Television Nigerian

N-Power Batch C and Matters Arising

Opinion

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June 25, 2020

By Dan Ochonu

There seems to be an uprising concerning the decision of the Honorable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development to introduce new beneficiaries into the N-Power scheme under a revised and robust template that would be of utmost benefit to the teeming youthful population in the country.
I am sure it should be surprising to discerning minds that some people would elect to view things only from the prism of their selfish interest. If this is not the case, I wonder on what basis the beneficiaries under the Batch A and B programme are protesting even with the fact that they have stayed in the programme for over 40 months.
As a first, I think it is essential to understand that the N-Power is a job creation and empowerment programme instituted by the Federal Government of Nigeria through its National Social Investment Programmes. In other words, it’s a skill acquisition programme where youths from various parts of the country are trained in various skills under four broad categories such as N-Power Agro, where volunteers will provide advisory services to farmers across the country disseminate the knowledge that has been aggregated by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in the area of extension services. They will also gather data on Nigeria’s agriculture assets
Another category is the N-Power Teach volunteers that are deployed as teachers assistants in primary schools to help improve essential education delivery in Nigeria, and where possible, they will also assist in taking basic education to children in marginalized communities.
The N-Power Health Volunteers help improve and promote preventive healthcare in their communities to vulnerable members of the society, including pregnant women and children and families and individuals.
N-Power Build, Tech and Creative volunteers have received extensive training to help develop and expand their respective skillset, which would help foster innovation and creativity among the youths, while ensuring that they can turn their skills into marketable products. The above explains the N-Power initiative of the Federal Government.
It is therefore pertinent to state that since inception in 2018, the N-Power scheme has catered for over 500,000 youths in the country with 200,000 from Batch A which started in September 2016 and 300,000 from Batch B which kicked off in August 2018. These participants have been trained in various skills as mentioned above that they can deploy to their advantage in future. But ironically, this is not the case as the advocates that have been acting on behalf of these participants wants the programmes to be a permanent and salaried job.
This, in my opinion, is anti-progressive in the sense that they want others to be denied the same opportunity that they had when they enrolled. This is a sad episode if you ask me given the fact that the Batch A and B beneficiaries have elected to let hell loose because the federal government revised the programme to allow room for new beneficiaries under the proposed Batch C programme.
Welcome to Nigeria where patriotism is never the watchword if you decide to stand on the side of truth and to do the right thing, you are regarded as a villain. In my view, the actions of those that have launched an attack on the honorable minister of humanitarian affairs, disaster management and social development are nothing but greedy, selfish and against the interest of the country.
If this is not the case, how could one explain a situation where doing the right and putting the interest of the country has become a crime as propagated by the earlier beneficiaries on the N-Power programme. This is a sad tale, and I am glad that someone has decided to change the narrative, not minding the series of coordinated attacks on her.
It must be stated and expressly so that the N-Power initiative is for the generality of Nigerians and not for a few, so seeing it as a birthright is phenomenally wrong in all ramification. This much these set of greedy fellows must come to terms with. It is also unimaginable considering the fact that Nigeria boasts of one of the highest youthful populations in the world.
I think rejigging the N-Power scheme to bring in new people on board is not only a welcome development; it is also an act of purposefulness in a bid to address some of the challenges facing the country.
If only Nigerians would understand that the revised N-Power scheme would run for six months – one year depending on the category. According to available information on the N-Power Scheme website, N-Agro, N-Build, N-Creative and N-Tech will run for six months (with two batches a year), the N-Teach and N-Health part of the programme will run for one year. For the six month programmes, three months will be used for training beneficiaries, while the other three months will be used for mentorship and attachment to partners and stakeholders.
This is indeed brilliant in the sense that more youths would have the opportunity to be enrolled in the scheme in the bid to better their lives, unlike in times past where the programme ran for a duration of 2 years, thereby depriving other qualified candidates the opportunity to benefit from this laudable initiative.
If not for anything, the honorable minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster management and Social Development has indeed justified the confidence reposed in her by Mr. President to ensure rapid and meaningful implementation of the various social intervention programmes of the federal government.
The proposed introduction of the Batch C under the scheme must go as planned because it is not only laudable; it is in the overall interest of the country that would be of immense benefit to the teeming youths in the country because over 400,000 new beneficiaries would be admitted into the programme in the following order: 200,000 beneficiaries into the N-Power Agro programme, 80,000 into the N-Power Teach Programme, 40,000 into the N-Health Programme, and 80,000 into the N-Power Build, Creative and Tech categories.
I commend the minister in this regard and encourage her not to relent in her valuable service to the country. And those that think that they have a birthright to stay put for life in the N-Power scheme should have a rethink and retrace their steps. It is expected that the knowledge and experience garnered over 40 months should be put to use for the benefit of the country.
The N-Power C project must go ahead as planned. The minister must not back down despite the avalanche of attack on her person so long the overarching objective is ensuring that more youths are accommodated in the scheme. This is what Nigeria needs, and our support for the likes of Hajia Sadiya Umar Farouq should be unflinching.

