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Rejected Gender Bills: NASS Missed A Chance To Redesign Nigeria’s Political Landscape – Obaseki

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Godwin Obaseki, the governor of Edo State, has said that by rejecting the gender bills, the National Assembly has squandered a golden opportunity to reshape Nigeria’s political landscape.

All women-related bills were rejected by the National Assembly on Tuesday, including one that sought to appoint at least ten women as ministers and commissioners in the federal and state governments.

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The rejection of the bills, according to Obaseki’s reaction on Thursday, is “heartbreaking and regrettable.”

“It is heartbreaking that members of the National Assembly squandered a golden opportunity to reshape Nigeria’s political landscape by enshrining landmark legislation that promotes inclusion and gives women the legal protection they need to achieve equitable representation at the highest levels of lawmaking and political participation.”

“This is because the legislature is a critical platform for fair representation and inclusion in government,” the governor explained.

He went on to say that it is painful and unconscionable that these bills, which give a boost to accommodating women who account for more than half of the voting population, have met such a dreadful fate.

“In Edo State, we have a healthy mix of women in our cabinet, with more than 30% of commissioners and Special Advisers in government being women,” he said.

“The Edo people hope that their own representatives in the National Assembly did not vote to disenfranchise their female population, because doing so would imply that they do not care about the people who sent them to the Assembly.”

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“Our administration has continued to give women the opportunity to hold leadership positions in government.”

House Rejects Bill to Repeal Sovereign Wealth Fund, Transfer Funds to Finance Ministry

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The Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) Act, 2011, was repealed by the House of Representatives on Thursday, and its assets and liabilities were transferred to the Ministry of Finance Incorporated.

Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, Hon. Wole Oke, is sponsoring a bill titled “A Bill for an Act to Repeal the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority Act and Transfer the Assets and Liabilities to the Ministry of Finance Incorporated; and for Related Matters.”

All funds currently in the custody of the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (hereinafter referred to as the Authority) shall be transferred to the Federation Account, and all investments made by the Authority shall be managed by the Ministry of Finance Incorporated established pursuant to the Ministry of Finance Incorporated Act, according to Oke, who led the debate on the general principles.

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The lawmaker, citing Section 162(1) of the Constitution, which states that all federation revenues should be paid into the Federation Account, said the passage of the NSIA Act was the first breach of this provision of the constitution, and that this contention had been open for a long time.

He also claimed that the NSIA has a history of failing to submit its spending to the National Assembly’s appropriation powers.

The various House Committees on Finance, he claims, have engaged with NSIA management on the need to follow this constitutional procedure a number of times, but they have arrogantly and flagrantly declined.

According to him, this means that the NSIA has gone ahead and spent the nation’s commonwealth without the consent of the Nigerian people, necessitating the need to put a stop to the waste and destruction of Nigerians’ futures.

He urged his colleagues to support the Bill on its second reading so that they can conduct a thorough investigation and invite members of the public to testify on whether NSIA violates section 162 of the 1999 Constitution.

“The provisions of the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s Constitution are very clear as to the procedure for withdrawing funds from the Consolidated Revenue Funds and the condition precedent that an appropriation must be made before any fund is released,” Oke said.

“Despite the provisions of Part III of the NSIA Act, particularly Sections 29 to 34 of the NSIA, which make statutory prescriptions as to the ownership and revenue sharing principles to be followed in the distribution of proceeds from the Fund, the NSIA’s management has been arbitrary in their disbursement and distribution of funds, and frequently does not even allocate and disburse funds to the state, local governments, and the area council.”

“In 2011, one of our decisions was to establish the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority, which will manage and save resources for Nigerians, among other things.” The Central Bank of Nigeria already performs some of these functions. Apart from that, the point I’m making today, which I’d like the parliament to consider, is whether our decision to establish this body is in accordance with Section 162 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s Constitution. Repeal or amendment of an existing Act is one of the ways the parliament can correct itself. And it’s for that reason that I’m here today. I’d like us to read section 162 of the Constitution in light of the Act that established this body.”

