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[PRESS STATEMENT] We Demand Adequate Funding of Public Education and Better Working Condition for All Education Workers
AdminThe Save Public Education Campaign (SPEC) supports the ongoing strike action of the primary school teachers in FCT Abuja. The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Federal Capital Territory Wing, has directed primary school teachers in the territory to resume strike on 15 January at the end of an emergency meeting of the FCT Wing Standing Committee, held in Abuja on Friday, 12th January 2024.
The primary school teachers had earlier embarked on an indefinite strike on 11 September 2023, over non-implementation of 40 per cent Peculiar Allowance and payment of 25 months minimum wage arrears, among other issues. We support this struggle and call on the striking teachers to back up the strike with action to also attract other workers to join in solidarity until victory is achieved.
According to the report the union had embarked on an indefinite strike on 11 September 2023, over non-implementation of 40 per cent Peculiar Allowance and payment of 25 months minimum wage arrears, among other issues. The union later suspended the strike on 2 October 2023 for six weeks to allow for the resolution of the issues, following the intervention of FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.
Mr Wike who has put it in the public that he had set up a six-man committee to look into the issues and recommend solutions which may solve the problem hasn’t done anything even after the reports of the committee have been submitted. Rather, the minister was seen casting blame on the Area Council chairpersons and urged them to be more alive to their duties.
After the six weeks had elapsed since November 2023, nothing positive has been achieved, even though the committee had submitted its report. The union had no option but to resume the strike on Monday, Jan 15 indefinitely.
We condemn this non-payment of workers' entitlements by the Federal Capital Territory Administration. For an FCT/Area Council administration with all the revenue generated both from tax and federal government allocation. It is an act of wickedness that teachers who work hard day and night are not being paid their entitlements.
We welcome the decision of the union on the secondary school teachers of the FCT to join the strike in solidarity from the 22nd of January if the demands of the primary school teachers are not met before 19 January, 2024. We propose that the strike action must also be used to demand adequate security in all area councils because of the continued robbery and kidnapping that has enveloped the FCT.
For us at Save Public Education Campaign, we hold that the strike should extend beyond the issues of entitlements for teachers and include the demand for better teaching and learning facilities for primary and secondary schools in Abuja. We believe that a demand for adequate funding of public education in Nigeria is as important as life itself now.
We call on the government to meet all the teachers' demands and we also call for proper funding of public education at all levels and better pay for all academic workers.
To win this struggle, a strike of the primary and secondary school teachers might not be enough. There must be an Open solidarity from other education unions within and outside the FCT and all the workers' unions.
We call on NLC and TUC to intervene and mobilize workers in solidarity to join this teachers and education struggle. We believe the teachers can win this solidarity and public support through public actions and not only sit-at-home strike actions. Activities like rallies and street protests are also important to inform the public of their demands and expose the irresponsibility of the Government that has kept children at home.
Damilola Owot
Secretary, Save Public Education Campaign (SPEC)
234(0)7069411796
Former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, on Friday pleaded not guilty to the amended 20-count charges brought against him by the federal government.
Naija News recalls the government through the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday, increased the charges against Emefiele from six to twenty.
The charges against Emefiele now border on Criminal breach of trust, Forgery, Conspiracy to commit forgery, Procurement Fraud and Conspiracy to commit Felony.
When he was re-arraigned at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Maitama, Abuja, on Friday, January 19, before Justice Hamza Muazu, Emefiele denied all the charges against him.
The defense team also pleaded that Emefiele be allowed to continue to enjoy his bail earlier granted him by the court. The prosecutor did not object to this request, stating that they wanted the former CBN boss to attend his trial in good health.
Emefiele’s bail condition, which allows him to travel outside Abuja but remain within Nigeria throughout the suit, was sustained by the trial Judge, Justice Hamza Muazu.
The case has, however, been adjourned to the 12th and 13th of February for trial.
The Nigerian Army has officially declared its recruitment portal open for the online application process for the 2024 Direct Short Service Commission Course.
In a statement released via its various social media pages on Friday, January 19, the Nigerian Army mentioned that the application period will conclude on February 23.
Eligible applicants are encouraged to visit the recruitment portal for further details.
