Invoking the Principle of the Presidential Prerogative of Mercy, President Bola Tinubu has approved the partial waiver of the "No Work, No Pay" Order that was instituted against striking members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) following the commencement of their eight-month industrial action which began on February 14, 2022 and was terminated on October 17, 2022.

In view of his determination to mitigate the difficulties being felt during the implementation of key economic reforms in the country, as well as his recognition of the faithful implementation of terms which were agreed upon during the fruitful deliberations between ASUU and the Federal Government of Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu has directed the grant of an exceptional last waiver of the "No Work, No Pay" Order on ASUU, which will allow for the previously striking members of ASUU to receive four (4) months of salary accruals out of the eight months of salary which was withheld during the eight-month industrial action undertaken by the union.

The President has directed the grant of the waiver with a mandatory requirement that the Federal Ministry of Education and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment must secure a Document of Understanding (DoU) establishing that this exceptional waiver granted by the President will be the last one to be granted to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and all other Education Sector Unions.

Chief Ajuri Ngelale

Special Adviser to the President

(Media & Publicity)

October 20, 2023

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Adewale Adeniyi as the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service.

Director Information, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Willie Bassey, made this known in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja.

According to the statement, the President tasks Adeniyi with bringing his wealth of experience to bear on his new assignment.

“The appointment takes effect from Oct. 19 and his tenure is in accordance with the extant provisions of the Public Service Rules.”

NAN

President Bola Tinubu has invoked the Principle of the Presidential Prerogative of Mercy to approve the waiver of the “No Work, No Pay” order that was instituted against striking members of the National Association of Resident Doctors, NARD, on August 1, following the commencement of their industrial action, which began on July 26.

The approval of waiver for the resident doctors was made public via a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, in Abuja on Friday.

The statement said: “After several constructive engagements between the Federal Government and NARD, the resident doctors called off their strike on August 12.

“The Office of the Accountant General of the Federation was directed to withhold all salaries accrued by striking NARD members during the 17 days of their strike action.

“In view of the faithful implementation of terms which were agreed upon during the fruitful deliberations between the resident doctors and the Federal Government, President Bola Tinubu has directed the grant of an exceptional last waiver of the “No Work, No Pay” order on resident doctors.

“This will allow for the members of the NARD to receive the salaries which were previously withheld during the 17-day strike action.

“The President has directed the grant of the waiver with a mandatory requirement that the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment must secure a Document of Understanding (DoU) establishing that this exceptional waiver granted by the President will be the last one to be granted to the National Association of Resident Doctors and all other Health Sector Unions.”

[Vanguard]

Introduction: Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed colleagues, and distinguished guests, on this International Day of Education in Prisons, we gather to emphasize the importance of cultivating lifelong learning and quality education within sustainable value-based education systems for incarcerated individuals. Education holds transformative power and serves as a cornerstone in the rehabilitation and reintegration of prisoners, making it a vital component of any justice system.

Where we are 

• Overcrowding: Nigerian prisons have a history of severe overcrowding. The capacity of the prison system falls far short of the actual number of inmates, leading to difficult living conditions.
• Pretrial Detainees: A significant percentage of the prison population comprises individuals who are in pretrial detention. These individuals have not been convicted of any crime but are held in prisons due to delays in the legal process.

1. 1. Inmate Population: Nigeria has one of the largest prison populations in Africa. The exact number of inmates can vary, but it has historically been in the tens of thousands.
   2. Aging Infrastructure: Many Nigerian prisons suffer from outdated infrastructure and inadequate facilities, making it challenging to meet the basic human rights and healthcare needs of inmates.

• Rehabilitation and Education: Access to rehabilitation programs, vocational training, and education in Nigerian prisons is limited. This affects the prospects of successful reintegration into society upon release.
• Healthcare: Inmates often have limited access to proper healthcare, leading to health issues within the prison population.
• Legal Aid: Many inmates do not have access to legal representation, which can result in prolonged detention and miscarriages of justice.
• Human Rights Concerns: Nigerian prisons have faced concerns regarding human rights violations, including reports of poor living conditions, excessive use of force, and arbitrary detention.
• Recidivism: Without effective rehabilitation and reintegration programs, recidivism rates have been a concern in the Nigerian context.
• Juvenile Detainees: There have been cases of juveniles being detained in adult facilities, which is a violation of international human rights standards.

