| The Guardian Newspaper | Monday, November 22, 2021 | Kogi Government Denies Ownership of N19.3b Returned to CBN, Gives EFCC 48 Hours To Retract Statement | Kogi State government has described as “mischievous, false and politically motivated” a statement by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that it returned N19.3 billion bailout funds allegedly “hidden” by the State, to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The government gave EFCC a 48-hour ultimatum to retract the statement posted on its Facebook account on 19th November or be prepared for court action. Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, who issued the ultimatum in Lagos on Sunday, 21st November, assured Kogi indigenes, Nigerians, investors and development partners that the funds, which EFCC claimed it returned to the CBN, did not belong to Kogi State. He stated that the whole saga was “a hatchet job conceived by politicians” and implemented by the EFCC to tarnish the rising political image of Governor Yahaya Bello, bring him to disrepute, and lower him in the estimation of right-thinking members of the society by portraying him as a corrupt governor/person. Fanwo further stated that these politicians had tried other anti-graft agencies without luck, but had, unfortunately, resorted to using a willing EFCC to discredit the Kogi government through manipulated claims. According to him, “Let it be known that the Kogi State government refutes every bit of these false allegations being peddled by the EFCC. The Kogi State government had disbursed its bailout loans for the purpose of which it was granted as of October 2019. There is, therefore, no ‘hidden bailout funds/loan’ belonging to Kogi State that is capable of being returned to the CBN or frozen by an order of court. The EFCC knows this. The fear of exposure of its lies in court and the attendant sanctions informed its decision to hurriedly withdraw the sham suit it filed in court.” | Kogi State Government, EFCC, CBN | https://guardian.ng/news/kogi-government-gives-efcc-48-hours-denies-ownership-of-n19-3b-returned-to-cbn/ |
| DailyTrust Online | Monday, November 22, 2021 | Fresh Crisis Hits Ogun Assembly Over ‘Forgery’, N50m Scandal | The Ogun State House of Assembly is enmeshed in a fresh crisis as former Deputy Speaker, Dare Kadiri, alleged that his signature was forged to withdraw the sum of N50 million from the Assembly’s bank account. In March 2021, the Assembly impeached Kadiri for allegedly demanding accountability and transparency in the finances of the Assembly. Shortly after his removal, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) launched an investigation into the Assembly’s finances following a petition allegedly written by the former Deputy Speaker. In what appeared to be a fresh twist, Kadiri on Sunday, 21st November alleged that his signature was forged to obtain about N50 million from the Assembly’s account. In an interview with newsmen, he stated that the Speaker should explain how his signature was forged to withdraw the money. According to him, the documents sighted by him when he was invited to the Lagos office of the EFCC showed that his signature was forged to withdraw millions of naira for foreign training and seminars he did not attend.
| Ogun State House of Assembly | https://dailytrust.com/fresh-crisis-hits-ogun-assembly-over-forgery-n50m-scandal |
| Punch Newspaper | Monday, November 22, 2021 | IPOB: Carry Out Your Normal Activities, Ohanaeze Tells Transporters, Others | The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, on Sunday, 21st November appealed to residents of the South-East and indeed Nigerians that have businesses to do in the zone to feel free to go about their normal businesses on Mondays, noting that the era of Monday sit-at-home was over. It also enjoined all the schools in the zone to commence their usual academic activities without any fear of molestation. A statement by Ohanaeze spokesman, Chief Alex Ogbonnia, made available to our correspondent in Enugu State, also appealed to transporters and traders that go to the South-East, and especially foreigners from Cameroons, to feel free to transact their businesses. The statement titled ‘No more sit at home’, stated that the leadership of the Indigenous People of Biafra had cancelled the Monday sit-at-home order they had earlier issued. It added that, “The President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Ambassador George Obiozor, uses this opportunity to appreciate the understanding and maturity exhibited by the IPOB during the Anambra State governorship election and the cancellation of the Monday sit-at-home. They have indeed scored two major points: First, the Igbo detractors and doomsayers were disappointed that the election was a resounding success. Second is that the IPOB can listen to appeal by the elders. It is very heartwarming that the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, traditional rulers, archbishops, governors, eminent persons, women groups, the political class, the academia, etc in Igbo land are united in the Release-Nnamdi-Kanu-Project. This has proved to the sceptics that the Igbo unity is incontrovertible and that they can also be mobilised within a very short time.” He added that despite diverse views and persuasions among the Igbo, the maturity in the Igbo republicanism had the rare capacity to unite for a common interest any time the need arose. | IPOB, Ohanaeze | https://punchng.com/carry-out-your-normal-activities-ohanaeze-tells-transporters-others/ |
