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INEC will monitor Ondo governorship election virtually – Mahmood

Olugbenga ADANIKIN
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INEC will monitor Ondo governorship election virtually – Mahmood

INDEPENDENT National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it has put up necessary measures to ensure it virtually monitors the October 10 governorship election in Ondo State.   

Mahmood Yakubu, INEC Chairman said the monitoring would be carried out through the Commission’s Zoom Situation Room where electoral officials  are to submit live reports from different polling units across 18 local governments in the state.

He added that accredited observers and the media representatives would also be permitted to join the live feed at regular intervals.

“On election day, the national headquarters of INEC will monitor election throughout Ondo State. Our zoom situation room will receive live reports from the field and respond to issues that may arise,” the commission stated on its verified social media handle,” Mahmood said on Monday.

“Accredited observers and media will also be invited to join at intervals. By doing so, the commission will receive first-hand information as the election is going on.”

The Chairman emphasised that the technological interface would enable members of the public to relate with the Commission, particularly through its verified social media handles on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and the INEC Citizens Contact Centre (ICCC).

He reiterated his commitment to clear any grey areas of concern as he assured Ondo residents of a free, credible, safe and inclusive poll.

To ensure a crisis-free election, the Commission said it has partnered with relevant security agencies in the country including the Navy and Federal Road Safety Corps to help restrict movements across the state during the voting hours on the election day and also to implement the electoral law.

Rotimi Akeredolu, the incumbent governor of Ondo State is seeking a reelection as the candidate of  the All Progressives Congress (APC) against his former deputy, Agboola Ajayi who is participating in the poll through the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) and perennial rival, Eyitayo Jegede who is the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

October 1: Fact-Checking Buhari’s claim on pump price in oil-producing countries

Olugbenga ADANIKIN
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October 1: Fact-Checking Buhari’s claim on pump price in oil-producing countries

THE PRESIDENT of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari during his October 1, speech to mark the country’s 60th Independence celebration said it was irrational for oil to be cheaper in Nigeria than in Saudi Arabia.

Buhari reeled out oil pump prices in other oil-producing countries to buttress his position on the adjustment of petroleum prices.

He said: “Petroleum prices in Nigeria are to be adjusted. We sell now at N161 per litre. A comparison with our neighbours will illustrate the point;

  1. Chad which is an oil-producing country charges N362 per litre
  2. Niger, also an oil-producing country sells 1 litre at N346.
  3. In Ghana, another oil-producing country, the petroleum pump price is N326 per litre.”

The President also added that, “Egypt charges N211 per litre, Saudi Arabia charges N168 per litre. It makes no sense for oil to be cheaper in Nigeria than in Saudi Arabia.”

READ ALSO:

THE CLAIM:

That the petroleum pump price for other oil-producing countries are; Chad – N362, Niger – N346, Ghana – N326, Egypt – N211,  and Saudi Arabia – N168.

THE FINDINGS:

Nigeria has witnessed variation of petroleum prices particularly in the last two quarters of 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The country has further deregulated the downstream sector and pull out from further subsidising fuel price, thus, allowing market forces to determine the fuel price.

The FactCheckHub checked the president’s claim against data on globalpetroleumprices.com. The website tracks and do a weekly update of fuel prices from 150 countries including Australia, Canada, Russia and over 250 cities globally.

It also monitors electricity prices in about 100 countries with major clients across multinationals and international Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), some of which includes Ericsson, Goldman Sachs, Plan international, Barclays among others.

Petrol prices data per litre published as of  September, 28, 2020 revealed that fuel per litre is sold at N354.93 in Chad as against N362 stated by the President.

The fuel price list of over 160 countries showed fuel price for Ghana to be N324.93 compared with N326 stated by Buhari. While fuel price in Egypt as captured by the website is N207.62, and that of Saudi Arabia is N167.29.

Meanwhile, the President during his speech had said the fuel price in Egypt and Saudi Arabia are N211 and N168 respectively.

The fuel price in Nigeria is N161 but the organisation published the price as N151.56.  Though, Niger Republic was missing in the list of countries, the data source states that differences in prices across the countries are as a result of the tax variation and petroleum subsidies provided by respective nations.