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While a few lawmakers supported the Bill following his debate, others opposed it, calling for sanctions and increased oversight rather than repealing the Act.

Hon. Henry Nwawuba stated in his contribution that the Sovereign Wealth Fund has advantages that should be considered before making a decision.

“I want to state for the record that having a Sovereign Wealth Fund has a benefit,” he said. Nigeria must have decided to save for a rainy day because of this. It should be taken into account as we discuss this. We should consider the benefits and drawbacks.”

In addition, Hon. Ayokunle Isiaka believes that rather than repealing or merging the Sovereign Wealth Fund, which was established by the legislature to serve some unusual purposes, lawmakers should investigate whether it is performing as expected.

Hon. Lynda Ikpeazu, for one, scoffed at the claim made by Oke’s bill that it violates section 162 of the constitution.

“The sponsor alluded to section 162 of the constitution,” she said. However, if you look at 162(3,4), you’ll notice that this fund was established by this parliament. That is not to say that we cannot repeal it; rather, it does not offend it. It’s critical that we consider the intent behind enacting that law and comprehend why it was enacted in the first place before making a decision.”

In agreement, Hon. Chris Azubogu urged the sponsor to withdraw the Bill, warning that it is in the national interest not to project and portray Nigerians in an unfavorable light internationally.

“I appeal to the sponsor, Hon. Oke, that it is in the national interest that we do not project and portray Nigerians in an unacceptably negative light,” he said. As an institution, the Sovereign Wealth Fund has been involved in sourcing funds all over the world, and many people have placed their trust in Nigeria as a result.

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“Let us take this bill down a notch, conduct more consultations, and engage.” The agency fails to submit accurate reports to the National Assembly. We will give them the opportunity to come and explain what they are doing in the future. If there are provisions in the Act that need to be amended to make them more accountable to the National Assembly, we will do so rather than repealing it.”

The majority of lawmakers voted against the Bill when it was put to a voice vote by the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Idris Wase, who presided over the session.

Convention: APC Ready To Roll, Appoints Abdulrazaq Zoning Committee Chairman

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The leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has started putting the wheels in motion for its national convention on March 26. The formation of an eight-member committee on the zoning of party offices, led by Kwara State Governor Abdulrahaman AbdulRazaq, was the most recent move. Senator John Akpanudoedehe, National Secretary of the Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), announced this in a statement yesterday.

In a telephone conversation, however, Akpanudoedehe hinted that the ruling party’s leadership had yet to meet over President Muhammadu Buhari’s recent signing of the Electoral Act into law.

However, as the convention team prepared to begin, principal officers of the Senate and some ruling party senators, led by Senate President, Dr Ahmad Lawan, and his deputy, Omo-Agege, announced that they had endorsed Senator Abdullahi Adamu (Nasarawa West) for the position of National Chairman.

Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, the former governor of Borno State and a frontrunner for the party’s chairmanship, said he was unaware of Buhari’s alleged endorsement of Adamu as the party’s next national chairman.

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Meanwhile, in Kwara State, Hon. Benjamin Issa Ezekiel, an APC chieftain and Pro-Chancellor of the Federal University, Dutse, Jigawa State, said Malam Saliu Mustapha, one of the chairmanship aspirants from the North-central geopolitical zone, remained the state’s “unity candidate” for the office of APC chairman.

“His Excellency, Mai Mala Buni, National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) and Governor of Yobe State, has approved the appointment of the Party’s Zoning Committee for the forthcoming National Convention,” Akpanudoedehe said in a statement.

Other members of the committee include Ovie Omo-Agege, the Deputy President of the Senate, who will serve as deputy chairman of the zoning committee. Professor Etim Nyong, Dr. MB Shehu, Mustapha Salihu, Senator Teslim Folarin, and Mr. Sadeeq Sule-Iko Sami were named to the committee, with Mr. Nkem Okeke, the Deputy Governor of Anambra State, as Secretary.