The post emphasized that the application is accessible to both civilians and current military personnel. However, it clarified that only military personnel who have been sponsored by civil institutions by any of the Services of the Nigerian Armed Forces will be taken into consideration.
The terse statement reads: “This is to inform the general public that the online application for Direct Short Service Commission Course 28/2024 has commenced. All applications must be submitted online not later than 23 February 2024. Visit http://recruitment.army.mil.ng.
“Application Is Free. The DSSC is open to both civilians and serving military personnel. Only serving military personnel sponsored to civil institutions by any of the Services of the Nigerian Armed Forces shall be considered.”
Requirements For Application
All applicants must satisfy the following conditions:
- Be a Nigerian as defined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
- Be a male or female between the ages of 20 and 30 years. Medical consultants could be between 25 – 40 years of age by April 2024.
- Be medically, mentally, and physically fit according to NA standards.
- Be recommended and attested to his/her good character by at least 2 recognizable referees who are either a Local Government Chairman/Secretary or an officer of the Armed Forces not below the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and equivalent or an Assistant Commissioner of Police and above who must hail from the applicant’s state of origin. Passport photographs of referees must be affixed to the letter of attestation.
- Applicants must submit a letter of Attestation from their former institutions.
- Measure in height at least 1.68m (for males) and 1.65m (for females).
- Must not have been convicted by any court of law. Military personnel applying must be free from any disciplinary case and endorsed by the applicant’s Commanding Officer/Commander.
- Possess at least a first degree with not less than Second Class Lower Division or HND (where applicable) of not less than Lower Credit from any accredited institution of learning.
- Possess a valid birth certificate endorsed by the National Population Commission, Hospital, or Local Government Council or a valid age declaration.
- Possess a valid certificate of state of origin.
- Applicants must possess an NYSC discharge certificate or valid exemption certificate as appropriate.
- Graduates with professional qualifications must be duly registered by relevant regulating bodies recognized by Nigerian Laws at the commencement of cadet training.
- Only Post-secondary academic credentials obtained from 2014 to date will be considered.
- Applicants must present valid contact addresses and telephone numbers of parents/guardians and Next of Kin as appropriate.
- Candidates must not have any bodily inscriptions or tattoos.
- Candidates must tender all original copies of educational certificates (primary to Post-secondary).
- Service personnel must present valid military identity cards and letters of recommendation by their Commanding Officers/Commanders. They must also present valid letter(s) of Service sponsorship to tertiary academic institutions (where applicable). Additionally, they must have served for a period of not less than 5 years.
- Candidates must not belong to any cult/society/fraternity.
- Candidates with the ability to swim will have an added advantage.
How To Apply
As stated in the announcement, all eligible and interested applicants are to submit their details online free of charge from 19 January 2024 to 23 February 2024.
Method of Application
- Go online and visit the Nigerian Army webpage at recruitment.army.mil.ng and choose the DSSC option from the page.
- You will be redirected to the page where you can read the qualification criteria for the ongoing DSSC courses.
- Click on the “Apply Now” button for the DSSC as per your qualification and Corps of choice.
- At the prompt, you will be required to select if you are serving or have served in the Armed Forces of Nigeria. Choose the appropriate option and proceed.
- If you do not have an account click on “Sign Up” (a verification will be sent to your email) or enter your login details and log in.
- Fill out the form and ensure all required documents listed below are uploaded:
- Passport photograph.
- Educational certificates.
- Evidence of membership of any professional body.
- Certificate of state of origin.
- Birth certificate or age declaration.
- NIN/BVN.
The Supreme Court on Friday affirmed Dapo Abiodun as duly elected governor of Ogun State in the March 2023 governorship elections.
Justice Tijjani Abubakar who delivered the judgment dismissed the appeals against Abiodun.
The appeal was filled by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and it’s candidate in the March 18, governorship election, Ladi Adebutu.
Mr Adebutu’s appeal is seeking the nullification of declaration of Dapo Abiodun as winner of the election.
Specifically, he is challenging Abiodun’s re-election on the ground that the Electoral Act, 2022 was not adhered to, citing corrupt practices and issue of non-qualification.