Ochonu is an unemployed youth and wrote this piece from MAKURDI, Benue State.

Coalition of Northern Groups accused of receiving N500m to shed crocodile tears over security challenges in Nigeria

News

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June 25, 2020

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Coalition of Northern Groups accused of receiving N500m to shed crocodile tears over security challenges in Nigeria

The League of Northern Groups (LNG) has accused the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) of receiving N500m to weep in public over the security situation in the country.

According to LNG, the Coalition is nothing but a band of merchant sponsored by top politicians behind the continuous killing of innocent Nigerians in the north to run its propaganda.

Speaking on behalf of the group at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, LNG’s Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Aminu Abubakar, said it aims to address the growing misinformation about the security situation in the north, especially at a time it has been hijacked by some disgruntled politicians.

From carrying out protests, LNG revealed that the northern coalition’s job has grown into a propaganda wing, inflating casualty figures from incidents of security breaches.

The aim, it said, is to ultimately pressure President Muhammadu Buhari to sack his military chiefs and failure to do so has seen renewed killings and campaigns.

Among others, the League of Northern Groups challenged CNG to publish details of its financing with particular emphasis to the identity of donors.

It further called on the coalition to explain its ties with a former presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

LNG, however, confessed that it is praying for the Coalition of Northern Groups to repent and stop supporting evil.

Read the full statement below:

Gentlemen of the press. We will like to start by appealing that everyone here present does their utmost best to conform to the protocols prescribed for the control of COVID-19 throughout their stay here. The League of Northern Youth Groups (NYFG) is a law-abiding organization and is fully supportive of efforts to curb the spread of the virus. We thank you as you cooperate with us to support the ongoing efforts to keep Nigerians and each other safe.

We invited you here today because we find it imperative to alert Nigerians to an upsurge in disinformation and misinformation campaign around the issue of insecurity in the northern parts of the country. Let us digress a little to assert that the expression, “insecurity in the northern part of Nigeria” is in itself a misnomer because there are security concerns across the country. The difference is perhaps the intensity of what obtains in the north. It must also be said that there are security concerns in many countries of the world, including those that are regarded as advanced with the difference being in how the situation of each specific country is reported.

What stands the situation in the north out is the baffling trend where incidents of attacks resulting in the loss of human life have been packaged into a business. This business has instigators, dissatisfied politicians, who have been discovered to be the ones sponsoring the spate of violence in pursuit of whatever twisted objective it is they want to achieve. The manifestation of this dangerous class of people in recent days is the manner in which they are referring to the deaths they have caused as the basis for President Muhammadu Buhari to sack his military chiefs as if that very act being proposed is a pre-condition to stop further torment of the citizens they are killing.

There are also the foot soldiers that assist these killers recruited by these politicians in perpetuating and amplifying the terrorism unleashed on citizens through propaganda that distorts reality on a mind-boggling scale. These are groups that often inflate casualty figures from incidents of security breaches in a way that glorify the killers, demonize the government, demoralize the security and military personnel while further traumatizing survivors. Such groups have increased their activities in recent weeks, which not surprisingly corresponds with the time their political overlords were baying for the sack of military chiefs.

We have identified the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) as one of these groups that have been terrorizing Nigerians with propaganda. The group recently alleged that 240 persons have been killed in the last week. Gentlemen of the press, note that this approach by CNG marks an escalation to the protests they had hoped to use in grounding the country – their resort to compiling seemingly depressing tallies instead of protests means that they have moved their attacks against the state from the physical to the psychological. It is a strategy to instil fear in the population so that the killers sent out by their masters will meet communities that are already emotionally defeated and are therefore easy to attack.

It is crucial that no one is misled into believing that the gentlemen behind the Coalition of Northern Groups are engaged in legitimate activism, which would imply that any damage done in the course of their agitations was unintended. Far from it. These are no activists but economically activated activists, who are in it for what they have been paid as opposed to a passion for the improvement of their communities. What we have learnt is that the Coalition of Northern Groups is on the take and was paid 500 million naira by the top politicians behind the continuous killing of innocent Nigerians in the north in order for it to run its propaganda. A coalition of Northern Groups is nothing but a band of merchants of death running the propaganda wing of the sponsors of terrorism in the north.

So that this matter can be given the right context, we are challenging the Coalition of Northern Youth as follow:

CNG should dare publish details of its financing with particular emphasis to the identity of donors, including flagging the ones that politically exposed persons among them provides.

The Coalition should explain its link or connection with the former presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, including coming clear on the nature of instructions they have received from him or his agents as well as the financial relationship of the group to Atiku and his businesses.

CNG should explain its link with the bandits in the north as well as Boko Haram since it is able to keep such a tally of body count from the attacks carried out by these bandits. It is no mere coincidence that there is usually a lull in attacks when the coalition is carrying out its protests.