The committee is expected to submit its report on March 7, according to Akpanudoedehe.

However, during a meeting held at the Senate wing of the National Assembly complex on Wednesday evening, with the ranking senator in attendance, some senators endorsed Adamu.

The APC senators, who number around ten, are said to have resolved to support Adamu in his bid to become the party’s national chairman at the party’s upcoming national convention on March 26 in Abuja. According to sources, the senators also agreed to engage other stakeholders, including some of the chairmanship contenders, on the importance of putting their ambitions aside and supporting the chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture to become the ruling party’s chairman.

Sani Musa (Niger East), one of the aspirants who is also a serving senator, attended the Wednesday meeting. However, he was unable to confirm whether he had agreed to give up his ambition and support Adamu.

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The senators took a group photo at the end of the meeting, with Adamu on the right flanking the Senate President.

Senators Ovie Omo-Agege, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi, Senate Chief Whip, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, Deputy Chief Whip, Senator Sabi Abdullahi, and Senator Jubril Barau were all present at the meeting.

Senators Bello Mandiya and Opeyemi Bamidele were also present.

Although it was widely assumed that Buhari had expressed his preference for Adamu as the consensus candidate for national chairman, it was reported that APC stakeholders from the South-east pushed for the position of National Secretary, while the party’s position in the South-west, where the position was originally zoned, remained divided.

During a meeting with the president, APC governors agreed that all previous positions held by members from the North-west would now go to those from the South-east; all positions held by those from the North-east would go to those from the South-west; and all positions previously held by members from the North-central would go to those from the South-south. This meant that the national secretary and chairmanships had been filled.

However, with the party’s formation of a zoning committee, stakeholders will be on the lookout for possible changes to the zoning formula, despite the fact that a governor, who requested anonymity, recently stated that the zoning formula in use was not inviolable.

However, in a telephone conversation, Akpanudoedehe stated that the party’s current focus was on holding the convention.

“We have a party leader, which is the president,” he said. Stakeholders, governors, senators, members of the House of Representatives, and former governors are all present. They are crucial and have legal authority. A number of issues must be considered.

“On the Electoral Act, we have yet to meet.” Remember that it was signed over the weekend, and that it is now a new week. We are, however, entirely focused on the convention.”

When asked if the party’s zonal congresses, convention, and primaries would be held between April 4 and June 3, the secretary said he didn’t want to jeopardize the party’s leadership.

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“Let me not pre-empt the party’s leadership,” he added. I’m not going to speak for myself. I’m only in this position out of a sense of obligation to everyone. I am speaking on behalf of the caretaker committee’s decision. The convention is proceeding as planned.”

However, according to another party source, Akpanudoedehe wanted to stay on as party secretary to make it easier for him to get the Akwa Ibom State governorship ticket.

“He (Akpanudoedehe) wanted to stay secretary and run for governor,” the source said. The governors, on the other hand, sent the secretary to the south-west, and it was micro-zoned to Oyo State. Buni aspires to be Vice President of the United States. Ken (Namani) aspires to be governor.”

Sheriff: I’m not aware of President Muhammadu Buhari’s support for Adamu.

Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, a former governor of Borno State and a frontline candidate for the All Progressive Congress (APC) national chairmanship, said he was unaware of President Muhammadu Buhari’s alleged endorsement of Senator Abdulahi Adamu, a former governor of Nasarawa State, as the party’s next national chairman ahead of the party’s convention on March 26.

Sheriff stated this at a press conference in Abuja yesterday, claiming that the party’s leadership had not informed the aspirants that one of them had been endorsed.

However, the former lawmaker stated that if the president, as the party’s leader, anointed someone, he would withdraw from the race and support the decision.