PDP and Adebutu want the Supreme Court to set aside and dismiss the judgement of the Court of Appeal, Lagos, which had on November 23, affirmed the decision of the Tribunal in upholding Adiodun’s victory.
Recall that two Judges of the court below had dismissed the appeal filed by Adebutu for lacking in merit, while Justice Jane Esienanwan Inyang saw merit in the petition and thereby ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to withdraw the certificate of return presented to Abiodun and conduct another election in 99 polling units where elections were disrupted.
The appellant said that INEC ought to have conducted fresh elections in 99 polling units where elections were cancelled and not declared a winner.
He said the return of the governor by INEC was unlawful and the election was wrongly concluded because corrupt practices were allegedly manifest during the March 18, governorship poll.
INEC had declared Abiodun winner of the governorship election after polling 276,298 votes to defeat his closest rival Adebutu, who polled 262,383 votes.
NAN
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria notes the inquiries some Nigerians have made regarding the directive of the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, SAN, CON, to relocate the corporate Headquarters of FAAN from Abuja to its original base, Lagos, where it has operated for decades until recently.
FAAN wishes to inform Nigerians that following wide consultations by the new Management of FAAN with stakeholders, which also involved the Unions, it was agreed that this was in the best interest of the Authority and the country for now for the following reasons:
1. Those affected by the decision to move the headquarters to Abuja have since returned to Lagos as there is no office space for them in Abuja. It was ill-advised in the first place to move the headquarters to Abuja when there was no single FAAN building in Abuja to accommodate all of them at once.
2. Having returned to Lagos, the Authority would be liable to pay them DTA (DUTY TOUR ALLOWANCE) because technically they are working OUT OF STATION as their official posting is to ABUJA. The Minister has decided to stop this waste of public resources and rip-off on the public purse.
3. The other option open to the Authority was abandon the old FAAN building in Lagos to rot away and to use its scarce resources to rent an office space in Abuja for Millions of Naira of public money when in actual fact more than sixty percent of its activities are in Lagos given the huge passenger volume of the Lagos airports. The stakeholders and the Minister decided against that and to save the country this waste.
4. The Minister has rolled out plans to get concessionaires to build befitting offices for the Authority in Lagos and Abuja and until that is done, the Authority will continue to manage its old building in Lagos that can accommodate all its Directors and senior officials for now.
5. Abuja continues to have full operational offices and the Authority has not scaled down operations in Abuja one bit. It is just the technical decision of where the Authority has its ‘corporate headquarters’ that has been taken without affecting the structure of operations as they are for now in both cities.
6. In the near future, when befitting corporate buildings have been built for the Authority in both Lagos and Abuja, a final decision will be taken as to the location of the permanent headquarters, depending on the exigencies of the time.
7. The Authority wishes to assure members of the public that it will continue to act in the best interest of the public and the country.
8. The Honourable Minister is committed to taking decisions that are in the best interest of the country, especially as it concerns public funds and will not yield to ethnic or sectional sentiments that will derail this commitment’
Thank you.
Obiageli Orah (Mrs.)
Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection
During a three-day retreat for the council chairmen and other top functionaries across the 38 local government areas and local council development areas in the state, Governor Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State cautioned local government officials against using his name for fraudulent activities. He emphasized that he did not authorize the deduction of N1m from the Christmas celebration money in December 2023.
Governor Oyebanji stressed, “I didn’t ask anybody to deduct any money for me… I didn’t collect any money. Henceforth, when you hear something of this nature, quickly contact me.”
He further warned against the use of his name for any fraudulent schemes and assured transparency in his administration. The governor also pledged not to tamper with the local government’s allocations but emphasized the need for responsible spending.
Addressing the newly inaugurated local government officials, Oyebanji urged them to consult widely with the communities in executing projects that would benefit the people. He reminded them of their responsibilities and the need to make a positive impact during their tenure.
The retreat, organized by the state’s Ministry of Local Government Affairs, was described by the Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Folorunso Olabode, as a strategic initiative for Ekiti State’s developmental plans.
Senator Olubunmi Adetumbi, a resource person at the event, emphasized the need for effective partnership between the state and local governments to ensure value for the citizens’ money.