It should disclose its relationship with foreign or international NGOs, with details on the nature of interactions they have had in the last three months since there are uncanny similarities between the formats they have adopted in demonizing the government and the attack plan being executed by an organization like Amnesty International.

They should also disclose the groups and persons it has made payments to in recent weeks since such illicit payments are now known to have been used to mobilize the protests against the government.

Should it be unable to come up with satisfactory responses to the posers above, we urge the Coalition of Northern Groups to keep quiet and stop dancing on the grave of the dead. They shame their own families by the very despicable act of pretending to be activists during the day while by night they hobnob with the sponsors and promoters of the killings in northern Nigeria.

Rather than vilifying soldiers and military chiefs that are making sacrifices for the country or attacking the government of President Muhammadu Buhari, they should rather give an ultimatum to their sponsors for the regime of killings that they have instigated to end.

The League of Northern Youth Groups is mindful of the voluntary commitment made by CNG when it said: “In place of the halted protests, the CNG hereby resolves to direct its state coordinators to raise their levels of vigilance and to assist the security forces with credible relevant intelligence needed to tackle the situation.” We will be watching to see the extent to which they will keep to their words and if in reality, they will join the rest of us in supporting the military as we have always done.

The genuineness of their promise will contribute to thwarting the killers that their sponsors had unleashed on the land. We pray that the Coalition of Northern Groups is truly prepared to be repentant and stop supporting evil.

May God heal our land.

Insecurity: Community-based organizations reiterate support for President Buhari, Service Chiefs in the fight against insurgency, banditry

News

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June 24, 2020

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Insecurity: Community-based organizations reiterate support for President Buhari, Service Chiefs in the fight against insurgency, banditry

A group of community-based organizations, under the auspices of People’s Parliament, have vowed to maintain total support for President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration and the Service Chiefs in the fight against insurgency.

The group made this known in a communique signed by George Gondo and Adamu Bagudu, its Chairman and Secretary respectively and addressed by Gabriel Agibi on Wednesday in Abuja.

People’s Parliament, which also comprises of faith-based organizations, NGOs such as Grasshoot Peace Initiative and United Nigeria Forum, rising from an extraordinary emergency assembly held in Abuja and monitored on Skype and zoom, maintained that the President and his Service Chiefs have demonstrated capacity, willpower and the expertise to rid the country of terrorism, banditry and other crimes and would require the total support of all Nigerians to deliver absolute peace across the country.

While the military has done its part to end insurgency, terrorism, banditry and other crimes, the group acknowledged that some government officials and stakeholders have not been forthcoming.

People’s Parliament, however, called on state governors and stakeholders to play their own part, as all hands must be on deck to defeat the remnants of the Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists who are attempting to regroup to unleash further heinous atrocities on citizens.

The group said it overwhelmingly passed a vote of confidence on President Buhari and his security architecture, advising the already decimated Islamic fighters to surrender now they have the chance.

Read full communique below:

The meeting was convened by the People’s Parliament with support from the Global Amnesty Watch and deliberated extensively on the state o,f affairs in Nigeria especially the security situation in the country.

Participants took their time to contribute to the discussions and after extensive deliberations on the issues which centred on the performance of the Military and other stakeholders in the current war against insurgency, terrorism, banditry and other crimes in Nigeria, made the following observations:

That Nigeria has not arrived at its desired destination as far as the security of the country is concerned.

That there has however been a great improvement in the security of the country in the last five years.

That the current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has shown commitment towards ending terrorism and insurgency as well as other forms of crime in the country.

That the President’s determination to secure all citizens and others living in Nigeria and the territorial integrity of the country, has been demonstrated through making the right appointments in the armed forces, providing adequate funding and the procurement of weapons for troops engaged in the battle against terrorism and insurgency.

That while the armed forces have been relentless in the fight against insurgency, terrorism, banditry and other crime, some top security personnel and other stakeholders have not been forthcoming in that regard.

That much ground has been covered in the bid to put the Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists out of business since the Chief of Army Staff relocated to the theatre of operation in the Northeast in March.

That the recent attacks in Gubio, Borno State and in Faskari, Katsina State are quite unfortunate.

That the attacks in Gubio, Borno State and in communities in Faskari Local Government of Katsina State could have been avoided if other top security officials and stakeholders have been alive to their responsibilities.

That it is the failure of intelligence gathering, inability to infiltrate the camps of the insurgents and lack of consultation with stakeholders, that are responsible for such security breaches.

That rather than gain relevance through the supply of actionable intelligence for troops, top security officials are more concerned about blackmailing the service chiefs to feather their own nests.

That state governours of the affected states, as chief security officers of their respective states, appears not to have been properly briefed about their expected roles in the fight against insurgency and terrorism.

That the recent meeting of the President with top security personnel and service chiefs is a step in the right direction.

In the light of the above observations by the participants at the meeting, the following courses of action were recommended to bring to an end the scourge of terrorism and insurgency as well as curb the level of violence and crime in Nigeria.