Sheriff said it was necessary to speak to the press because some party members were concerned about the president’s and party leadership’s alleged decision and position on the national chairmanship.

“Of late, I’ve been bombarded by insinuations and rumors that President Muhammadu Buhari has zoned and endorsed a candidate for this critical position in our party’s leadership,” he said.

“First and foremost, I am not aware of any official statement or position by Mr. President regarding the endorsement of any particular candidate or the zoning of our great party’s chairmanship position.

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“Mr. President, and the party as a whole, have yet to make a formal statement on these issues.” Because of my character, capacity, and competence, I am running for the national chairmanship of our party, the APC. My intentions are clear and explicit in that they are for the public good rather than personal gain.”

As a loyal party member, the former governor stated that he would follow the president’s decisions at any time he stated an official position. Sheriff stated unequivocally that he believes the president is capable of making the best decision for the party’s growth.

“Our guiding principle will be the party’s constitution and manifesto, and I will be committed to it,” Sheriff said, stressing that he was committed to working with anyone to reposition the party for a resounding victory in the 2023 general election and beyond. I support Mr. President’s decision.”

Mustapha State Unity Candidate Declared by Ex-Kwara Speaker

Hon. Benjamin Issa Ezekiel, APC chieftain and Pro-Chancellor of the Federal University of Dutse, said Malam Saliu Mustapha, the party’s chairmanship aspirant from Kwara State, was the state’s “unity candidate” for the position.

Mustapha, 49, is said to be the youngest of the aspirants vying for the position of APC national chairman, with experience as the defunct Congress for Progressives Change’s National Deputy Chairman.

He has been a long-time ally of Buhari, dating back to the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and the CPC.

Ezekiel, a former Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, spoke in Ilorin on the sidelines of a Personality Public Lecture organized in Mustapha’s honor by the University of Ilorin chapter of the Postgraduate Students Association of Nigeria. He emphasized that if elected, Mustapha would unite the party by leveraging his goodwill among the various factions.

“Mustapha enjoys the blessings of all tendencies in the APC in Kwara State,” Ezekiel said. Mustapha has a long history of good relations with virtually all of the party’s major stakeholders, beginning with Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.”

Senators representing the state, as well as two state ministers, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and Senator Gbemisola Saraki, among others, backed Mustapha’s bid, according to the former speaker.

“The only reason Mallam Saliu Mustapha is the only candidate from Kwara State is because of his goodwill at home,” he claims. He is not only well-liked by the community and traditional leaders of the state, as evidenced by his elevation to the position of Turaki of Ilorin, but he is also well-liked by the political class, particularly among the progressive family.

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“This is in contrast to other states in the North Central, where multiple candidates from the same state are running.” Examples abound, such as Niger and Nasarawa. So, of all the North-central candidates, he is the only one who has the most powerful state backing that cuts across all interest groups. This is why we’re pleading with the president to rally behind Mustapha, who, by the way, has been a long-time ally of his.”

Ilorin Court Sentenced 21-Year-Old Man To Prison For Love Scam

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Adeogun Timileyin Feranmi, 21, was sentenced to six months in prison by a Kwara State High Court in Ilorin for internet-related scams and impersonation.

Adeogun, who is from Abule-Egba, Abeokuta in the Odeda Local Government Area of Ogun State, was charged with one count of money laundering before Justice Adenike Akinpelu of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in Ilorin.

The defendant entered a plea of guilty to the charge leveled at him.

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Feranmi was one of thirty internet fraud suspects arrested by operatives of the anti-graft agency during a sting operation on September 19, 2021, in Malete, Moro Local Government Area of Kwara State, in response to intelligence reports about their alleged involvement in fraud-related activities.

“That you, Adeogun Timileyin Feranmi, on or about the 20th day of October 2019 in Ilorin, Kwara State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did cheat by personation when you pretended to be one Hannah Sanabria via your gmail address hannahsanabriah@gmail.com and communicated with one Reus Saints whom you induced to part with property towith: $1500 via bitcoin,” according to the charge sheet.

