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Biden unveils plans for US Supreme Court overhaul

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Biden cancels $1.2bn more in student debt as vote nears

US President Joe Biden unveiled plans Monday to reform the conservative-dominated Supreme Court, in a bold but long shot bid to make a mark with his last six months in power.

In proposals backed by Vice President Kamala Harris, the presumptive Democratic election nominee, Biden called for 18-year term limits for the top court’s justices and an enforceable ethics code.

The 81-year-old also wants a constitutional amendment to reverse the court’s recent ruling backing Republican nominee and former president Donald Trump’s claims of presidential immunity.

Biden told reporters that the Supreme Court “needs reform,” as he left the White House to head for Austin, Texas where he will give a speech on his plans.

The president’s move comes after a series of shock Supreme Court decisions — such as the 2022 repeal of the nationwide right to abortion — and following a host of scandals involving the top court’s lifetime-appointed justices.

The plans have almost no hope of getting through a deeply divided US Congress but could motivate Democratic voters in the November 2024 election, from which Biden dropped out just over a week ago.

He separately said in an opinion piece in the Washington Post that his proposals would reflect that “no one is above the law.”

“What is happening now is not normal, and it undermines the public’s confidence in the court’s decisions, including those impacting personal freedoms,” Biden said in the piece.

Biden had confirmed he would seek the reforms during an Oval Office address last week outlining his priorities for his remaining months in the White House.

Harris said in a separate statement that both she and Biden were “calling on Congress” to pass the reforms.

“These popular reforms will help to restore confidence in the Court, strengthen our democracy, and ensure no one is above the law,” she said.

– ‘Close to zero’ –
Republicans, who control the House of Representatives, declared Biden’s Supreme Court plans “dead on arrival.”

House Speaker Mike Johnson said the proposal would “tilt the balance of power and erode not only the rule of law, but the American people’s faith in our system of justice.”

Legal expert Steven Schwinn warned that Biden had a “close to zero” chance of getting the plan through.

But Biden was probably trying to “raise public consciousness” and “introduce the Supreme Court as an election issue,” Schwinn, a law professor at the University of Illinois Chicago, told AFP.

The Supreme Court, with a 6-3 conservative majority, plays an outsize role in determining the lives of ordinary Americans from everything from reproductive health to the environment.

Trump appointed three justices during his 2017-2021 presidency and Democrats have warned that with a second term he would be able to name even more.

Biden had previously resisted calls to overhaul the court but has changed his mind after it dealt several blows to his policies in recent years.

The court stunned the world when it overturned the 1973 Roe v Wade ruling that had underpinned the federal right to abortion. At least 20 states have now brought in full or partial abortion bans.

It has rolled back the power of federal agencies, blocked Biden’s signature student debt forgiveness plan, and partially ruled in early July in favor of Trump’s immunity claims.

Trump is now using that ruling to challenge his recent criminal conviction in a porn star-hush money case and a series of other prosecutions.

Meanwhile the Supreme Court has been rocked by ethics scandals involving arch-conservative justices.

Justice Clarence Thomas recently admitted that two luxury vacations he took in 2019 were paid for by a billionaire Republican political donor.

Thomas, the longest-service justice on the court, has also ignored calls to recuse himself from cases related to the 2020 election, after his wife took part in the drive to keep Trump in power despite his electoral loss.

And Justice Samuel Alito has rejected calls to recuse himself from some Trump-related cases after flags linked to the former president’s false election fraud claims were discovered to have been flown outside his home and vacation property.

AFP

Adhere to rules of engagement, FG tells INGOs

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FG pledges judicious use of N6.2tn extra-budgetary expenditure

The Federal Government has urged international non-governmental organisations to stay in its operational areas and follow the established rules of engagement, emphasising that violations will not be tolerated.

The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu, said this at a one-day interactive forum with the INGOs community and other stakeholders themed, “Enhancing Cooperation and Coordination of the INGOs’ Community” held on Monday in Abuja.

The non-governmental organisations comprising 58 members are actively providing humanitarian assistance to populations affected by conflict in the North-East and other affected states.