Recommendations:

All stakeholders in the security structure of the country just as a matter of urgency, put hands on deck to enable Nigeria to defeat the remnants of the Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists groups who are attempting to regroup to unleash further heinous atrocities on citizens of this country.

All CBOs, CSOs and FBOs, as well as the general public, should expose any individual or group of persons suspected to be behind or aiding the crimes of terrorism, insurgency and other related crimes in Nigeria.

Security agencies charged with investigations and intelligence gathering must step up their game to provide actionable intelligence to troops so as to complement what the military is doing at the battlefield.

The military should not relent or be discouraged by the current setback in Gubio and Faskari Local Governments of Borno and Katsina States respectively but sustain the push against the remnants of the terrorist groups until they are defeated.

The Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists as well as other bandits operating in the Northwestern part of the country should take advantage of the current window and surrender as they indicated doing some months back and not be deceived that they can withstand the military.

Governors in the North must go beyond calling for meetings only after attacks on communities have taken place to take proactive measures to prevent such.

The meeting passed a vote of confidence on President Muhammadu Buhari and his security architecture believing that with the total support and collaboration from the Nigerian people, the final defeat of Boko Haram and all the criminal elements operating in Nigeria would soon be accomplished.

The Military and other security agencies should collaborate to bring not just the fighters but collaborators, sponsors and promoters of the group to book.

The meeting has made these recommendations believing sincerely that it will go a long way in stamping out the security challenges in the country.

Operation Hadarin Daji: Troops Crush Armed Bandits’ Camps, Neutralize Scores of Fighters in Katsina, Zamfara States

Security

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June 24, 2020

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Operation Hadarin Daji: Troops Crush Armed Bandits’ Camps, Neutralize Scores of Fighters in Katsina, Zamfara States

Scores of armed bandits have been killed and their camps destroyed following targeted bombardments of their locations in Katsina and Zamfara States.

In a statement, Coordinator Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen John Enenche said the operation is part of efforts to rid the North West and North Central States of the Country of armed bandits and other criminal elements.

Consequently, the Air Component of Operation HADARIN DAJI launched a subsidiary air interdiction Operation, codenamed WUTAN DAJI.

The Operation, which was preceded by the massive deployment of additional air assets and ground support equipment by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to Katsina, is aimed at taking out armed bandits’ locations that were painstakingly selected, based on impeccable Human Intelligence (HUMINT) reports as well as series of Surveillance missions, in order to significantly degrade the armed bandits’ fighting capability before it could be brought to bear against friendly forces or innocent civilians.

Since the operation began on 20 June 2020, 10 locations have been attacked and scores of armed bandits neutralized, as confirmed by HUMINT reports. Some of the significant air strikes include those executed at Dutsen Asolo and Birnin Kogo areas of Katsina State as well as at Dogo Gede’s Camp in the Kwayanbana Forest area of Zamfara State.

At Dutsen Asolo, NAF jets dispatched by the Air Component attacked the cave/hideout of the bandits, destroying the main entry point and neutralizing some fighters. Some surviving bandits, who were tracked escaping from the cave area were taken out in follow-on strikes. Also, on 21 June 2020, at the bandits’ enclave in the Kwayanbana Forest, an attack helicopter took out one of the bandits’ logistics huts, which was seen engulfed in flames.

Similarly, at Birnin Kogo on 22 June 2020, some armed bandits, who fled their dwellings in the centre of the camp to nearby bushes on hearing the sound of the attack aircraft, were neutralized as the NAF fighter jets hit them at their hiding positions.

The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, who was in Katsina to oversee the Operation, has commended the Air Component of Operation HADARIN DAJI for their professionalism. He has urged them to remain resolute in the conduct of air strikes whilst continuing to provide close air support for ongoing ground operations in order to eradicate all armed bandits; thus accomplishing the directives of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) to restore normalcy in the North West and North Central Zones of the Country.

Herdsmen/Farmers Crisis: FG, Nigerian Army have restored peace to most warring communities in Nigeria – Report

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June 24, 2020

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Herdsmen/Farmers Crisis: FG, Nigerian Army have restored peace to most warring communities in Nigeria – Report

A report by the Centre for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency (CESJET) has hailed the Federal Government and Nigerian Army for halting the age-long farmers-herders crisis ravaging parts of the country.

The well-documented report detailed how President Muhammadu Buhari and the Army miraculously restored peace to warring communities to end the perennial clashes.

Barely a month after being sworn-in, President Buhari, in June 2015, constituted a Strategic Action Committee to look into herders-farmers crisis and make recommendations that would address it.

Without this intervention, the centre reckoned that perhaps the nation would have ultimately slid into chaos along religious and ethnic lines which would have in turn had a toll on the economy.

According to the report, from all available indices, no Nigerian community is under occupation by herdsmen even though the herders-farmers conflict has become more significant in recent times.

“Although the government had in the past taken some measures to address this phenomenon, the increasing desertification and the effects of climate change have further increased the drive for the herdsmen to move further south in search of grazing land and pasture for their livestock,” the report said.