However, the FactCheckHub findings revealed that the N151.56 align with the ex-depot price as announced by the Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC), a subsidiary of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) for September.

This implies that the above prices are most likely the ex-depot prices based on the figure presented for Nigeria on the website.

The ex-depot price is the price at which the product is sold to marketers at the depots.

“All countries have access to the same petroleum prices of international markets but then decide to impose different taxes. As a result, the retail price of gasoline is different,” the website reads.

THE VERDICT:

Based on the available data, the claim by President Buhari on pump prices during his October 1 independence day speech is MOSTLY TRUE. This is because the prices contained in his speech are relatively close to those stated by the global petroleum prices.

We pray Buhari’s new salary package comes to fruition quickly- NUT

Niyi OYEDEJI
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We pray Buhari’s new salary package comes to fruition quickly- NUT

NIGERIAN Union of Teachers (NUT), the umbrella body of all teachers in the country has described the new special salary package announced by President Muhammadu Buhari for teachers as a good development but hopes that its implementation takes place quickly.

“It is a good development. I wish it comes to fruition very quickly,” said Nasir Idris, National President of NUT in a telephone interview with The ICIR.

President Buhari had on Monday announced at the event marking the 2020 World Teachers’ Day that he has approved a special salary package for teachers in the country.

The President said the new salary package was to encourage teachers in delivering better service.

Reacting to the development, Idris also advocated for the implementation of the new salary scale across the board.

“Teachers’ salary scale should be increased across the board,” he said.

Meanwhile, the President has also increased the number of years of service for the teachers from 35 to 40.

Three months after ICIR report, Gombe State Govt updates website

Editorial
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Three months after ICIR report, Gombe State Govt updates website

By Muhammad Auwal IBRAHIM

THE Gombe state government has updated its website (www.gombestate.gov.ng) with fresh information, three months after The ICIR reported that the website was filled with outdated information.

The ICIR had reported that the website was dormant while it was still showing the picture of Beatrice Iliya as the acting Chief Judge of the state after Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahya’s recent appointment of Justice Muazu Pindiga, as the new acting Chief Judge of the state.

As of the time of the report, the website was also showing the name of Justice Saad as one of the state high court judges,  after his retirement months ago.

Also, the website displayed Justice H. A. Barka as a High Court judge months after he had moved to the Court of Appeal.

While the State Government did not make any announcement on the state of COVID-19 in the state, particularly on safety measures being put in place and the number of cases recorded, a recent visit to the website on Wednesday, September 30  revealed that there were fresh updates including those on COVID-19.

“Happy independence day to Nigeria. CORONA VIRUS IS REAL! Please wear a MASK, Stay Safe!” the website now reads.

Unlike in the past, at the bottom of the site, the number of total infected cases (864) and total deaths (25) have been clearly illustrated.

Furthermore, the State Government has also replaced the name of the past acting Chief Judge, Justice Beatrice Iliya, with Justice Muazu Pindiga as the current acting Chief Judge. However, no any other high court justice was included on the page.

In addition to this, the Speaker of the Gombe State House of Assembly was the only one showcased out of the members of the house.

Four fresh, recent news stories have been published in place of the old stories on the website.

The website currently has segments such as weather forcast, Gombe tweets, state parastatals, live streaming, unemployed graduates registration portal, e-learning, payments, and office automation.

However, some pages such as ministries, executive council, deputy governor’s office, demographics, commissioners, past governors and administrators, gallery, government house clinic,  including unemployed graduates registration portal, e-learning, payments, and office automation still have nothing under them.

Other pages like speeches, budget, executive orders, laws,  were not accessible as of the time of writing this report.

According to a statement signed by Dr. Muazu Shehu, the Director-General, Research, and Documentation, Office of the Executive Governor of Gombe State on September, 30, 2020, the unemployed graduates’ registration portal would be available “on October 2, 2020 onwards….”

Buhari’s aide, Onochie says cyber-criminals behind #ENDSARS’ social media protest

Lukman ABOLADE
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Buhari’s aide, Onochie says cyber-criminals behind #ENDSARS’ social media protest

LAURETTA Onochie, a special assistant to the Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari on Social Media says #ENDSARS protests on social media is a coordinated attack by cyber-criminals.