Bagudu said the purpose of the event was to enhance our coordination and collaboration structures, align our efforts with national priorities in humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding areas, and find sustainable solutions to overcome bureaucratic and administrative challenges.

The minister represented by his special adviser, Dr Bolaji Onalaja, affirmed the current administration’s goal to create an environment that promotes sustainable development and ensures the well-being of all citizens.

He explained that cooperation is essential for successfully coordinating developmental programs by INGOs in Nigeria and ensuring that they contribute effectively to the nation’s socioeconomic development.

He said, “It is also pertinent to note that INGOs in Nigeria are diligently working across all 36 states and the FCT to bridge gaps that the government alone cannot fully address. They provide vital social and development services in sectors such as health, education, water, sanitation and hygiene, human capital development, nutrition, food security and livelihoods, youth citizenship, governance, gender-based violence, protection, and economic empowerment. Currently, members of this forum are actively providing humanitarian assistance to populations affected by conflict in the North-East and other affected states.

“The contribution of INGOs to our national development aspirations is truly invaluable. They have been instrumental in complementing government efforts by delivering critical services and support to vulnerable populations. Their work has significantly impacted the lives of countless Nigerians, helping to build stronger and more resilient communities.

“I, therefore, urge you to adhere to the established rules of engagement and also to strive for even greater levels of collaboration and innovation that will amplify the impact of your efforts.”

On her part, the Director, Nigeria INGO Forum, Lynn Van Beek, sought the cooperation of the government for the seamless implementation of its humanitarian programmes and the need to eliminate the bureaucratic process hindering the smooth operation of its plans.

She noted that these programs provide critical support to vulnerable populations across the country,

“Our collaboration with the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, as well as other government stakeholders, is essential for the seamless implementation of our programme s. These programs provide critical support to vulnerable populations across the country, and our shared goal is to improve the quality and reach of these efforts.

“The landscape in which we operate is constantly changing, presenting both opportunities and challenges. Recent challenges in the regulatory environment have underlined once again the necessity of providing a platform for meaningful dialogue between INGOs and government authorities.

“In carrying our work, INGOs experience bureaucratic hurdles such as delay in renewal of Host Country Agreement, Visa restrictions and issues with multiple taxation at the federal and state levels and resource constraints and we seek better understanding to resolve these problems.”

INGOs have had a series of collaborative partnerships with the government on cutting across humanitarian, peacebuilding and development sectors.

In 2022, 49 INGOs implemented 267 projects across 169 local governments in 23 states in Nigeria and strengthened the health system, as well as the education sector In the north-east

FEC approves purchase of 7,887 dialysis consumables for 7 hospitals

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The Federal Executive Council, FEC, on Monday, approved the purchase of 7,887 dialysis consumables to make healthcare more accessible to citizens suffering from kidney diseases.
Minister of Health and Coordinating Minister for Social Work, Ali Pate, revealed this to correspondents after the council meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He said the gesture aims to address the rising prevalence of non-communicable diseases such as hypertension and diabetes.
The consumables will be distributed across seven federal tertiary hospitals, including the University of Benin Teaching Hospital and the National Hospital in Abuja.
Pate stressed the importance of prevention alongside treatment, highlighting plans for public health screenings and lifestyle modifications to reduce future cases of kidney disease.
He said: “In continuation of the President’s efforts, including reducing the cost of access to health care services considering the vast non-communicable diseases that we experience in Nigeria, including hypertension, diabetes, kidney disease, and several vascular diseases, Council today approved the one-off purchase of 7,887 sets of dialysis consumables for the use of Nigerians who are suffering from chronic disease in seven of our federal tertiary hospitals.
“These hospitals are University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Federal Medical Centre in Ebuta Metta, Federal Medical Centre in Owerri, the National Hospital, Abuja, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, University Teaching Hospital in Maiduguri and Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital in Bauchi.
“This is an effort to make the cost of treatment affordable for those who suffer from integral disease through dialysis.
“It’s a start, but dealing with kidney disease requires not only dialysis but also prevention. That’s part of the efforts of the Federal Ministry of Health to ensure that we prevent cases of hypertension and diabetes that progress to kidney disease.
“We’re looking at screening so that Nigerians will be able to screen themselves for hypertension and diabetes, but also get lifestyle modification so that we have less and less people requiring dialysis. But for those who are affected, we know that the cost of access to that is a major impediment.
“This effort by Mr. President is to bring relief within the context of several other policy measures to ensure that Nigerians have access to critical health care services. And with this approval, we’ll provide those and I think it will bring relief to many Nigerians and their families in accessing dialysis services. They’re very much needed in our country.”
FEC approves purchase of 7,887 dialysis consumables for 7 hospitals