The Significance of Education in Prisons: Education plays a pivotal role in reshaping the lives of incarcerated individuals, providing them with opportunities for personal growth, skills development, and a chance at a brighter future. Through education, inmates can break the cycle of reoffending, making our communities safer and more prosperous.

The Journey Towards Lifelong Learning: To foster lifelong learning among incarcerated individuals, it is essential to establish comprehensive education programs within correctional facilities. These programs should encompass basic literacy and numeracy skills, vocational training, higher education, and moral or value-based education.

Quality Education for Transformation: Quality education is the bedrock of personal transformation. It equips inmates with practical skills, increases their employability upon release, and nurtures their intellectual curiosity. Moreover, education fosters self-esteem and self-worth, empowering individuals to envision a life beyond bars.

Sustainable Value-Based Education Systems: Incorporating value-based education into correctional systems is crucial for nurturing empathy, self-awareness, and a sense of responsibility among inmates. Such an education system guides individuals toward making positive choices, encouraging empathy toward others, and promoting personal growth.

Benefits to Society: An educated and rehabilitated individual not only transforms their own life but also contributes positively to society. Through sustainable value-based education systems, we can help reduce recidivism rates and create safer communities.

Conclusion: As we commemorate the International Day of Education in Prisons, let us reaffirm our commitment to cultivating lifelong learning and quality education within sustainable value-based education systems for incarcerated individuals. Together, we can provide hope, opportunity, and a second chance to those within our correctional facilities, ultimately building a better, more inclusive society for all. 

Most of the 200 or so people kidnapped in Israel by Hamas militants and taken to the Gaza Strip are still alive, the Israeli military said on Friday.

“The majority of the hostages are alive. There were also dead bodies that were taken… to the Gaza Strip,” an army statement said.

The military said more than 20 hostages were children, while between 10 and 20 were over the age of 60.

There are also between 100 and 200 people considered missing since the Hamas attacks, the army added.

On October 7, the Palestinian militant group carried out a deadly assault on Israel, the worst in the country’s 75-year history, killing more than 1,400 people, mostly civilians who were shot, mutilated or burnt to death on the first day of the raid, according to Israeli officials.

Israel has responded with a relentless bombardment that has killed at least 3,785 people in the Gaza Strip, mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in the territory.

AFP

A YOUTH football coach from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Jonathan Bukabakwa, has been handed a lengthy ban for sexually abusing a minor, FIFA announced today.

“The adjudicatory chamber of the independent Ethics Committee has banned Mr Jonathan Bukabakwa, former youth coach at clubs of the Urban Football Agreement of the regions of Lipopo and Malebo in Congo DR, from all football-related activities for 20 years, after having found him guilty of sexually abusing a minor football player,” FIFA stated today.

“In addition, the adjudicatory chamber imposed a fine amounting to 100,000 Swiss francs on Mr Bukabakwa.

“This case arose following serious allegations related to the sexual abuse of minors in the Congo DR Football Association (FECOFA) that were made on several media platforms.

“In particular, various football coaches of different regions and leagues in Congo DR were accused of having abused minor players, leading to Mr Bukabakwa being provisionally suspended for a period of five months earlier this year.”

The world football governing body explained that in deciding the case, the adjudicatory chamber took into account the evidence collected during the investigations and was comfortably satisfied that Bukabakwa had breached article 24 (Protection of physical and mental integrity) of the Code of Ethics.

The terms of the decision were notified to Bukabakwa today, the date on which the ban comes into force, and will be followed by the notification of the grounds within the next 60 days in accordance with the FIFA Code of Ethics, the body explained further.

“The decision taken by the adjudicatory chamber is in line with FIFA’s zero tolerance approach to all forms of abuse in football. World football’s governing body has regularly updated its regulatory framework in recent years to provide greater protection to victims of discrimination and sexual abuse or harassment,” FIFA noted.