Onochie said this in a Twitter post on Sunday as many Nigerians including celebrities and politicians such as Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President and Bukola Saraki, former Senate President took to social media to call on the Federal Government to disband the notorious the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) over alleged highhandedness.

Commenting on the social media protest, Onochie said ‘I have no doubt that there are some staff of SARS who are unprofessional in their dealings with d public, the same way we have unprofessionalism in d Army, Mainstream Police, Customs, Civil Service, Public Service, traders, Lawyers, Doctors, journalists, teachers, pastors, etc.”

‘But what is going on now, is a coordinated attack by cybercriminals joined by unsuspecting innocent citizens’.

She noted that the call for the disbandment or reform of the FSARS was not coming for the first time.

Onochie added that Nigerians should stand by their national institutions stating that it was the core of patriotism.

“This is not the first time. We must stand by our national institutions while working to improve their effectiveness. That’s what patriotism is about,” she tweeted.

It would be recalled that Nigerians over the weekend mounted a renewed campaign to #ENDSARS, after a video surfaced of a man allegedly pushed out from a moving car by operatives of SARS in Ughelli, Delta State.

Your father was most detribalised Nigerian, Jonathan tells Shagari’s son

Vincent Ufuoma
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Your father was most detribalised Nigerian, Jonathan tells Shagari’s son

GOODLUCK Jonathan, Nigerian former President has described late Shehu Shagari, the Nigerian Second Republic president,  as a most detribalised Nigerian.

Jonathan stated this on Monday afternoon in response to an apology by Aminu Shagari, the late President’s son.

The former President who described his experience as an act allowed by God said he took no offense.

While stating he has no enemy to fight, he charged Shagari to emulate the detribalised nature of his late father.

“Dear Honourable Aminu Shagari, thank you for your apology. However, I never took offence,” Jonathan said in a post on his Facebook page.

“My firm belief is that I am a pencil in the Hand of God. Therefore, I have no enemies to fight, because of my confidence that people can only do to me what God permits.”

“I urge you to continue to emulate the humility of your father, the late President Shehu Shagari, a most detribalised Nigerian. May God bless you.”

Aminu Shagari, had in an interview with The Punch expressed his regret for the role he played in the 2015 general elections that led to the eventual defeat of Jonathan while seeking reelection as Nigerian president.

Shagari, who was enraged by the lack of commitment that President Muhammadu Buhari has displayed towards a promise he made to immortalize his late father whom Buhari overthrew in a coup in 1983 asked for forgiveness from Jonathan because he helped to bring down his government.

He said what he and others thought about the former president’s stewardship was not entirely true.

“Let me use this opportunity to tender a public apology to former President Jonathan and seek forgiveness because I helped to divide the Peoples Democratic Party and bring down his government, but, I have found out that what we thought about his stewardship was not entirely true,” Shagari’s son said.

“I expect President Buhari to also ask for forgiveness having found out that most of the things he accused my dad’s and President Jonathan’s administrations of were not true.”

Speaking further, Shagari said he was disappointed at Buhari’s administration, noting that what Nigeria needed to overcome the crisis of insecurity was bold leadership.

He slammed Buhari who according to him has refused to listen to the voice of reasonings in handling the insecurity prevalent in the country.

“I believe if we get it right in this aspect of our national life, our story would turn from bad to good within a short time. With emphasis, all we require is a credible and sincere leadership that will maximise our God-given talents and resources,” He said.

“A lot of us committed so much to bring this administration on board. As an individual, I assumed that, if nothing else, we would get the issue of security right, and every other thing would follow.”

Aminu Shagari lamented that “our security situation has degenerated from bad to worse and the President has refused to listen to every voice of reasoning. “

He said rather, the President has turned a deaf ear to what people were saying and insisted on keeping the Service Chiefs.

“Just recently, the government slammed the entire citizenry with a double post-COVID-19 assault – fuel price hike and increase in electricity tariff, without considering the income of Nigerians.