Mbappe to buy second-tier club in France — Report

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Be humble in Madrid, former Liverpool striker tells Mbappe

France captain, Kylian Mbappe, is set to become the majority owner of second-division club, Caen, French media reported on Monday.

Mbappe, 25, who joined Real Madrid from Paris Saint-Germain this summer, will spend 20 million euros ($21.6 million) to buy an 80 per cent stake in the Normandy outfit from American investors, Oaktree, according to newspaper Le Parisien.

The 2018 World Cup winner almost joined Caen as a teenager before eventually signing for Monaco.

Caen finished in sixth place in Ligue 2 last season and their former players include Mbappe’s France teammate N’Golo Kante and ex-Les Bleus defender William Gallas.

The two-time Ligue 2 champions, established in 1913, start the new campaign by hosting Paris FC on August 17.

AFP

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FEC ratifies prisoner, fugitive swap policy with Spain

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The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, said on Monday that the meeting of the Federal Executive Council, FEC, presided over by President Bola Tinubu, deliberated extensively on holistic crime-fighting and anti-corruption policy and approved a prisoner swap policy with Spain.
Fagbemi, while briefing State House correspondents on the memos presented at FEC, said: “As you all know, there are three stages. The first one is the investigation aspect. The second one is the prosecution and sentencing and [the third is] ensuring that the sentence is served as deterrence. Before now, there have been what you called trans-border inhibitions, where somebody who is wanted in Nigeria, for example, goes beyond the borders of Nigeria. To get him arrested, suppose you need any document that is not within but you know where he can be reached. How do we get this document? Somebody is trying to escape justice; how do you get him back? And after sentencing, some countries have a policy that ‘Okay, let the convict come back home’.
“These three stages are being addressed. We will do it country by country; but for today, the ones dealt with were the ones concerning the Kingdom of Spain―Nigeria and the Kingdom of Spain. So we have three memos in quick succession, one dealing with the exchange of information, including investigation.
“We have an agreement that was signed way back in June 2022. After the agreement, what the law requires is that you come back and have it ratified. And it was presented to Council today.”
He continued: “The second one had to do with the exchange of assistance to bring back fugitives, people trying to escape from justice. Either you bring them to justice or take justice to them. This second aspect of this mutual assistance has been ratified.
“The third in the series has to do with, ‘after conviction, what do we do?’ Some will say, ‘Okay, if you have these convictions, can you bring the person back home to serve his sentence here?’
“So we have an agreement that we can exchange persons sentenced to serve their sentence here or there. This has significantly shown that there is no hiding place for criminals. If they go outside the shores of the country, they can rest assured that the arm of the law is long enough to reach them.”
FEC ratifies prisoner, fugitive swap policy with Spain

Customs record 127% revenue surge in six months

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Customs record 127% revenue surge in six months

The Nigeria Customs Service said it has recorded a 127 per cent increase in revenue in the first half of 2024 compared to 2023.

The service’s National Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Maiwada, made this known in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

Maiwada said the service’s mid-year performance indicated remarkable success in the first half of 2024.

“With a half-year revenue target of N2.54 trillion, the service has collected N2.74 trillion, surpassing the target by eight per cent and marking a 127 per cent increase over the previous year’s revenue.

“N1.395 trillion was collected for the second quarter, exceeding the quarterly target by 10 per cent and representing a 131 per cent increase over Q2 2023,” he said.

Maiwada said that the key initiatives that contributed to the feat included its e-auction platform, which generated more than N1.34bn.

He added that the 90-day duty payment window for uncustomed vehicles added N4.37bn to the revenue.

According to Maiwada, these measures have significantly enhanced transparency, compliance, and efficiency in customs processes, underscoring the NCS’s commitment to excellence.