“These southward movements always pitch them against farmers and the host community whose crops are regularly invaded and destroyed by the cattle during this seasonal movement. The result of this is increased conflict, death, displacement and the destruction of properties. However, because the phenomenon is a human security issue, there is a need for a concerted effort at state, national, regional and international levels to address the challenges, especially since there is no specific legislation that is dedicated to addressing the peculiar needs of herders and farmers in the country.”

Among others, the report, however, urged the FG to deploy more security personnel in “affected areas; ensure they are better equipped; improve local ties to gather better intelligence, and respond speedily to early warnings and distress calls”.

It further called for the freezing of enforcement and reform of state anti-grazing legislation as well as heightened herder-farmer dialogues.

“The Benue state government should freeze enforcement of its law banning open grazing, as Taraba state has already done, and amend objectionable provisions therein,” the report recommended.

“It should also help herders become ranchers, including by developing pilot or demonstration ranches, and conducting education programs for herders uneasy about making the transition.”

Anti-Corruption: Group Writes Buhari, Wants Report on Investigation of Perm-Sec Public

News

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June 24, 2020

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Anti-Corruption: Group Writes Buhari, Wants Report on Investigation of Perm-Sec Public

Following the petition against the permanent secretary, federal ministry of mines Mr Sunday Edet Akpan over false qualifications and use of questionable academic records, the Coalition of Civil Society Groups for Justice has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to expedite actions.

Speaking to newsmen after submitting a copy of the petition at the state house Abuja, convener Kabiru Dallah called on the president to prevail on the relevant agencies to make the report public.

Comrade Dallah wondered why in spite of the variance in age as against what is obtainable in the IPPIS, Mr Akpan has continued to remain in office.

A copy of the letter reads below.

26^th June, 2020

His Excellency

President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR,

President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces

Federal Republic of Nigeria,

Presidential Villa,

Three Arm Zone,

Abuja.

Your Excellency Sir,

PRESENTATION OF FALSE QUALIFICATIONS AND USE OF QUESTIONABLE ACADEMIC RECORDS BY MR. SUNDAY EDET AKPAN, PERMANENT SECRETARY OF THE MINISTRY OF MINES: AN URGENT NEED FOR INVESTIGATION AND ACTION TO PRESERVE THE INTEGRITY OF THE NIGERIAN PUBLIC SERVICE

The caption above respectfully refers.

The Coalition of Civil Society Groups for Justice is a group of likeminded civil society organizations with a clear mandate to amplify the voice of our member organizations to ensure that clear laid down standards in the conduct of government business at all levels. In executing our mandate, we scrutinize the rules and ensure that the conduct of all government officials is based on the rules and above all else in the interest of the citizens of Nigeria and the future sustainability of our country.

Our attention has been drawn to the fact that a very senior government official in the person of Mr. Sunday Edet Akpan, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, presented falsified documented information and records to perpetrate him in office beyond the legally approved limit.

According to records the said Mr. Sunday Edet Akpan, who began his public service career in the Akwa Ibom state civil service, before transferring to the Federal Civil Service in 1999:

Falsified his birth records, changing same from his original birth date of 1958 to 1962, meaning that he ought to have retired in 2018 when he attained the retirement age of 60years. This in clear violation of the Public Service Rule 020108 (ii), which states inter alia “Date of birth recorded on appointment by an officer shall not be changed throughout the career of the officer. Any contravention shall be regarded as an act of serious misconduct”.

Claimed to have started his educational pursuit in 1965, at the Qua Iboe Science Secondary School (Etinan Institute), even though the documentary evidence to support this claim is no longer in his file.

By his claim started primary schooling at the age of 3, which cannot hold against any know logic or convention of that time period or any other in the history of Nigeria.

Rose to the highest rank in the civil service and has prolonged his stay in office, while shutting out several other Nigerians who are better qualified and more suitable to progress in their careers.

Has brought into question the integrity of the entire public service system, having impugned and impeached the basis of recruitment, promotion and compensation in the public service, based on honest records. The Public Service Rules state clearly, according to Rule 020701 (c), that “Promotion shall be made strictly on the basis of competitive merit from amongst all eligible candidates”, and a character that has tampered with personal records for personal gain at public expense cannot be said to be an “eligible candidate” for promotion.

Based on the above, Mr Sunday Edet Akpan, is a threat to the time honoured integrity of the civil service system of Nigeria and there is a need for action to be taken urgently to redeem this institution to align it with the new Nigeria your administration is building on probity and zero tolerance for corruption in any shape or form. We therefore call on Your Excellency to use your good offices to accede to our prayers as follows:

That the said Mr. Sunday Edet Akpan be relieved of his duties in the Nigerian Civil Service, to restore public confidence in the service and to dissuade other officers from taking this disdainful course, pending a full investigation of the matter.

That Your Excellency cause an independent panel of inquiry to be set up to probe the circumstances surrounding this grave infraction, with a view to uncovering all who are complicit in this grievous cover-up to hoodwink the good people of Nigeria and swindle the treasury of undeserved expenditure and influence peddling.