“FIFA also provides a confidential, dedicated, highly secure and web-based whistleblowing system so that individuals can report any safeguarding concerns.”

[NaijaTimes]

President Bola Tinubu, on Friday, approved the appointment of Adewale Adeniyi as the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service.

The appointment was disclosed in a statement released by the Director of Information, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Willie Bassey.

According to the statement, the President tasked Adeniyi with bringing his wealth of experience to bear on his new assignment.

The statement reads, “His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has approved the confirmation of the appointment of Adewale Adeniyi (MFR) as the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service.

“The appointment takes effect from 19th October, 2023 and his tenure is in accordance with the extant provisions of the Public Service Rules (PSR). The President tasks him to bring his wealth of experience to bear on his new assignment.”

Taking over from former CG, Hameed Alli in June, the new Customs boss had been in an acting capacity.

The Federal government has disclosed its plans to build 34,500 houses across the country in a move aimed at addressing the housing shortage in the country.

The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Mr Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, stated this when the Executive Governor of Taraba State, Agbu Kefas, paid a courtesy visit to the Ministry, in Abuja.

Dangiwa mentioned that as part of the first phase of the ‘Renewed Hope Cities Project’, the Federal Government aims to construct approximately 34,500 houses across the country.

This initiative will be carried out via a combination of the Federal Mortgage Bank, Federal Housing Authority, and Private-Public Partnerships (PPP).

He said,

• “With this project alone, we aim to create over 240,000 jobs at 7 per housing unit. This is in line with Mr. President’s goal to create jobs, lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty and grow the economy.
• In doing this, the government was building for the 80% of Nigerians who fall within the non-income, low-income and medium-income brackets. We are focusing on affordability but without compromising quality,”

Nigeria needs 55,000 new houses per annum

He further mentioned that the Ministry was collaborating with the National Population Commission (NPC) to determine the actual housing deficit in the country.

He said,

• “Our in-house estimates show that for us to meet the housing needs of Nigerians, we need to build about 550,000 new homes per annum over the next ten years,”

The minister also disclosed that the Ministry had communicated with State Governors, requesting approximately 50 hectares of land at no cost for Renewed Hope Cities.

According to him, this approach would enable the Ministry to offer the houses at a price that Nigerians could afford.

Revision of 1978 Land Use Act

He also sought the Governor’s support as the ministry intended to revise the Land Use Act of 1978 to streamline land administration and facilitate access to land, making it a more efficient, rapid, and cost-effective process with the enactment and adoption of the model mortgage foreclosure law that establishes mortgage registries.

 [Nairametrics]

Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umaru Radda, has called on the Federal Government to permit individuals to legally buy and possess weapons such as AK-47 rifles and RPGs for self-defense purposes.

During a media chat in Abuja on Friday, the governor argued that if bandits, who are causing widespread havoc in the country, have access to the weapons market, then individuals should also be granted the right to protect themselves.

He stated, “If a bandit can easily buy AK-47, RPG, and various other weapons from the market, why shouldn’t ordinary people be allowed to do the same in order to confront the challenges they face?”

The governor emphasized the difference between holding weapons illegally, as the bandits do, and seeking legal ownership for self-defense purposes. He stressed that the government should enable individuals to hold arms and confront the security challenges.

Regarding negotiations with bandits, Governor Radda expressed his strong reluctance, stating, “From my perspective, negotiation with bandits is a no-go area. However, if I find myself in a position of advantage where the bandits surrender their arms and request a dialogue, we may consider reintegrating them into society.”

He also shed light on the limitations faced by governors in addressing security issues, explaining that though they are called chief security officers of their states, they lack the authority to command the military, police, or civil defense, as they receive orders from higher authorities.

Describing their efforts to tackle the security challenges, he mentioned the establishment of an intelligence unit within the Katsina Community Watch Corps. This covert unit operates separately from the corps members and serves to monitor and control any potential abuses within the organization, as well as gather vital information.