He said that during the period under review, the service intensified its anti-smuggling operations, recording 2,442 seizures with a Duty Paid Value of more than N25bn from January to June 2024.

The customs spokesman said the figure was 203 per cent higher than the DPV of seizures in the first half of 2023.

“In the second quarter of 2024, the NCS made 1,334 seizures with a DPV of N 17,564,384,378, representing a 121 per cent increase over the first quarter of 2024.

“The top items seized include wildlife items, vehicles, arms and ammunition, foreign rice, pharmaceuticals, and narcotics, with 32 suspects in custody,” Maiwada said.

He said the NCS processed 620,467 Single Goods Declarations in the first half of 2024, reflecting a reduction of approximately 39 per cent compared to the same period in 2023.

“In spite of this decline, the NCS has implemented several key initiatives to simplify and expedite customs processes.

“These include reinforcement of NCS automation procedures, capacity-building programs for officers, and public-private partnerships to enhance customs clearance efficiency.

“These efforts are crucial for enhancing Nigeria’s trade competitiveness and supporting economic growth,” Maiwada said.

According to the spokesperson, the NCS faced several challenges in the first half of 2024, including significant fluctuations in the exchange rate.

Others were lower volume of transactions, low compliance levels among importers and exporters, and periodic downtime.

Miawada said the challenges affected the consistency of revenue collection and overall operational efficiency.

He further explained that to address these challenges and enhance revenue collection, the NCS implemented several strategies.

They included real-time system auditing, post-clearance audits, and the verification of documents for the Pre-Arrival Assessment Report.

Maiwada added that other strategies deployed included ensuring compliance with import guidelines and implementing a pilot test for the Authorised Economic Operators scheme.

The spokesperson said that the NCS recently implemented measures aimed at achieving its constitutional duties.

They included the Advance Ruling System, inaugurating Operation Whirlwind, reshuffling strategic-level officers, and robust stakeholders engagement.

Maiwada said that NCS Comptroller General, Adewale Adeniyi, has acknowledged the commitment and diligence of its personnel.

He quoted the C-G as reaffirming the service‘s resolve to support the realisation of government policies, particularly the policy direction of President Bola Tinubu’s administration for a better Nigeria.

NAN

Daily part-time programmes illegal — JAMB

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Daily part-time programmes illegal — JAMB

The Registrar of Joint Admission Matriculation Board, Prof. Isiaq Oloyede, on Monday, described some institutions operating daily part-time programmes in Nigeria as illegal.

Oloyode, who was on a fact-finding mission to the Ibadan Zonal Office of JAMB in Oyo State, said most of the allegations levelled against his officials are unfounded.

He said most of the affected students have themselves to blame for whatever they are experiencing now, not JAMB.

The registrar said most of the students, in a desperation to secure admission to higher institutions of learning, have cut corners that have now backfired.

Oloyode said, “The complaint was that at the Ibadan Zonal Office, the officers are not acting well and that there was no programme devoted to the Ibadan office. So, I have to come here to see what is going on because the impression is that people here are not responsible.

“However, from what we have seen, it is now clear that they are grappling with things that even the system would not have envisaged.

“How do you explain a case of somebody who was given what could aptly be described as an under-tabled admission seven years ago and did not appear until now?

“Another case is that of somebody who had changed his name more than seven years ago and he/she is now coming back to us to effect a change. It is just like going back to primary school that I have since changed my name and I need another certificate.”

On the admission for Higher National Diploma programmes, Oloyede disclosed that the board has nothing to do with the process.

He said the law does not allow JAMB to register candidates for any of the HND programmes.

“You are offered admission to run the OND programme on a part-time basis now that you want to apply for the HND programmes, you want the board to change your OND from part-time to full-time. How do we do that?

“You can now see the other dimension of what they called a daily part-time programme which is another illegality. A situation where the institution is allowed to admit only 200 candidates but goes ahead to admit an additional 400 candidates on a part-time basis.

“At that time, the board was not reckoning with them and the institution went ahead to register them as full-time students, graduating with full-time students, forgetting that they are registered on a part-time basis.