The Federal Government has for the third time amended the criminal charges it filed against the immediate-past Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele.
In the latest amended charge taken before Justice Hamza Muazu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja on Thursday, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission accused Emefiele of impersonating the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to illegally obtain a sum of $6.2m.
According to the amended charge marked CR/577/2023, Emefiele, on February 8, 2023, connived with one Odoh Ocheme, who is now on the run, to obtain $6.2m from the CBN, claiming that it was requested by the SGF “vide a letter dated 26th January 2023 with Ref No. SGF.43/L.01/201.”
According to the EFCC, Emefiele allegedly claimed that the SGF requested the CBN to release “a contingent logistic advance in the sum of $6,230,000.00 in line with Mr. President’s directive.”
The EFCC said Emefiele made the claim despite knowing that it was false “and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1(1) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, and punishable under section 1(3) of the same Act.”
Still in the amended charge, the anti-graft agency alleged that Emefiele, in January 2023, forged a document titled: “RE: PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE ON FOREIGN ELECTION OBSERVER MISSIONS,” dated 26 January 2023 with Ref No. SGF.43/L.01/201.
He said to have allegedly connived with the fleeing Ocheme to commit the “illegal act to wit: forgery.”
Furthermore, Emefiele was accused of conferring corrupt advantage on his wife, Omoile Margret, and brother In-law, Omoile Macombo, by allegedly awarding a contract for the renovation of a portion of the CBN Governor’s residence in Lagos to the tune of N99.8m.
The anti-graft agency alleged that the contract for the renovation of the CBN Governor’s lodge, located at No. 2 Glover Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, was awarded to a company named Messrs. Architekon Nigeria Limited, “wherein the duo are directors and majority shareholders.”
The EFCC said Emefiele’s alleged action was a violation of Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.
The amended charge sheet contains a total of 20 counts against Emefiele.
Justice adjourned till today (Friday) for Emefiele to take his plea on the amended charges.
In the original charge filed against him in August 2023, Emefiele was accused of perpetrating procurement fraud to the tune of N6.5bn.
He was then charged alongside a female CBN employee, Sa’adatu Yaro, and her company, April 1616 Investment.
The EFCC later amended the charge by reducing the counts to six, removing the names of Yaro and April 1616 Investment, while the quantum of the alleged procurement fraud was reduced to N1.2bn.
Emefiele was arraigned on the second charge on November 29, 2023, and he pleaded not guilty.
The EFCC subsequently opened its trial and had so far called three witnesses before the latest amendment.
Meanwhile, the court on Thursday, varied the terms attached to the N300m bail granted Emefiele on November 22, 2023.
Justice Muazu removed the condition that Emefiele must be restricted to Abuja till the end of the trial.
The decision followed an application to that effect moved by the defence counsel, Mathew Bukka (SAN).
The PUNCH reports that Justice Muazu in November last year granted Emefiele N300m bail with two sureties in like sum.
The judge said the sureties must have landed property in the Maitama District of the FCT.
He also ordered the ex-CBN governor not to leave the court’s jurisdiction and directed him to deposit all his travel documents with the court.
At the proceedings on Thursday, Bukka urged the court to lift the restriction on his client, assuring that he would not jump bail if the restriction was lifted.
The EFCC prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), did not oppose the request.
He only urged the court to ensure that Emefiele wrote an undertaking that he would remain in the country if his plea was granted.
“From experience, we have seen cases where travel documents are with the court and the defendant will travel out of the country. What they usually do is go to the immigration and depose an affidavit that their traveling documents are missing.
“So in addition to his traveling documents being with the court, he should write an undertaking that the defendant will remain in Nigeria for the duration of his trial. I am not in any way suggesting the defendant will jump bail,” Oyedepo said.
Ruling, the judge held, “The defendant’s application is hereby granted. He must remain in the country for the pendency of his trial.”
The Nigerian telecoms market size has been estimated at $9.09 billion in 2024, and is expected to reach $11.43 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 4.70 per cent between 2024 and 2029. This was revealed by market intelligence firm, Mordor Intelligence, in its recent report of Nigerian tele- coms sector. Noting that the Nigerian telecoms market had undergone significant transformation over the past few years owing to various initiatives taken by the government to boost the country’s internet infrastructure and broadband connection, the firm stated in the report that growth in data consumption from businesses as well as individuals, growth in 5G deployments across the country and various innovations by the significant telecoms market vendors operating in Nigeria would drive the projected revenue.