| ThisDayLive Online | Monday, November 22, 2021 | Osinbajo Says New National Development Plan Will Accelerate Growth | The recently approved 2021 – 2025 National Development Plan (NDP) is expected to accelerate economic growth in Nigeria because of its focus on value addition as a major pivot to boost productivity in all sectors, Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has stated. Osinbajo stated this at the weekend, at the graduation ceremony of participants of the Senior Executive Course 43 (2021) of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) In Kuru, Jos. According to him, “If we are to inaugurate a new age of accelerated growth then we must adopt a new strategic direction and policy orientation. This is precisely what the Federal Government seeks to do through the National Development Plan 2021-2025, which was recently approved by the Federal Executive Council.” In the speech, the Vice President cited the emergence of Unicorns from Nigeria, observing that, “six of those companies started between 2016 in the middle of two recessions and the global health crisis.” A Unicorn is a company with a valuation equal to or greater than a billion United States dollars. He submitted that some of the successes recorded by those Unicorns- Nigerian start-ups owned by young men and women, can be attributed to providence and good policies. The Vice President also disclosed that, “in terms of strategic direction, the cornerstone of our strategy is boosting productivity by focusing on value addition as the guiding principle for all sectors, especially agriculture, manufacturing, solid minerals, digital services, tourism, hospitality and entertainment.” Osinbajo pointed out how the NDP aims to boost productivity in some of these key sectors such as agriculture and mining.
| Vice President Yemi Osibanjo, 2021 – 2025 National Development Plan (NDP) | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2021/11/22/osinbajo-upbeat-says-new-national-development-plan-will-accelerate-growth/ |
| ThisDayLive Online | Monday, November 22, 2021 | National Convention: APC Governors to Meet Buhari, Party Leaders | Governors elected on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), have decided to meet with President Muhammadu Buhari and other leaders of the party to resolve all the issues surrounding the pending National Convention of the party, believed to have been stalling other activities ahead of the 2023 general elections. The APC governors met last night behind closed doors at the Kebbi State Governor’s Lodge, in Asokoro, Abuja, the nation’s capital, and had no fewer than 20 governors in attendance. Those in attendance included governors of Kebbi, Kogi, Nasarawa, Katsina, Plateau, Ekiti, Jigawa, Kano, Kwara, Imo, Borno, Ebonyi, Lagos, Zamfara, Niger, Ogun and Cross River States. Kebbi State Governor, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, who addressed journalists after the close of the meeting, however, stated that the governors, during their deliberations, passed a vote of confidence in the party’s Caretaker Chairman and Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni, saying they approved of the congresses conducted by his committee and urged aggrieved members to seek redress through internal mechanisms. Apart from thanking other members of the Caretaker Committee for a good job so far, the governors and Bagudu recognised the outcome of the recent Anambra State governorship election, which produced the candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Professor Chukwuma Soludo, as victory for Nigeria. Bagidu further stated: “That an election took place in Anambra, I think Nigeria has won, and the President has made a statement about that and we are equally proud of our security agencies. The parties’ candidates in all elections have the pride of place to determine their views about the outcome. But we are proud that under the APC, an election that was hitherto thought to be impossible has taken place.” | All Progressives Congress (APC), Governors, National Convention | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2021/11/22/national-convention-apc-govs-to-meet-buhari-party-leaders/ |
| ThisDayLive Online | Monday, November 22, 2021 | Experts Call for Self Regulation of CSOs | Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) need to be self-regulated, experts have advised. The experts stated that it has become imperative to check unprofessional conducts and to boost the trust of all Nigerians in the practitioners within civil society. Leading the call is the Chairman of the National Technical committee on CSO self-regulatory Framework, Harry Udoh. Speaking in Abuja at the National Consultative Meeting on CSO Self-Regulation in Nigeria, Udoh stated that those managing CSOs in the country need to know that they should to be accountable to their donors and seen to be transparent by all. He stated thus: “You cannot lead the call for transparency and accountability if you are not seen to have same.” He added that against the misconception by those in government, that those operating CSOs are not patriotic, he argued that many of them are very patriotic and are even in the field because of their passion to see Nigeria attain greatness. He revealed that the meeting was designed to ensure accountability and transparency within civil society groups, stressing the need to develop frameworks that will change the wrong narrative about the organisations. On his part, the National Programme Manager of the European Union Agents for Citizen-Driven Transformation (ACT) programme, Damilola Babalola, stated that the meeting was called to support the strategic priority in strengthening the CSO process.