“The board has made returns to the NYSC about the students that are graduating that year. The point is that you don’t expect JAMB to change the daily part-time students to full-time,” he said.

50kg bag of rice to be sold at N40k – Nigerian Government

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The Nigerian government said that the price of a 50kg bag of rice has been reduced by 50 per cent to N40, 000 across the country.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosed this in a statement at the end of Monday’s Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja.
According to him, the reduction in the price of rice comes amid the recent release of 20 trucks of the product to various state governors for distribution to Nigerians.
“There is also rice that is being sold at about 50 per cent of its cost. A bag of rice is being sold as we speak now. This rice has been taken to various centres across all the states of the federation and is being sold at N40,000. Centres have been created, so that those who need this rice can go there and buy it at N40,000,” he said.
Meanwhile, a TVN survey indicated that a 50-kg bag of rice goes for between N75,000 and N80,000 in Dutse, Wuse and Kubwa markets in Abuja.
This is as Nigeria’s food inflation rose to 40.87 per cent in June, according to the National Bureau of Statistics consumer price index report.
50kg bag of rice to be sold at N40k – Nigerian Government

New police constables begin training August 10

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New police constables begin training August 10

The Police Service Commission‏ on Monday said training would commence for the newly recruited constables on August 10.

Under its former chairman, Solomon Arase, the PSC recruited 10,000 constables for the Nigeria Police.

However, the Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, rejected the recruits, citing corruption in the process.

The police claimed that some qualified candidates were replaced with unqualified ones, an allegation the PSC denied.

The PSC insisted that the recruitment would not be cancelled.

In a statement on Monday, the PSC’s Head of Press and Public Relations, Ikechukwu Ani, urged the successful applicants to visit the recruitment website for details.

He said, “The Police Recruitment Board has approved August 10, 2024 for the commencement of training for successful applicants of the 2022 Constable Recruitment exercise.

“The candidates are expected to confirm their status by logging into the recruitment website to confirm further details on the training exercise.

“Specialist applicants are however to resume training two months after that of their General Duty counterparts. Information on date and venues for their own specialised training will be announced in due course.

“The Police Service Commission wishes to appreciate the applicants for their patience and understanding while efforts were made to ensure that the exercise was inclusive and generally acceptable.”

Ani stated that the commission would ensure recruitment is merit based.

He said, “The commission also states that it will continue to ensure that recruitment into the Nigeria Police Force is based on merit and respect for the Federal Character principles.

“It enjoins the successful candidates to see their new status as a call to duty for the Nigerian nation stressing that the commission will monitor their training programmes to ensure that they will come out prepared to join forces in fighting the security challenges facing our nation.”

Police beef up security in Delta ahead of hunger protest

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Delta PPRO warns against jungle justice, says police won't accept brutalised suspects

Delta State Police Command has ordered massive deployment across the state ahead of the planned nationwide hunger protest which begins on August 1, 2024.

This, according to a statement issued by the command’s spokesman, SP Bright Edafe, is to forestall any breakdown of law and order.

In the statement made available to journalists in Warri on Monday, the PPRO explained that “undercover police operatives from the State Intelligence Department have also been deployed to monitor activities during the protest and also identify miscreants who want to cause mayhem during the protest”.

The statement noted that the state Commissioner of Police, Olufemi Abaniwonda, called on organisers of the protest in the state to submit the details of their activities as regards the protest in compliance with the directive of the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, that all organisers of the protest give details of their activities to their respective police commands for security arrangements before the commencement date.

The required details, according to the statement are the proposed protest/assembling point and routes; expected duration of the protest; names and contact details of protest leaders and organisers; as well as measures to prevent hijack by criminal elements.

“The Commissioner of Police urged both the organisers and those embarking on the protest to cooperate with the Command to ensure that the proposed protest is carried out peacefully without being hijacked by unscrupulous persons,” the statement added.

Also, the Commissioner of Police assured residents in the state that the command will deploy all available resources to ensure that residents are protected during and after the protest and will continue to maintain law and order throughout the state.

“Those participating in any form of protest are therefore advised to ensure that they maintain the sanctity of public gathering and lawful assembly and avoid acts capable of leading to a breakdown of law and order in the state,” the statement concluded.

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