That the said Mr. Sunday Akpan be prosecuted and caused to return all remuneration given to him beyond his legally recognized stay in office.

We have no doubt that the boasts of Mr. Akpan that he has “very powerful people in the highest levels of government”, would hold no water with your decades long reputation for confronting the most powerful elements of our society in the interest of the masses. We are indeed confident that justice will be served in this matter, to set a precedent of good conduct expected of public officers in Nigeria.

We anticipate Your Excellency’s prompt action on this national emergency so as not to provide cannon fodder for those who wish to discredit the good work being done by this administration to right the decades old ways of doing things based on the whims of a few to the detriment of the masses.

Accept, Your Excellency, the assurance of our highest esteem and continued assurance of providing support for all policies and programmes aimed at bettering the lot of the people of Nigeria.

Kabiru Ibrahim Dallah

President

CC:

Secretary to the Government of the Federation

Head of Service of the Federation

Director General, State Security Services

Inspector General, Nigeria Police Force

Chairman, Senate Committee on Public Petitions

Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions

Edo guber polls: INEC raises concerns over spate of litigations

Politics

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June 24, 2020

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Edo guber polls: INEC raises concerns over spate of litigations

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday expressed concerns over the spate of pre-election litigations and the conflicting orders emanating ahead of Edo governorship election.

The commission in a statement issued by Mr Festus Okoye, INEC

National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, in Abuja said the rate of the litigations could harm the smooth conduct of primaries and the upcoming elections.

Okoye said that INEC met on Tuesday and deliberated on a range of issues including the ongoing conduct of Party Primaries relating to the Edo governorship election slated for Sept. 19.

He said that the commission also deliberated on the Court Orders emanating from the administration of political parties and conduct of the primaries, as well as the Code of Conduct and Rules of Engagement for Security Officials on Electoral Duty.

“The Commission notes that the conduct of party primaries, including resolution of disputes arising therefrom will end on June 27.

“The submission of the list of candidates the parties propose to sponsor at the election and affidavits of validly nominated candidates will close at 6 p.m on Monday, June 29,” he said.

Okoye advised political parties to note that the organisation and scheduling of various activities and processes leading to the conduct of elections were complex and involve extensive and careful planning.

He added that any disruption of those processes comes at a huge cost to the nation.

“The spate and tenor of pre-election litigations and the conflicting orders emanating therefrom can harm the smooth conduct of primaries and the upcoming elections.

“The Commission is closely monitoring the cases arising from the administration of political parties, the conduct of primaries and nomination of candidates.

“This notwithstanding, the Commission restates its avowed commitment to continue to obey all orders and judgments from properly constituted courts in accordance with the rule of law,” he said.

Okoye said that as part of the commission’s commitment to deepen the use of technology in elections, the commission would conduct a training programme for Liaison Officers nominated by all the registered Political Parties on the use of the INEC Portal for uploading nomination forms of candidates.

The training, according to him, will take place at the Conference Hall of the commission on Thursday (June 26) and Friday (June 27) in two batches, to allow for physical distancing in line with the COVID-19 protocols.

Okoye disclosed that the commission also considered the report from the meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), which recently approved a Code of Conduct and Rules of Engagement for Security Officials on Electoral Duty.

The code is signed by the Chairman of INEC, the National Security Adviser (NSA) as Co-Chairman of ICCES and the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) as head of the lead agency in election security.

Okoye said that the code would be uploaded on the websites of the commission, the Office of the NSA and the Nigeria Police Force on June 25.

Lots of People in Southeast Believe COVID-19 is a Scam – PTF Coordinator

Covid-19

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June 24, 2020

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Lots of People in Southeast Believe COVID-19 is a Scam – PTF Coordinator

The Nigerian government has revealed that most people, especially in the South-East region, do not believe in the existence of the deadly Coronavirus pandemic.

Dr. Sani Aliyu, National Coordinator of the Presidential Task Force (PTF), while addressing the press on Monday, said at least 60% of the people in the region believe COVID-19 is a scam.

He also said that some states denying the existence of the virus were putting their citizens at risk.

“There’s also significant disbelief in the danger and impact of COVID-19, in parts of the southeast where we did a recent survey, 60 per cent did not believe that COVID-19 was an issue at all. We clearly are not taking the pandemic seriously enough,” he said.

The PTF called on citizens to challenge those who appear in public places without their face masks.

“There’s partial to total non-compliance with face mask and physical distance in protocols by the public as earlier mentioned by the DG NCDC,” he said.

He lamented that many people only wear their face mask either to avoid being harassed by security agents, or when they are compelled to do so.