“The proliferation of Internet of Things (IoT) solutions is revolutionising various sectors, enabling improved efficiency, automation, and enhanced user experiences. The Nigerian telecom market is experiencing a profound transformation with the rapid growth of IoT usage,” it stated. It added that increased smartphone adoption in Nigeria had fueled the development of a dynamic digital services sector. “Currently, millions of Nigerians use mobile apps, including social networking sites, e-commerce, and financial services. These apps could leverage smartphones’ capabilities to offer speed, convenience, and efficiency, encouraging more people to invest in smartphones. “In addition to these expansions and collaborations, the growing adoption of digital technologies and government support in aiding the same alongside the 5G technology implementation across the country is analyzed to boost the demand for telecom towers significantly.
“Moreover, the long-term ROI for heavy Capex investments in advanced telecom infrastructure may be uncertain, particularly in rapidly evolving technology environments. Factors such as changing consumer preferences, regulatory dynamics, and market disruptions can impact the revenue streams and payback periods for Capex-intensive projects, creating risk for telecom operators. “With COVID-19, the telecoms industry witnessed a significant increase in demand for Internet services, owing to most of the population staying at home and corporate offices employing remote working conditions. “The increase in people working from home has led to a rise in the de- mand for downloading, online video viewing, and communication through video conferencing, all leading to increased network traffic and data usage.
However, these trends have been limited to countries where the internet penetration and digital transformation of the end-users are high,” it added. Meanwhile, the report projected that mobile services, which include Mobile Data Services, Voice Services, Text and Multimedia Messaging, and Other Mobile Services, that can be operated on mobile netaqworks such as 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G, etc, will hold major market share. It further noted that the increasing smartphone penetration in the country, with mobile plan subscriptions, was fueling the market for mobile services in Nigeria. For instance, in February 2023, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the Nigerian telecom regulator, reported that the number of active mobile telecommunication plan subscriptions in the country reached about 222,571 million in December 2022, which shows the demand for mobile services in Nigeria.
Additionally, in October 2022, the NCC stated that the country’s broadband subscriptions majorly depend on 3G and 4G networks contributing 44.5 per cent of the total broadband subscriptions in Nigeria, and the regulator has planned an objective to increase it to 70 per cent by 2025. In July last year, the NCC also declared that investments in the country’s telecom industry comprising foreign direct investment (FDI) and local investment, had reached $75.6 billion as of 2021. The research firm said highspeed mobile Internet, such as 4G and 5G, can support businesses’ transforming supply chain management to create smart and efficient manufacturing in the country due to its networking application in the cloud computing services in the business environment. It added that mobile telecommunication services are used in the functioning of the Internet of Things in an enterprise that collects, transmits, and shares data via the Internet, driving the adoption of mobile services in the country.
“Further, the Nigerian government has launched the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (2020-2030) aimed at repositioning the Nigerian economy toward opportunities that digital technologies provide and diversifying the economy, which would require voice and data services in the country and fuel the demand for mobile tele- coms services in Nigeria due to its application in providing low- cost telecoms services to the end users. “Therefore, the demand for data and voice services in the consumer segments, the increase in the number of smartphones, and the country’s national digital economy policy are driving the adoption of mobile services in Nigeria, supported by the vendors’ partnerships and expansion to offer 4G and 5G based mobile telecoms services in Nigeria during the forecast period,” it stated stated.
As the Dangote Refinery Commences Production, the National Patriotic Elders Forum has charged President Ahmad Bola Tinubu to in the spirit of amplifying the value of Naira sale Crude Oil to Dangote while in return he will also sell in Naira to Nigerians.
The Elders Forum who Commended President Tinubu for ensuring the commencement of Dangote Refinery Production, believes that if the Nigeria Government sells Crude to him in local Currency and in return, he sales to the Marketers in the same way, is just a matter of times Naira will regain it’s lost values.