| CSO, Self Regulation | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2021/11/22/experts-call-for-self-regulation-of-csos/ |
| DailyTrust Online | Thursday, November 18, 2021 | Reps Committee Seeks Intervention Fund For Judiciary | Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Judiciary, Luke Onofiok, on Wednesday, Wednesday, 17th November, urged the Federal Government to approve intervention funds for the judiciary. He spoke when the management of the National Judicial Council appeared before the Committee for the 2022 budget defence session. He stated that this would enable the judiciary to meet its competing demands. He commended the government for raising the statutory allocation to the judiciary from N110 billion to N120 billion in the 2022 budget.Accoridng to Onofiok, “`We have intervention fund for sports. We have intervention funds for youths. We have had intervention funds for entertainment. I do not think it will be out of place for the Federal Government to have intervention funds for the Judiciary. We believe that this is the only way the judiciary can meet up with the competing demands facing the judiciary as we go on.’’ | House of Representatives Committee, Judiciary | https://dailytrust.com/reps-committee-seeks-intervention-fund-for-judiciary |
| DailyTrust Online | Thursday, November 18, 2021 | US Secretary Of State Visits Nigeria Thursday | The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, will visit Nigeria today, Thursday 18 November 2021 to meet President Muhammadu Buhari as part of his three-nation trips. He will also meet Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in the afternoon. Blinken is expected to sign aid agreements during the meeting with the Vice President. While in Kenya on Wednesday, 17th November, Blinken restated calls for an unconditional ceasefire in the Ethiopian conflict and appealed to Sudan’s military leaders to free prisoners taken in the coup last month and to return to the path of democracy, adding that some of the financial assistance frozen might be restored if civilian leadership returned. He pledged support for mediation efforts by former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, now the Africa Union’s High Representative for the Horn of Africa, saying there was still time for a ceasefire to succeed.
| US Secretary of State, Nigeria | https://dailytrust.com/us-secretary-of-state-visits-nigeria-Thursday |
| DailyTrust Online | Thursday, November 18, 2021 | Police Storm APC Secretariat As Aggrieved Members Move Against Buni | Heavily armed policemen on Wednesday, 17th November, took over the national secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abuja to foil the protest against the Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of the party, Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State. The policemen, who arrived at the party’s secretariat in their Toyota Hilux vans, quickly took positions at strategic locations. Daily Trust gathered from impeccable sources at the party’s headquarters that the armed policemen took over the premises sequel to information that some protesters were planning to storm the place. It was hinted that some party members from the southern part of the country planned to stage a protest against the chairman of the party. Secretary of the APC caretaker committee, Sen John Akpanudoedehe, stated that the policemen were deployed to forestall the breakdown of law and order. He told newsmen that the security operatives took over the area because there was a security report in that regard. Meanwhile, a chieftain of the party, Senator Kabiru Garba Marafa, has dismissed the threat by the Buni committee to expel him, describing it as an empty threat. He stated that the party should revert to the rule of law or face extinction in the nation’s political circle. Marafa, who represented Zamfara Central Senatorial District in the 8th National Assembly, had on Sunday, 14th November threatened to institute legal action against Buni over the violation of the party’s constitution in the conduct of its affairs. The Caretaker Committee had on Monday, 15th November warned Marafa to submit to party supremacy or be sanctioned. However, reacting to the threat, Marafa in a statement on Wednesday, said that he cannot be silenced by the threat of the Committee. | APC Secretariat | https://dailytrust.com/police-storm-apc-secretariat-as-aggrieved-members-move-against-buni |
| DailyTrust Online | Thursday, November 18, 2021 | NILDS DG Warns Politicians Against Raising Tension During Polls | The National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS, on Wednesday, 17th November, warned Nigerian politicians to stop taking citizens for granted by creating tension during elections, saying such attitude is an invitation to a fresh military era. The Director-General of NILDS, Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, stated this in Abuja during an interview with journalists on the sideline of a policy dialogue on election security and inclusive citizens’ participation in Nigeria. According to him, “Nobody should be under the illusion that the era of the military is over. What is happening in Africa is a worrisome development. In Sudan, Mali, Chad and others, it is a worrisome development and it could snowball to us in this country. So, if we don’t want it – I wouldn’t want it, we don’t pray for it – it is a function of our attitude to the democratic process and electoral issues. The point I am making is this, we, as Nigerian politicians, the political class in this country, must be worried about these situations.” Earlier, the programme coordinator of CLEEN Foundation, Mrs Ruth Olofin, faulted how several political parties structured their activities, saying it was deliberate to exclude women.