According to the anti-graft agency, the offense is in violation of Section 321 of the Penal Code Law and is punishable under Section 324 of the same Law.

Following his guilty plea, EFCC counsel Rasheedat Alao called a witness, whom she led into evidence to go over the case’s facts.

The witness, who is a commission operative, described the events that led to the defendant’s arrest and presented one HP laptop and several fraudulent documents printed from the defendant’s device as exhibits, all of which were admitted in evidence.

Following that, Alao prayed that the court take judicial notice of the defendant’s guilty plea, his extrajudicial statements, and the exhibits presented, and convict him as charged.

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Justice Akinpelu upheld the prosecution’s claim that the EFCC had proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt in her decision.

Feranmi was sentenced to six months in prison and a fine of N150,000 by the trial judge.

The court also ordered the defendant’s HP laptop, which was recovered at the time of his arrest, to be forfeited to the federal government.

 

2023: Ngige ‘Seriously Consulting’ To Run For President

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Chris Ngige, the Minister of Labour and Employment, announced on Thursday that he is “seriously considering” a presidential run in 2023.

During an appearance on Politics Today, he made the remark.

“Last December, I told my constituents that I would conduct some consultations and that I would speak to them in April, during Easter.” When asked if he would run for President, he said, “I’m doing my consultations.”

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Although he has yet to inform President Muhammadu Buhari, the Minister added that he was “qualified” to be President.

He claims that some Nigerians have asked him to run, including a former Inspector-General of Police.

Mr Ngige said he wasn’t running based on regional sentiments, despite speculation of a South-East presidency.

He stated, “If I’m going to run, I’m not going to run because I’m Igbo.” “I will run as Chris Nwabueze Ngige, a Nigerian citizen from Anambra State, and from the Idemilli South local government and the town of Alor in Anambra State.

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“I’m not going to wear an Igbo President’s toga.” I’m of Igbo descent, but I’m well qualified to be Nigeria’s President.”

FG Directs 4 Ministries, 11 Northern States To Combat Drought, Desert Encroachment

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To combat the threat of desertification in the country, the federal government directed a joint collaboration between four federal ministries: Environment, Water Resources, Agriculture and Rural Development, and Power, as well as 11 drought-prone northern states and other relevant stakeholders on Thursday.

President Muhammadu Buhari issued the directive during a sideline meeting in Nairobi, Kenya, with Mr Ubrahim Thiaw, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).

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Under the auspices of the Northern Governors Forum, President Buhari, who is attending the United Nations Environmental Programme’s (UNEP@50) Special Session, said the collaboration will involve the four federal ministries and agencies, as well as the 11 states prone to drought and desert encroachment.

In the run-up to the upcoming meeting on desertification in Cote D’Ivoire in May 2022, he also called for full cooperation between Nigeria and the UNCCD.

Mr Thiaw, for his part, said that in addition to the meeting in Cote D’Ivoire, a Climate Change conference would be held in Egypt later this year, noting that the Conference of the Parties (COP) would be returning to Africa after an 11-year absence.

On desertification, the UNCCD chief stated that Africa has lost about 60% of its arable land in the last 50 years, posing a feeding challenge.

“Land degradation is about food, peace, and security,” he says. And land restoration offers a variety of options. When you cultivate the land, it returns carbon to the soil.”

He claimed that no one is better qualified to speak on large-scale land restoration than Nigeria’s president, who is also the President of the Great Green Wall, claiming that Nigeria has the longest stretch of the Wall, which stretches over 1,000 kilometers.

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Drought, according to Thiaw, has always existed, but it is now much more severe and a global issue.

He emphasized the importance of President Buhari’s leadership in guiding the process of addressing various pressing issues such as desertification, drought, and land restoration.