Speaking through a release he issued to Newsmen, Thursday, in Kano, the National President of the Forum, Dr. Bature AbdulAziz, insisted that President Tinubu deserves commendation for making the Refinery become a reality, but he said, the Government needs to step up full cooperation with the Refinery helps Citizens.
“There should be a serious working cooperation and understanding between the Government and Dangote Refinery to one ensure that the prices of Petroleum when he fully Commences Production is reduced, secondly to curtail the hyper Foreign Currency rises and stabilize the Naira”.
He added, “I believe, when the Refinery takes full production all those Nigeria money that has been wasted in the name of importing Refined Petroleum will be channeled to other important sectors that will boost the living standards of Nigerians”.
Dr Bature AbdulAziz explained that the actualization of the Dangote Refinery Production shows that all the promises of President Tinubu will be achieved, “what he requires at this juncture is the patient and understanding of the Citizens”.
The Elders Forum, also urged President Tinubu to give much emphasis on agriculture, noting that in the whole of Nigeria’s 774 Local Government areas only about 20 do not have active Agricultural activities, as such with given the Sector government attention, it will drastically curtail some serious Insecurities at the local areas.
In the same vein, Dr Bature AbdulAziz said the Government needs to do more on the issue of Security because the problems across the nation are becoming something else.
He said, “Government, needs to devise a new strategy with given Intelligence networking more regards and attention, although we have seen President Tinubu serious efforts but more need to be done to safeguard the lives of Nigerians”, he appealed.
…to establish students complaint unit to address academic challenges
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Students Engagement, Comrade Sunday Asefon, has said there was need for Nigeria to run a system where first-class graduates from tertairy institutions would be given automatic employment in institutions they graduated from, as well as in Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the country.
Asefon who made this known at the unveiling of the Nigerian students’ flag and renewed hope programme agenda by his office on Thursday in Abuja, also advocated sponsorship of best graduating students in ICT and related courses, in partnership with both local and foreign Tech institutions
He said: “One of our hope agenda is the renewed hope academic excellence reward scheme. It entails a befitting celebration and rewarding prize for overall best graduates from every tertiary institutions vis-a-viz arrangements of automatic absorption into the academia by the school authority and other MDAs.”
The former National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS) president also gave assurances that the government was working assiduously towards kick-starting the students loan scheme which was strictly meant for indigent Nigerians, the
He said: “”I can assure you that the bottlenecks about the loan are things of the past and we will ensure the indigent Nigerian students get it once the portal is opened. There’s going to be transparency and the president is committed to make it happen.”
Reeling out some other activities his office was ready to engage in, he disclosed ongoing plans to establish students complaint unit inorder to enable Nigerian students have a platform where they can discuss their problems affecting their academic activities.
Asefon also disclosed that by March this year, his office would be unveiling the National Student Leaders Summit and the Renewed Hope Campus Ambassadors. Also to be unveiled in the year is the Diaspora Student Leaders Retreat, all geared towards renewing the hope of Nigerian students.
Other activities include; Nigerian students leaders’ regional dialogue, annual international students day celebration, annual all Nigerian tertiary institution students affairs conference, Local and foreign engagement of student bodies/inauguration of national students management committee,.identification and discussion of students challenges on campus, sensitization on student loan scheme, social investment and empowerment programme of the federal government.
Reacting to allegations that some universities were charging certain fees for students to undergo drug test, Asefon who said the idea of drug tests for students was a welcome idea, however condemned the alleged payment and vowed to ensure such was abruptly stopped if found out to be true
“On the issue of drug test, that will not stand. I will not say they should not conduct a drug test but such test should be free. If the idea is from NDLEA or the university I commend them but I condemn the idea of asking them to pay a fee.”
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The National Identity Management Commission has temporarily suspended Front-End Partners from engaging in the National Identification Number enrolments.
This is because the commission is currently carrying out a revalidation exercise of these third-party registration centres.
The Director General, NIMC, Abisoye Coker-Odusote disclosed this while noting that NIMC has identified multiple infractions and unwholesome practices in the processes of National Identity Number enrolment and modification.
Coker-Odusote revealed this at the opening of a four-day training for the first batch of newly revalidated Front End Partners in Abuja.