| National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies | https://dailytrust.com/nilds-dg-warns-politicians-against-raising-tension-during-polls |
| DailyTrust Online | Thursday, November 18, 2021 | US Removes Nigeria From Religious Violators’ List | The United States has removed Nigeria from the list of countries “engaging in violation of religious freedom”. US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, made this known in a statement on Wednesday, 17th November. Blinken made the announcement ahead of his visit to Nigeria. He added that the American government had blacklisted Russia, China and eight others as Countries of “Particular Concern for having engaged in or tolerated ‘systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom.” He stated that, “The United States will not waiver in its commitment to advocate for freedom of religion or belief for all and in every country. In far too many places around the world, we continue to see governments harass, arrest, threaten, jail, and kill individuals simply for seeking to live their lives in accordance with their beliefs. This Administration is committed to supporting every individual’s right to freedom of religion or belief, including by confronting and combating violators and abusers of this human right." Each year the Secretary of State has the responsibility to identify governments and non-state actors, who, because of their religious freedom violations, merit designation under the International Religious Freedom Act. In December 2020, the US had listed Nigeria among countries blacklisted for violating religious freedom.
| Nigeria, United States, Religious Violators’ List | https://dailytrust.com/just-in-us-removes-nigeria-from-religious-violators-list |
| ThisDayLive Online | Monday, November 15, 2021 | Anambra Indigenes, Residents Task Soludo on Infrastructure Development, Others | Anambra indigenes and residents have tasked the governor-elect, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo on the need to wipe away the tears of the people of the state and also shame critics when he assumes office. This is just as foremost business man and oil mogul, Prince Arthur Eze has called for support from the people of the state for the governor-elect. Most indigenes who are still basking in the euphoria of Soludo’s victory described him as a competent hand to handle the state’s compass. A human rights lawyer, Barr Anthony Agbasiere in an open letter to Soludo, which was made available to THISDAY, tasked him on the need to address the needs of the people, from infrastructure, employment, job provision, abolition of multiple taxation on poor traders and many more. He said: “The divine sojourn has just begun. An era unfolds the brand new before us, one which has been entrusted to you to steer the ship of its affairs to our collective desired destination. “Our minds are at peace and our hopes stand high because once again the compass that directs our sail is held by the chosen competent captain. | Anambra State Goverorship Election, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2021/11/15/anambra-indigenes-residents-task-soludo-on-infrastructure-development-others/ |
| ThisDayLive Online | Monday, November 15, 2021 | INEC: Monitoring Direct Primaries Has Financial, Security Implications | The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has explained that the monitoring of the direct primaries of the 18 registered political parties in the country has financial and security implications, stating that it will require about 17,618 officials to supervise only the primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in one day. The commission further explained that monitoring the direct primaries of the 18 political parties registered so far would involve much staff. In the amended Electoral Bill awaiting assent by President Muhammadu Buhari, the National Assembly has restricted political parties to the use of direct primaries to elect candidates for elections. However, the state governors, who are opposed to direct primaries, expressed fear over the logistical problems it would create for the commission. Speaking to THISDAY last night, INEC’s National Commissioner in charge of Voter Education and Information, Mr. Festus Okoye, acknowledged that the monitoring of the direct primaries of the 18 registered political parties has security and financial implications. According to him, “If a political party decides to organise its primaries at the Registration Area (Ward) level, the commission must deploy monitors to the 8,809 Registration Areas in the country. If the party decides to organise its presidential, governorship, National Assembly, and state assembly primaries at different times and on different days, it means that the commission must deploy four times to monitor the primaries of the party. If a political party decides to organise its primaries at the local government level, it means that the commission must deploy monitors to the 774 local government areas of the country.” Despite the huge logistics challenges, Okoye stated that the commission would surely work out the modalities for the monitoring of the primaries as soon as the law is assented to.