“With the minimum wage, in the face of the depreciating value of the naira, how do you expect an average Nigerian worker to survive, meet their family’s financial needs, and be happy?,” he said.

 

Again, ASUU tackles FG over nonpayment of members’ salaries at UniMaid, Micheal Okpara Varsity

Lukman ABOLADE
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Again, ASUU tackles FG over nonpayment of members’ salaries at UniMaid, Micheal Okpara Varsity

THE Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has once again tackled the Federal Government over the nonpayment of salaries of some lecturers at the University of Maiduguri and Micheal Okpara Univesity of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State for the past six months.

Ayoola Akinwole, Chairman of ASUU, University of Ibadan said this in a statement alleging that the Federal Government was using propaganda against the union.

“As of today, October 4, 2020, ASUU members are being owed three months’ salaries. In some universities like MOAU and UNIMAID our members have not received their salaries for up to six months,” Akinwole said.

He further alleged that the Federal Government has also ‘criminally withheld’ five months deductions from members of the union.

“The Federal Government, through the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, has criminally withheld five months’ (February to June 2020) check-off deducted from our members’ salaries without remittance to the union.

“The government has forcefully enlisted our members into the National Housing Fund scheme and has consistently been illegally deducting money for this from our members’ salaries,” he noted.

Akinwole threatened that the strike would continue if the Federal Government does not stop telling ‘lies and propaganda against the union.

“Our ongoing total, comprehensive and indefinite strike action will continue if this propaganda and lies against ASUU by appointees and representatives of the Federal Government like the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, persists,” the Chairman said.

Chris Ngige, the Nigerian Minister of Labour and Productivity had said the Federal Government has been paying members of the union since the outbreak of COVID-19 adding that the strike would ‘soon come to an end’.

“The issue of ASUU will soon come to an end. Two reasons – ASUU has called the Federal Government, represented by Finance and the Accountant-General Office and their direct employers, the Ministry of Education to come for the test.”

“We are ready to do that. After the independence day celebration, the four ministries and agencies involved will gather together with ASUU. We will look at the UTAS. If there are shortcomings with IPPIS as complained which UTAS have corrected. What’s wrong about it? It is software, we will look at it.”

“Secondly, ASUU members have been collecting their money since COVID-19 came and I wrote a memo to Mr president that ASUU members are still Nigerians. Even the members have families that they care for. By upper week, we are going to arrange for this demonstration,” Ngige said.

ENDSARS: IGP assures me deep reforms, sanctioning of officers and protection of the youth – Sunday Dare

Lukman ABOLADE
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ENDSARS: IGP assures me deep reforms, sanctioning of officers and protection of the youth – Sunday Dare

SUNDAY Dare, the Nigerian Minister of Youth and Sport says Muhammed Adamu, the Inspector General of Police (IGP),  has assured him of deep reforms and sanctioning of officers in the Nigerian Police Force.

The Minister disclosed this on Monday morning in a post on his official Twitter handle concerning the recent calls by Nigerians to the Federal Government to disband the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) over alleged misconducts of SARS operatives against members of the public.

“This morning I visited the IGP for further discussions on the activities of FSARS and the need to end the harassment, profiling, and dehumanization of our youth by some bad officers. IGP gave strong assurances on deep reforms, sanctioning of officers and protection of the youth,” Dare tweeted.

Following a massive social media outcry by Nigerians against the excesses of operatives of the SARS, the IGP on Sunday suspended the Special Tactical Squads (STS) from routine patrols.

“With this ban, the Police personnel are to desist from, “carrying out routine patrols, and other low-risk duties – stop and search duties, checkpoints, mounting of roadblocks, traffic checks, etc. with immediate effect,” the IGP said in a statement by Frank Mba, Force Public Relations Officer.

The IGP also activated a nationwide Monitoring Unit of the NPF to ensure enforcement of the suspension.

However, some Nigerians are unsatisfied with the suspension arguing that the FSARS had earlier been suspended in 2018 but the suspension was not implemented.

A former Nigerian Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili on Monday also called on Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari to desist from mere announcements and ‘act decisively’.