While assuring participants that revalidation is aimed at improving the enrolment process and addressing outstanding debts owed to the Front-End Partners, the DG stated that many infractions have been reported, with a significant number attributed Front-End Partners.
Front-end partners provide enrolment services nationwide. She said, “My decision to direct the revalidation of all FEPs was not targeted at anyone or group. It was a step towards sanitizing the system and processes while ensuring the integrity of data in the country’s identity database. It was also one of the steps towards proper auditing of the claims made by some of our FEPs.
“Please be advised that the revalidation exercise is being implemented in phases. This is just the first and not the last. Let me use this medium to remind you all that NIN enrolment is free of charge in Nigeria. My administration has zero tolerance for corruption. We shall therefore not spare anyone found perpetrating corrupt practices or any other form of infractions.”
The DG further explained that the revalidation exercise was part of steps towards ensuring compliance with the highest standards of data security among the FEPs.
She noted, “Don’t forget that I inherited huge debts owed FEPs for over two years. Some of the invoices and claims were questionable, requiring proper auditing. The rot in the process and system left me with no option but to take deliberate steps toward sanitising the enrollment process.
“And to this end, I directed that NIN enrolment activities at all FEP centres be suspended temporarily, pending the outcome of a revalidation exercise.”
In October, NIMC announced the revalidation of its third-party agent licenses. At the time, the commission stated that the process was mandatory for all current partners and was intended to ensure compliance with the latest standards and protocols.
Commenting on the issue of kidnapping in the country, NIMC disclosed that it is working with the Nigerian Communications Commission and security agencies to ensure the use of NIN and SIM databases to track down kidnappers and victims of kidnapping.
The DG of NIMC, Coker-Odusote, stated this at a stakeholder engagement with the Nigeria Identification for Development Project in Abuja.
The DG who spoke through her technical assistant, Ayobami Abiola, said, “NIMC is working very closely with the security agencies to ensure that we can use the NIN in a way which helps to secure the country.
“There have been previous engagements and directives requiring people to use the NIN to register their SIM cards. However, people have been able to circumvent that and this has been to the detriment of using this information for security purposes. However, NIMC is working very closely to plug all of these holes and there will be a solution soon.
“The President has expressed worry over our fragmented identity system which is causing the country huge losses in expenditure and has given us marching orders to ensure we integrate and unify our identity system.
“The goal is to remove all current challenges and difficulties that people face in enrolling for IDs, fostering a robust, seamless, and more inclusive enrolment system where ID is provided for everyone, and no one is left behind.”
The former Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, recently disclosed that the security agencies were not using the NIN-SIM policy to fight insecurity in the country.
There was a heated gunfire exchange, on Thursday, as the police rescued Segun Akinyemi, an Abuja resident, who was kidnapped just as he was driving out of his house.
The kidnappers were taking Akinyemi from Abuja to Kano State when the police swooped on them, according to Police Public Relations Officer in Kaduna, ASP Mansir Hassan.
He said on January 18, 2024, operatives attached to Kawo Divisional Headquarters, Kaduna, received a distress call of a kidnapping incident from Abuja.
He said they were alerted that the culprits and their victim were transiting through Kaduna.
“The Operatives, at about 0010 hours, blocked a grey Toyota Hilux van with registration number Abuja RBC 90 DC, carrying four passengers, the driver inclusive, suspected to be the vehicle conveying the kidnappers and their victim.”
“On sensing danger and in an effort to escape, one of the kidnappers fired at the Policemen, and they responded accordingly. In the resulting gun duel, the victim, a certain Segun Akinyemi of block 10, flat 2 FCDA quarters Area 3 Garki, Abuja, was rescued, and one of the kidnappers, a 28-year-old Chinaza Philip of Life Camp Abuja, was arrested,” he said.
The police said the three other suspects who escaped are being trailed, adding that the vehicle belonging to the victim, two Retay G17 model pistols, one Beretta pistol, ten 9mm P.A.K ammunitions, and five 9mm special ammunitions were recovered from the kidnappers.
He said preliminary inquiries revealed that the victim was abducted on January 17, 2024, by the kidnappers just when he was leaving his home situated at the aforementioned address.