| INEC, Direct Primaries | https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2021/11/14/inec-monitoring-direct-primaries-has-financial-security-implications/ |
| DailyTrust Online | Monday, November 15, 2021 | Poverty: Senate Considers Establishment Of Investment Platforms For LGAs | Senate Committee on States and Local Government Administration and some critical stakeholders in the private sector are proposing the establishment of investment basket aimed at reducing poverty especially at the local government areas. The Chairman of the committee, Senator Olalekan Mustapha, disclosed this at the local government economic summit organised by the Senate Committee in collaboration with Civi-Pact in Abuja, with the theme, “Local Government System Resilience for Sustainable Development”. He expressed worry over the increasing poverty index in the country, lamenting that the development was putting great pressure on the political actors at the local levels. Mustapha stated that the summit was conceived to foster a common ground for local government stakcholders on critical political economic issues affecting the country’s national life. He stated that, “The challenges of poverty in Nigeria needs an objective and collective approach,” adding that in the globalised world of today, local governments were fundamentally empowered to attend to the basic needs of people be it economical, social and political. According to him, “Our experiences of Nigeria local government system so far show that despite the constitutional provisions; the local government system has inherent weaknesses in terms of provisions of basic needs for her people or rather in terms of creating enabling environment for socio-economic life of rural Nigerian to thrive.” | Senate, Local Government | https://dailytrust.com/poverty-senate-considers-establishment-of-investment-platforms-for-lgas |
| Punch Newspaper | Monday, November 15, 2021 | Ekiti 2022: Olujimi, Eight Other Women Join Governorship Race | Senator Biodun Olujimi, representing Ekiti South Senatorial District in the Senate, on Sunday, 14th November in Ado-Ekiti indicated her interest to contest the state Governorship election, slated for June 18, 2022. Olujimi who disclosed her decision to newsmen in a telephone conversation in Ado-Ekiti, is contesting under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party. The News Agency of Nigeria gathered that Olujimi and eight other women aspirants are among the 17 people who have so far obtained nomination forms and had been screened by the PDP at the National Secretariat in Abuja. Apart from Olujimi, Mrs Olumide Olubunmi from Ido/Osi Council Areas of the state, Mrs Arogundade Olutoyin from Ekiti East Local Government, and Princess Adekemi Adewunmi from Efon Local Government Area, Mrs Cecillia Ebiesuwa (Emure council), Mrs Adewumi Adesoye (Ado), Mrs Titilayo Owolabi Akerele (Ikole), Mrs Modupe Asaolu (Ekiti South West) and Mrs Deborah Alo (Ido/Osi), have indicated an interest in the race. Olujimi stated that her decision to join the race was borne out of the desire to salvage the state from the woods through selfless service to the people, irrespective of their social status. | Ekiti State Governorship Election 2022 | https://punchng.com/ekiti-2022-sen-olujimi-8-other-women-join-race/ |
| Punch Newspaper | Monday, November 15, 2021 | Direct Primary: Buhari will be Guided by Financial, Security Factors, says Malami | The Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), stated that the President, Muhammadu Buhari, will consider the security and financial implications of direct primaries before signing the Electoral Act amendment bill into law. Malami stated this on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’ programme on Sunday, 14th November which was monitored by our correspondent. The Indepedent National Electoral Commission had stated recently that the direct primary mode would gulp more public funds while a tally by The PUNCH showed that the cost of the 2023 elections could be pushed beyond N350bn if the direct primary method is adopted. Most governors have rejected the direct mode of primary while the National Assembly insists that it be signed into law. Several political parties have also kicked against the direct primary, stating that it is undemocratic. The PUNCH had reported last week that the All Progressives Congress governors had begun lobbying Malami with a view to convincing him to advise the President not to sign the bill. While refusing to give an opinion on the matter, Malami stated that the President would be guided by the need for justice, legal issues, the security situation in the country and the cost. | Direct Primary, Attorney-General of the Federation | https://punchng.com/direct-primary-buhari-will-be-guided-by-financial-security-factors-says-malami/ |
