In a situation where the voting results differed, Gbajabiamila said he would rely on the constitution to decide on the harmonization because the constitution allows the House to regulate itself.

“Let me just touch on the clause briefly. If there is a disagreement at that point, we will seek harmonization.

“The House can regulate its procedures under the constitution section.” He stated, “I will rely on the Constitution to harmonize.”

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He summoned Abubarkar Fulata, the chairman of the House Committee on Rules and Business, to move that the House’s decision be overturned.

Fulata later moved the motion, which was seconded by Toby Okechukwu, the House’s deputy minority leader.

There were no disagreements during the speaker’s call for a voice vote on the development.

Women have taken to the streets once more. Bills that were rejected by the National Assembly

Meanwhile, scores of women’s organizations continued their protest at the National Assembly’s main gate yesterday, preventing many people from entering the complex.

They had promised not to leave until the bills were re-examined.

Last week, the women protested the lawmakers’ action under the aegis of Nigerian Women Groups, promising to return if the decision was not reversed.

They kept their word, returning in greater numbers yesterday and promising to keep protesting until lawmakers bowed to their demands.

They said women’s marginalization in the country must end, and they demanded an apology from lawmakers, as well as the names of those who voted against the bills, which they promised to publish for all to see.

The wives of governors have vowed to occupy the National Assembly of States in protest of bills that have been rejected.

Meanwhile, the wives of the federation’s 36 governors vowed to occupy the National Assembly yesterday to express their displeasure and disappointment over the rejection of women-related bills in plenary last week.

To mark International Women’s Day, the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Wives Forum, NGWF, and the First Lady of Ekiti State, Mrs Bisi Fayemi, issued a statement condemning what they called “blatant discrimination” against Nigerian women.

The First Ladies stressed that women’s voices and lives matter because they make up half of the country’s population, and that there can be no development without full and equal participation of women in all aspects of life.

They went on to say that any country that continued to deliberately stifle women’s advancement was simply stifling its own progress.

Mrs Fayemi promised that the governors’ wives would continue to engage with a wide range of stakeholders to support the proposed constitutional amendments that would make Nigeria’s constitution more gender-friendly.

According to her, as the wives of state executives, the first ladies will exert pressure on federal and state legislators to do the right thing and act as true representatives of the people, with women accounting for at least half of the legislature.

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Remember that a bill last week in the upper legislative chamber that sought to give at least ten slots to women as ministers and commissioners in the federal and state governments failed.

There are a total of 88 senators who have registered to vote. A total of 44 senators voted yes, 43 senators voted no, and 1 senator abstained.

The bill, which was supposed to ensure women’s inclusion in governance, failed to pass because it lacked the 73 votes needed to pass.

“Every March 8th, communities all over the world gather to commemorate International Women’s Day, IWD,” the statement read. It’s a good time to reflect on women’s status, to point out the many ways in which their rights are still being violated, and to assess progress made.

“Today is a day for governmental and non-governmental actors, corporations, development partners, and social movements to commit to closing gender gaps and addressing the numerous challenges that women still face in public and private life.”

“The number of women in the National Assembly has steadily decreased over the last three electoral cycles (2011, 2015, and 2019).” Nigeria currently has 109 senators, with only seven of them being women.

“There are only 13 women in the House of Representatives, which has 360 members.” There are at least 14 state legislatures that have no female members. There are no female governors in the state. These alarming statistics show that there is a deep-seated bias against women in leadership positions, and unless immediate action is taken, the situation will worsen.

“On March 1, 2022, the National Assembly delivered some very disappointing news to Nigerian women. There are currently 68 amendments up for debate in the ongoing constitutional amendment. There are five bills aimed at ensuring gender equality and justice.

“The Bills are as follows:! A bill to increase women’s representation in the Senate and House of Representatives by adding more seats for them. This bill will level the playing field, resulting in a significant increase in the number of women in the National Assembly, which is currently at 5%. The bill was turned down.

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“A bill to allow Nigerian women to transfer citizenship to their foreign husbands, which is a right that every Nigerian man married to a foreign spouse has.” The bill was turned down.

“A bill requiring at least 35% affirmative action in political party administration and appointive positions at the federal and state levels.” The bill was turned down.

“A bill to ensure that women make up at least 20% of ministerial or commissioner nominees.” The bill was turned down. After five years of marriage, a woman can become an indigene of her husband’s state. The bill was turned down.

“Our interpretation of what happened with this voting pattern in the National Assembly on March 1, 2022 is that Nigerian women’s progress was rejected.” All of the proposed constitutional amendments were intended to eliminate bias against women and to reduce, if not eliminate, the barriers that millions of women face because of their gender.

“We hereby condemn this blatant discrimination against Nigerian women in the strongest terms possible.” Our voices and lives matter because we make up half of the country’s population.”

Women can no longer be denied, according to Buhari.

On the occasion of International Women’s Day, March 8, 2022, President Muhammadu Buhari extolled Nigerian women, saying they were not where they should be in various fields of endeavor.

He, on the other hand, stated that they could no longer be denied for long periods of time because they had consistently demonstrated their ability to compete on all fronts and in all fields.

Femi Adesina, the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, made the announcement in a statement titled “International Women’s Day: President Buhari Salutes Womenfolk,” which he signed yesterday.

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According to Buhari, the event, which is being held under the hashtag #BreaktheBias and the theme Gender Equality Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow, is an opportunity to reflect on the important roles women play in society, homes, governance, professions, and all walks of life.

He praised women’s contributions to the current administration as ministers, special advisers, senior special assistants, executive directors, executive secretaries, and a variety of other positions, noting that they were doing their jobs and making it impossible to dismiss their importance.