Leadership Crisis Rocks Kano NNPP As Kwankwaso Set To Join

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As former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso prepares to abandon the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in favor of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), the party’s sacked Chairman, Hisham Habib, has threatened the party’s executives with legal action.

Last weekend, Kwankwaso told reporters that he had finalized plans to leave the PDP and join the NNPP.

Remember that the party’s outgoing National Secretary, Ambassador Agbo Gilbert Major, announced on Tuesday that Kwankwaso would be moving.

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However, after Kwankwaso’s planned defection to the NNPP was announced, Habib welcomed Kwankwaso, but stated that “no automatic tickets for new entrants.”

Hisham was reportedly removed from the NNPP’s national headquarters, and Umar Haruna Doguwa, Kwankwaso’s political disciple, was appointed as caretaker Chairman.

This irritated Habib, who threatened legal action in response to what he described as a “undemocratic siege on the party by the Kwankwaso-led group Kwankwasiyya.”

Habib described the appointment of Doguwa as caretaker chairman as a “siege” that perplexed the party’s men and women, according to a statement he signed yesterday.

He also expressed concern that “partisan politics is jeopardized” if politicians are able to wriggle parties from those who have worked hard for a long time.

Hisham Habib insisted that the process has always been all-inclusive, and that progress can only be made if all stakeholders are represented in negotiations.

“The national leadership is aware of the difficulties we have faced in promoting the party for years, and we deserve a better approach,” he said.

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On the next course of action, the ousted chairman stated that consultations are taking place on the best course of action, which could include seeking redress in court or leaving the party.

Bus Driver Kills FRSC Official, Motorist In Ondo

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On the Sagamu-Ore-Benin highway, Abdulkareem Ojonla Jimoh, a Federal Road Safety Corps member, was killed by the driver of an 18-seater passenger bus.

The bus driver, whose white Toyota Hiace Bus with registration number NEM 618 AA allegedly crushed the FRSC officer, also ran over a motorist whose papers were being scrutinized by road safety authorities.

The incident occurred a few meters from the Ajebandele bridge before the military checkpoint, according to Lasisi Ogundele, the FRSC’s commander for the Sagamu-Benin corridor.

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According to Ogundele, the bus driver caused the collision after his vehicle experienced brake failure while traveling from the Sagamu end of the route.

“The marshal was seriously injured and died on the way to the hospital,” Ogundele said, “while the suspected traffic offender, who also sustained serious injury, was rushed to Glory Field Hospital, Ajebandele, and later taken to General Hospital Ore, where he died.”

The deceased have been deposited at a morgue in Ore, Odigbo Local Government Area of the state, according to Ogundele, who added that the incident has been reported to the police.

In Niger State, Over 200 Bandits Were Killed In Just Four Days, Commissioner

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Over 200 armed bandits were killed in a gun battle between members of the Joint Security Taskforce and bandits in Niger State in the last four days, according to the state government.

Mr. Emmanuel Umar, the state Commissioner for Local Government Chieftaincy Affairs and Internal Security, announced this while briefing reporters in Minna.

Ali Kawajo, Bello Janbros, Kachalla Halilu, and Bello Turji are the leaders of the four groups that the Joint State Security Taskforce engaged in crossfire, according to Umar.

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Sixty motorcycles were recovered, and an unknown number of cattle were returned to their owners, according to him. Between Sunday and Wednesday, he said, bandits were killed in the Rafi and Mariga local governments’ Kundu and Babanlaba axes, as well as other parts of the state.

The commissioner hinted that two security personnel had died in the fight against the bandits, but praised the Joint State Security Taskforce’s valiant efforts.

Nigerian Lawmakers Rejected Bill To Regulate Foreign Education For Public Officers’ Children

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The House of Representatives has rejected a bill that would make it illegal for public officials to send their children and wards to foreign schools without the Minister of Education’s permission.

The bill’s sponsor, Sergius Ogun (PDP, Ogun), had introduced a similar bill in the 8th Assembly, but it was rejected by lawmakers.