He said the three escaped suspects were; Chidibere Nwodibo of Life Camp, Abuja, one Auwal surname unknown, and the gang leader whose identity is yet to be ascertained.
The kidnappers were transporting their victim to Kano before they were intercepted by the Police.
The Commissioner of Police Kaduna State Command, CP A.D Ali, while commending the Operatives for the brave feat, still tasked them to continuously go after criminal elements in the State.
He called on the members of the public to avail themselves of security agencies’ hotlines for any distress call requiring a prompt response.
The House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee, on Thursday, directed the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investments to refund N75bn allocated to it as COVID-19 intervention funds.
This was as the committee also ordered the Ministry of Health to return the N10bn released to it to produce COVID-19 vaccine.
The resolution was sequel to a motion moved by Bassey Akiba, a member of the Labour Party from Cross River State, following the non-appearance of officials of the ministry at its investigative hearing on Thursday.
The committee, in a recent advertorial, invited 59 ministries, departments and agencies to appear before it for the commencement of an investigative hearing on the alleged mismanagement of COVID-19 funds.
Originally slated for Wednesday, January 17, the House shifted it to Thursday in order to commiserate with the government and people of Oyo State over Tuesday’s explosion which rocked the state capital, Ibadan.
At the commencement of the sitting at the National Assembly, Akiba moved the motion to compel the ministry to refund the funds appropriated to it.
The committee adopted the motion after it was seconded and directed that the ministry refund the said funds to the coffers of the Federal Government.
In his earlier remark, the chairman of the committee, Bamidele Salam (PDP, Osun State), lamented that despite the series of invitations extended to the ministry, its officials failed to show up.
Salam said, “The Federal Ministry of Trade, Industries and Investments got the sum of N75bn as COVID-19 intervention funds. The Public Account Committee has sent invitations to the Ministry of Trade, Industries and Investments three times, and none of the invitations was honoured.
“The federal ministry of trade was to make their appearance yesterday (Wednesday). That was the last opportunity given to them and there was no such appearance. N75bn was appropriated to them.
“The former Permanent Secretary and the current Permanent Secretary are affected by this motion to refund the sum of N75bn to the Federal Government as COVID-19 intervention funds which as far as we are concerned, has not been expended.”
The committee also mandated the Federal Ministry of Health to return N10bn meant for the production of COVID-19 vaccines, but which was not spent, to the Federal Government.
Unlike the trade ministry, the Ministry of Health sent a representative, the Permanent Secretary, Daju Kachallom, who informed the committee that the funds were domiciled with the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation.
The committee, however, directed that the money should be returned, stressing that the ministry might choose to reapply to the National Assembly for the money if it was still needed.
In a related development, the committee also directed the Director General of the Rural Electrification Agency, Salihijo Ahmed, to submit documents detailing the utilisation of the agency’s COVID-19 intervention funds.
The DG appeared before the committee at the investigative hearing and requested more time to submit relevant documents.
The committee told the agency to submit the documents on Friday before the close of work and reappear before it on Monday at 10 am.
The federal government has ordered that the headquarters of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) be moved from Abuja to Lagos State.
This was disclosed in a memo dated 15th of January 2024, which was seen by newsmen on Thursday.
The memo issued by the Managing Director of FAAN, Mrs Olubunmi Kuku, disclosed that the relocation is based on the directive of the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo.
The memo read: ”The Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development has directed that the Headquarters of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) should be relocated from Abuja to Lagos.
”Consequent upon the above, you are requested to provide the implication of the relocation to the management.”
CBN Decongests Head Office, Moves Departments To Lagos
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is set to decongest its head office in Abuja and transfer some of its departments to Lagos State.
Naija News reports that the apex bank made this known in an Internal memo seen on Saturday.
The apex bank stated that the move is meant to increase the productivity of the affected staff while also cutting costs and ensuring their safety.
It further said the decongestion would also improve the apex bank’s operational and workflow efficiency.
Some departments that were affected by the transfer included the Banking Supervision, Other Financial Institutions Supervision, Consumer Protection Department, Payment System Management Department and Financial Policy Regulations Department.
[NaijaNews]