| DailyTrust Online | Monday, November 15, 2021 | Controversy Over Direct Primaries Must Not Scuttle Electoral Bill – Saraki | A former Senate President, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has warned that the debate on the propriety or otherwise generated by the decision of the National Assembly to okay direct primary for political parties must not be allowed to scuttle the passage of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill. Saraki spoke with newsmen on Sunday, 14th November at the sideline of the 9th memoral prayer for his late father, Dr Olusola Saraki, held at the family’s Ilofa road residence, GRA, Ilorin. He asked President Muhammadu Buhari to assent to the Bill for Nigerians to benefit from its other parts. According to him, “Direct primary is best for political parties if properly done. But I am sure Nigerians are not prepared for it because there is still a lot of work to be done. But now the National Assembly has passed it; we should make the best out of the situation rather than allowing the controversy of one item to throw away the other good parts of the bill.” | Electoral Bill, Bukola Saraki | https://dailytrust.com/controversy-over-direct-primaries-must-not-scuttle-electoral-bill-saraki |
| DailyTrust Online | Monday, November 8, 2021 | INEC Declares Anambra Governorship Election Inconclusive, Schedules Supplementary Election in Ihiala | The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared the Anambra Governorship Election inconclusive. Professor Florence Obi, Returning Officer of the election, made the declaration at INEC head office in Awka, Anambra capital, in the wee hours of Monday, 8th November. She stated that the election could not end on first ballot because there was no voting in Ihiala Local Government Area of the State. Justifying her action with the provisions of the Electoral Act, Obi stated that a supplementary election will hold in Ihiala on Tuesday, 9th November. She stated thus: “I, Prof. Florence Obi, with the power vested on me as the Returning Officer, hereby suspend the collation and announcement of any result until elections are conducted in 320 polling units in Ihiala Local Government. The supplementary election will take place on Tuesday, 9th November.” Announcing the votes of all the candidates, Obi stated that Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Alliance (APGA) polled a total of 103,946 votes, followed by Valentine Ozigbo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who had 51,322 votes, while Senator Andy Uba of the All Progressives Congress (APC) came a distant third with 42,942 votes. There were a total of 246,638 registered voters and 241,090 accredited voters in the election so far. The total valid votes stands at 229,521 while rejected votes are 7,841. A total of 237,362 votes were cast in the election.
| INEC, Anambra Governorship Election | https://dailytrust.com/breaking-inec-declares-anambra-governorship-election-inconclusive |
| Punch Newspaper | Monday, November 8, 2021 | INEC Says N100bn Inadequate for 2023 Polls, Plans Supplementary Budget | Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu, stated on Friday, 5th November 2021, that the N100bn approved for his agency to conduct the 2023 general elections was grossly inadequate. He, however, stated that the electoral umpire was already discussing the possibility of a supplementary budget for the elections. Yakubu spoke while defending the N140bn INEC 2022 budget before the joint Senate and House of Representatives Committees on INEC and Electoral Matters in Abuja. The committees had approved N100bn for the conduct of the 2023 polls, while N40bn was the 2022 budget of the agency. Nevertheless, Yakubu stated that since N189bn was appropriated for the 2019 general elections, INEC would consider the N100bn as the first tranche. He stated that, “The N100bn is the first tranche for the 2023 general elections while N40bn is our normal budget for 2022. The sum of N189bn was appropriated for the 2019 general elections. So, it cannot be N100bn only for 2023." He explained that, "We would need more money because we’ve expanded our polling units and we are introducing new technology for elections among many other new innovations. The number of registered voters will increase beyond the 84 million for the 2019 general elections. He also added that INEc would start early preparations by procuring sensitive materials for the elections.