Zulum Resuscitates Livestock Drugs Revolving Fund, Constructs Hatchery, Feed Mill, Diary Plants

Agriculture

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June 24, 2020

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Zulum Resuscitates Livestock Drugs Revolving Fund, Constructs Hatchery, Feed Mill, Diary Plants

The Borno State government’s newly created Ministry of Animal and Fisheries which was saddled with the responsibility of promoting and managing veterinary, livestock and Fisheries Affairs has renovated and re-modelled the offices of the Hon. Commissioner, the Permanent Secretary and the office of the adviser which is ongoing with the state of art facilities.

Zulum also carried out resuscitation of Animal Drug, Revolving fund scheme which was dormant for almost 7 years leading to inadequate supply of basic drugs and working equipment while the Ministry was able to revitalize the domant drug revolving fund scheme, pointing out that, the Hospital procured drugs for the (DRF) with a new account at Keystone Bank and the proceeds realised from the scheme have been paid into the account.

The State Commissioner of Animal and Fisheries, Comrade Juliana Bitrus who stated this Monday at a press briefing added that the Ministry in collaboration with the Monitoring Unit repaired three (3) grounded Vehicles and two of the Vehicles that were donated to vigilante while the other one was retained in the Ministry for the day to day running.

She said the Veterinary Services Division established harmonious working relationship with all staff, NGOs and other Ministries, including the Federal Ministry of Agriculture (Department of Veterinary and Pest Control Services while for the purpose of accountability, receipt booklets, folders, ledgers, file jackets were put in place while the dispatch of drugs were daily monitored by an accountant and auditor.

The commissioner severally visited Maiduguri Central Abattoir at Kasuwan Shani on the need to improve the hygienic condition of the abattoir and even the butchers themselves leading to the ministry evacuating refuse heaps in the premises which Constituted an eyesore but could not be completed due partly to lack of support from the owners of the abattoir MMC.

“Closed cooperation was maintained with NGOs such as FAO, ICRC, MCRP, Action Against Hunger, CARE and a host of others which led to a boost in vaccination activities, upgrading of the skills of our staff through seminars and workshops.

“Also a lot of youths and women are being empowered through cash assistance and poultry, sheep, goats, fingerlings and their feeds presented to this category of people.

Similarly, as a result of the closed cooperation with NGOs, FAO has vaccinated 120,000 herds of cattle, sheep and goats in Konduga, Jere and Kaga Local Governments and also donated working equipment to the Veterinary Hospital Maiduguri crushes, vaccinators, rain boots, late coats, Coleman boxes etc. Our staff have also received allowances”, Juliana said.

She further recalled that the ICRC has also rehabilitated structures in the Veterinary Hospital which includes painting of the laboratory, admission post, post-mortem, pharmacy, stores and the three (3) clinics apart from the construction of VIP toilets and incinerator to assist in disposing carcases as well as plumbing and electrical works were also undertaken by the Red Cross.

Comrade Juliana explained that the Federal Department of Veterinary and pest control services donated to the veterinary Hospital four (4) tricycles and also graciously donated a Hilux Vehicle to be shared by our Ministry and their Maiduguri Zonal office, apart from these, buckets, disinfectants dust bin, rain boots and personal protective equipments (PPE) were received from them.

On Revenue generation, the commissioner said only three (3) control post are operational, namely: Maiduguri, Gwoza and Miringa and they have generated =N=1.3 Million to the state between September 2019 and April 2020, the major control post are closed.

She maintained that Livestock Services Division carried out installation of uncompleted battery cages and new ones installed at the (PPU) Maiduguri in which the laying birds, are housed while 8,000 point of lay pullets were procured from ROSLAC farms in Ibadan worth Millions of Naira. Complete overhauld of the feed mill at PPU, feed production in progress.

The commissioner said the ministry procured ingredients for feed formulation ranging from maize, soya beans, wheat offal, etc, which have been used for the formulation and the Ministry in collaboration with Ministry of Housing and Energy acquired a brand new transformer for the farm with all necessary logistics for the installation of the transformer, while carrying out renovation of the eastern wall of the RRR pen which was blown by windstorm last year.

Procurement of a brand new 50KVA generator.
According to her, plan has reached advanced stage to commercialise the poultry average of 65 crate of eggs are realised daily and sold at subsidised rate of =N=700 per crate while registration by NAFDAC for Dairy Plant has been completed.

She added that a new Hatchery complex established with Terrazzo Floor, ceiling of the complete unit, toilet and overhead tank was completed while the installation of hatchery machine and demarcation of office and changing will soon commence.

Comrade Bitrus noted that Fisheries Services Division from September 2019 to date was able to produce marketable fish and sale to the people at a subsidized rate while the Ministry carried out renovation of two earthen ponds located at the Zonal Fisheries office, Maiduguri in November 2019.

“Fingerlings of clarias gariepinus species were purchased and stocked into the ponds and managed for onward growth. Also, 40 bags of copew fish feed and medicament were acquired for maintenance while construction of two compartment VIP toilet for male and female at the Zonal Office in January 2020.

“Construction of integrated fish ponds and free range poultry system for recreational activities at the government house garden in December, 2020.