He also sponsored a bill requiring public officials to seek medical attention in Nigerian hospitals. The lawmakers at the time also rejected this bill, citing a violation of fundamental rights.

According to Mr. Ogun’s bill, a public official can only send his or her children or wards to foreign schools with the Minister of Education’s approval. It also requires officers to show proof of financial ability to pay their wards’ school fees.

This bill comes after the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) went on strike over the 2009 agreements, causing yet another shutdown of federal universities.

The bill’s highlights

“A public officer shall not send his ward or children oversea for studies without declaring an interest subject to approval,” according to section 4 of the rejected bill.

The bill’s section 6 outlines the procedures for obtaining approval. “A public officer expressing an interest in sending his ward or child abroad for further studies shall submit the following documents for consideration,” it stated.

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(a) A completed form containing the public officer’s name and address, the child’s or ward’s name and age, his level of education, the name of the intended school abroad, the duration of study, and the number of children studying abroad;

(b) Appointment letter

c) Accounts payable and receivable statement

d) Paystub for salary

e) Asset Declaration Form; and

(f) A sworn affidavit stating that he can afford to pay for his education.

(1) The minister shall conduct an investigation to verify the authenticity of the documents submitted for approval, according to Section 7.

For breaking the law, Section 9 of the bill stipulates a fine of N1 million or three years in prison.

The discussion

Mr. Ogun, who led the bill debate, drew a link between deteriorating public school facilities and a desire for foreign schools.

He claimed that the bill has the ability to address the allocation of resources to public schools.

“The problem is that the majority of those who attend private educational institutions or study abroad are the children and wards of Nigerian public officials. These are the officers who should be in charge of constructing our public institutions, according to the lawmaker.

He expressed concern about the outflow of scarce foreign resources to fund these outlays. Nigeria sends over N1 billion to Ghana’s economy, according to the lawmaker.

While opposing the bill, Chiyere Igwe (PDP, Rivers) stated that the content of the bill violates the spirit of the 1999 constitution, which guarantees every Nigerian the right to move anywhere.

He claimed that the Code of Conduct Act is sufficient to determine whether a public official has the financial means to send his or her children to international schools.

“As far as I’m concerned, this bill violates Nigerians’ fundamental human rights, which guarantee their freedom of movement.” The constitution guarantees you complete freedom of movement. As a result, you are violating the constitution with this bill, and it is therefore null and void.

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“Not all public officers who send their children to school have control over public funds.” I am Chiyere Igwe, and I can assure you that I have no control over the public. Is it wrong for me to send my children to school in another country?

“You are only allowed to farm under the Code of Conduct Act,” he continued, “and with this bill, you are infringing on the constitution.”

On the basis of the 1999 constitution, Leke Abejide (ADC, Kogi) also spoke out against the bill. Many people, he claimed, had their children attend such schools before they were elected.

“This bill should be lowered by him.” It is a violation of my rights. Most of us have our children attending school in another country before we come here. So it’s not because we’re government employees that we shouldn’t send our children abroad. If you say that because I am now a member of the House of Representatives, I should withdraw my children from the schools where they are being educated, we all agree that the schools are in disarray.

Nicholas Ossai (PDP, Delta) and Toby Okechukwu, the Deputy Minority Leader, were among those who spoke out against the bill (PDP, Enugu).

Mr Ogun, who was visibly displeased with his colleagues, used his right of reply to urge them to read the bill thoroughly in order to comprehend its contents. He stated that regulation is required to address the challenges confronting Nigerian public education.

However, the presiding officer, Deputy Speaker Idris Wase (APC, Plateau), warned him to be careful with his language on the House floor.

Read Also:  Russia-Ukraine War: Buhari Govt Identifies ‘ONLY NIGERIANS’ To Be Evacuated.

Members overwhelmingly rejected the bill when it was put to a vote.

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