“Nigeria President who as C-in-C (Commander in Chief of the Armed forces) directly supervises the Nigeria Police, should stop merely announcing measures that failed to change the behaviour of SARS Rogue Police officers in the past.

“For once, act decisively to preserve the lives of your citizens. Serious solutions, please,” Ezekwesili tweeted.

In a video accompanied by the tweet, Ezekwesili further stated that ‘If so many voices are complaining about the same entity in the government, we must investigate thoroughly and in an independent way to find what the problems are so that we can solve them. That is good governance.’

By the time you cut the hands of 10, 20 people in this country, nobody will want to steal again- Smart Adeyemi

Vincent Ufuoma
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By the time you cut the hands of 10, 20 people in this country, nobody will want to steal again- Smart Adeyemi

SMART Adeyemi, the senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District in the National Assembly has proposed cutting off of hands for corrupt public officials to reduce the stealing of public funds in the country.

“What am I talking about? Let us confront corruption. Very soon I’m coming back to the chamber to bring bills on ICPC and EFCC. I want us to introduce Mosaic law, what you call Sharia law. By the time you cut the hands of 10, 20 people in this country, nobody will want to steal again,” Adeyemi said.

Adeyemi said this while speaking at a retreat for the Senate Press Corps in Lokoja, Kogi State, on Saturday.

“Like I said on the floor of the Senate; if we want this country to be great, we must look at some Acts of Parliament; moreso the ones that have to do with anti-graft agencies. I want my children to be happier than I am in Nigeria, and to do that there must be enough money to meet the needs and aspirations of the people.”

He further argued that corrupt public officials can also be sentenced to work on mechanised agriculture land of about 200 to 250 acres.

“By the time you say two, three people should face serious punishment; if you say that is too harsh let us have mechanised agriculture of about 200, 250 acres, once you are involved in corruption, you will spend your life farming for us.”

Speaking on the re-election of Governor Yahaya Bello, Adeyemi said it was due to the ability of the governor to bring people of various divides together and his developmental strides across the state.

“There are things within a state that determines who wins the election. Let me just give you one of the secrets why the governor won this election,” he said.

“When he came into office, he brought everyone together. He won again because he was able to put in some landmark achievements that others could not do. In my senatorial district, we have a rice mill; it is one of the biggest that you can think of.”

 

Presidency says calls for restructuring are unhelpful and unwarranted

Lukman ABOLADE
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Presidency says calls for restructuring are unhelpful and unwarranted

THE Presidency says the nation’s full attention is needed to deal with the security challenges facing it at a time of the COVID-19 health crisis, rather than focusing on calls for the restructuring of the country. 

Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity said in a statement that the Federal Government would not succumb to threats and take any decision out of pressure describing the calls for restructuring as unpatriotic outbursts that are both unhelpful and unwarranted.

“The Presidency responds to the recurring threats to the corporate existence of the country with factions giving specific timelines for the President to do one thing or another or else, in their language, ‘the nation will break up,”  Shehu said. statement.

“This is to warn that such unpatriotic outbursts are both unhelpful and unwarranted as this government will not succumb to threats and take any decision out of pressure at a time when the nation’s full attention is needed to deal with the security challenges facing it at a time of the COVID-19 health crisis.”

The presidential spokesperson further warned that the government under President Muhammadu Buhari would not take any decision against the interests of 200 million Nigerians, who are the President’s first responsibility under the constitution, out of fear or threats especially in this hour of a health crisis.”

He added that President Muhammadu Buhari would “continue to work with patriotic Nigerians” in line with the legislative process to finding solutions to “structural and other impediments to the growth and wellbeing of the nation and its people”.

Shehu’s statement follows calls by different groups and individuals that the government should carry out a restructuring of the country.

Enoch Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) had on Saturday advised the Federal Government to consider restructuring the current system of government to proffer possible solutions to challenges confronting the country.

“We all know that we must restructure. It is either we restructure or we break, you don’t have to be a prophet to know that one. That is certain – restructure or we break up. Now, we don’t want to break up, God forbid. In the restructuring, why don’t we have a Nigerian kind of democracy? At the federal level, why don’t we have a President and a Prime Minister? he said.

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