“Revenue generated from this sector within the period under review was worth Millions of Naira through the committee on the sales and marketing of fish in the State constituted by Governor Prof. Babagana Umar Zulum” Juliana said.

How I held Oluwatoyin Salau hostage, raped and killed her — Suspect confesses

Crime

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June 24, 2020

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How I held Oluwatoyin Salau hostage, raped and killed her — Suspect confesses

Aaron Glee Jr. confessed several times that he kidnapped and killed Oluwatoyin Salau, a student and protester, and Victoria Sims, a volunteer and retired state worker, in grisly crimes that have horrified the community.

According to newly released court documents, Glee waived his right to remain silent and gave his account of events to officers with the Tallahassee Police Department and the Orlando Police Department.

They include shocking new details, including that Glee kept Salau a prisoner in his run-down home for several days, raping her and eventually deciding to kill her to avoid getting caught.

The documents also reveal that Salau, 19, and Sims, 75, apparently met each other in the last days of their lives, after Glee arranged for Sims to pick him and Salau up at a bus stop.

Salau vanished June 6, followed by Sims on June 11. On June 13, Tallahassee Police Department officers descended on his home after tracing Sims’ cellphone to the address. They found Sims’ body under a bloody sheet in a bedroom and Salau’s body under a pile of leaves in the woods behind the house.

By that time, Glee had already bought a one-way ticket to West Palm Beach, where he has family members. Orlando police, working off information from Tallahassee police, intercepted him at a Greyhound bus station and arrested him.

He complained of breathing problems and was taken to an Orlando hospital, where he openly chatted about the two murders, according to the arrest report.

“While at the hospital, Glee had made voluntary admissions to officers guarding him that he had murdered two women in Tallahassee,” the report says. “He would also place a telephone call to his mother and make these same admissions.”

Later that day, TPD officers arrived in Orlando to interview him.

“Glee would admit in detail that on different dates, he had kidnapped and murdered both (Salau) and Sims,” the report says.

Glee told investigators he struck up a conversation with Salau June 6 at a bus stop on Apalachee Parkway. She told him she had been sexually assaulted earlier in the day – something she revealed publicly on Twitter.

He offered to take her to his house to bathe and sleep. He said he called Sims, who picked them both up in her white Toyota sedan.

Video footage captured by StarMetro buses shows that Salau left a Leon County branch library on South Adams Street at 5:51 p.m. and arrived at the bus stop on Apalachee Parkway at 6:07 p.m.

“That footage also demonstrated that she and Glee did engage in an extended conversation while seated on a bench at the bus stop,” the report says. “At approximately 7:07 p.m., a white Toyota, the same make and model of the one owned by Sims, arrived in the area of the bus stop. Glee and (Salau) departed in that Toyota moments later.”

Glee told investigators that after arriving at his house, Salau took a shower. He tried to have sex with her but she said no and tried to fight him off.

“He stated that she physically resisted him, and that she bit him upon his right forearm during the struggle,” the report says.

But Glee overpowered her.

“He was asked if he would characterize his actions as rape,” the report says. “Glee responded in the affirmative.”

Glee said he kept Salau tied up and imprisoned in his home for three to five days but wasn’t sure how long because “he was heavily under the influence of alcohol.”

He said he released her at times to eat and bathe. He admitted “sexually assaulting her numerous times during those three to five days.”

Glee, who has a prison record dating back decades, worried that if he were to let her go, he’d land behind bars again.

“Glee stated that he was aware that he would be arrested and likely sentenced to prison if he allowed (Salau) to leave the residence,” the arrest report says. “Glee indicated that he determined that his only course of action was to end her life.”

He bound her with rope in a manner he thought would cause her to die and left her in a bedroom.

“Glee explained how over the course of several hours he would re-enter the bedroom multiple times to see if (Salau) was still alive,” the report says. “Ultimately, he entered into the bedroom and determined (she) was deceased.”

Police reports say Sims also was bound. Investigators believe Glee ransacked her apartment on Blair Stone Road, stole her car and kidnapped her. Her car was found stuck in mud outside his house.

Glee was arrested in Orlando but brought to Tallahassee, where he’s facing two counts each of murder and kidnapping and one count of sexual assault. He had his first court appearance on the new charges Saturday via video conference.

Chief Circuit Judge Jonathan Sjostrom ordered Glee held without bail at the request of Assistant State Attorney Callaway Scott, who called him a “danger to society.”

Glee, wearing an orange and white jumpsuit, did not speak during the brief hearing. His Miami attorney, Mauricio Padilla, advised him not to discuss the case with anyone Sjostrom agreed with Scott, noting that Glee was a flight risk given his unsuccessful attempt to escape on a bus.

“There are no conditions that can adequately protect the public, no conditions that could ensure Mr. Glee’s future appearance,” Sjostrom said. “The probable cause itself demonstrates the possibility of significant flight.” (Text, excluding headline, courtesy USA Today)

South Adams Street at 5:51 p.m. and arrived at the bus stop on Apalachee Parkway at 6:07 p.m.