| INEC, 2022 Budget Defence, 2023 general elections | https://punchng.com/inec-says-n100bn-inadequate-for-2023-polls-plans-supplementary-budget/ |
| Punch Newspaper | Monday, November 8, 2021 | Imo House of Assembly Lawmakers Remove Speaker | There was mild drama at the Imo State House of Assembly on Monday, 8th November after six lawmakers led by the recently impeached Deputy Speaker, Amara Iwuanyanwu, invaded the house and purportedly impeached the Speaker of the House, Paul Emeziem.The lawmakers immediately elected a ranking member, Kennedy Ibeh, as the new Speaker. Ibeh, who represents Obowo State Constituency, was first elected into the parliament in 2015 and was re-elected in 2019. He was one of the six lawmakers, Emeziem controversially suspended on July 8 for “unparliamentary conduct.” Before Emeziem was removed, the complex was barricaded, barring Assembly staff, lawmakers and their aides from gaining access. The session which did not last more than 15 minutes came to an end immediately Ibeh assumed office as the new helmsman of the parliament. Emeziem, who got wind of his removal, rushed to the complex but was barred from gaining access. Emeziem, however, told our correspondent that he had not been removed. He statetd that the news of his impeachment was ”childish, null and void.” He also added that, “Amara Iwuanyanwu can’t convene a plenary because he was properly impeached. If there should be any plenary, I am the one empowered by the law to call for it. Today is not our plenary day." | Imo State House of Assembly, Impeachment | https://punchng.com/breaking-drama-as-six-imo-lawmakers-remove-speaker/ |
| Punch Newspaper | Monday, November 8, 2021 | Anambra Election: Collation Officer Alleges Threat to Life and Duress
| The Returning Officer of the Orumba North Local Government Area, Dr Michael Otu, on Sunday, 7th November, stated that he nearly lost his life when thugs attacked the Local Government collation centre during the Anambra Governorship Election held on Saturday, 6th November 2021. Speaking at the State Collation Centre at the INEC office in Awka, he stated that he was teargassed when trouble ensued. He narrated that the scoresheets were mutilated and he was made to sign a fake result under duress. According to him, “I am lucky to be alive. I was teargassed and as a BP patient, I nearly lost my life. I was forced to sign a result which wasn’t collated by me. The Polling Officer, Comfort Omoroge, who worked with me, compromised.” In her reaction, Omoroge stated that Otu was confused and did not know the difference between casting of vote and collation of results. | Anambra State Governorship Election, Orumba North, Collation Officer | https://punchng.com/anambra-election-i-nearly-got-killed-signed-result-under-duress-returning-officer/ |
| The Guardian Newspaper | Monday, November 8, 2021 | Lagos Develops Mass COVID-19 Vaccination Strategy to Reduce Spread, Prevent Re-Emergence | Lagos State Government has developed a robust COVID-19 vaccination strategy leveraging on both the strengths of the public and private sectors of the healthcare system to mitigate the impact of a fourth wave in Lagos. The strategy is also aimed at reducing the impact of the spread of the COVID-19 virus and prevent its re-emergence. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, alongside the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi and the Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Faisal Shuaib, inaugurated the strategy at a side event of the seventh African Conference on One Health and Biosecurity, which ended at the weekend in Lagos. The governor stated that the strategy was aimed at targeting full vaccination of four million Lagos residents before the end of December 2021. According to him, once it is achieved, it would bring the State closer to the mandate to vaccinate 30 per cent of its population within one year, which started in August of 2021. Abayomi, in a statement, on Sunday, 7th November, stated that the State government, through the Primary Health Care Board, does not have sufficient capacity to ramp up vaccination to a massive level in such a short time, hence the need to include the private sector. He stated that with the approach, they intend to ramp up vaccination strategy using the existing public facilities and some private facilities. According to him, it is imperative to emphasise that the vaccines administered in public facilities are free and would remain free to the public as they were donated to Lagos State by the Federal Government and donor partners. | Lagos State, COVID-19 Vaccination | https://guardian.ng/news/lagos-develops-mass-covid-19-vaccination-strategy-to-reduce-spread-prevent-re-emergence/ |
