INEC Budgets ₦305 billlion for 2023 elections
Mahmood Yakubu, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), says the electoral body equires N305 billion to conduct the 2023 general elections.
Mr Yakubu disclosed this during a meeting with the Senate Committee on Appropriation at the National Assembly on Monday.
“The commission made a submission through the executive being part of the executive body. We made a submission for N305 billion for the 2023 general elections in a very comprehensive 22-page document with 260 budget lines,” Mr Yakubu said.
He said the amount required will enable INEC prepare for the election and purchase all the election materials needed and also cover several by-elections across the country. In his address, Mr Yakubu noted that so far the sum of N140 billion had been made available to the electoral body.
Presidency Condemns PDP, Backs Buhari’s Attendance At Akande’s Book Launch
The Presidency on Monday condemned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over its attack on President Muhammadu Buhari for attending the book launch of the interim chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Bisi Akande, in Lagos
PDP had accused President Buhari of insensitivity to the plight of the people by attending Akande’s book launch in Lagos on a day bandits attacked and killed Nigerians in some states of the North.
While reacting to the allegation, the Presidency in a statement issued by Garba Shehu, a Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, explained the reason his Principal was in Lagos.
Shehu said, the President was in Lagos on the 9th December to launch a made-in-Nigeria naval defence ship, NNS Oji, and other vital military assets that improve the country’s capabilities to fight increased piracy in the Gulf of Guinea.
The statement further said that President Buhari attended Akande’s book launch, ‘My Participation’ because of the crucial role he has played in keeping democratic opposition to military rule alive, and in recognition of his critical contribution in the development and ultimate unity of the opposition that created the APC.
Thugs Attack OAU Vice-Chancellor, Others In Ife Over Land Dispute
The Vice-Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Professor Eyitayo Ogunbodede on Monday escaped being lynched by some thugs in Ife community, who launched a violent attack on him and members of his entourage.
One of the security men of the institution was macheted by the irate thugs who shot sporadically into the air to scare the university community members.
Reacting to the development, the vice-chancellor of the institution, Professor Ogunbodede, condemned the development he described as inhuman.
He, however, maintained that the institution would not cede its land to the community. But he said the institution would always ensure that peace reigns between the university and members of the community.
NNPC Quashes Recruitment, Survey Rumors
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) has quashed reports that it is recruiting new staff and conducting a survey tagged “Anniversary Event”.
The Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, NNPC, Garba Muhammad, made the clarification in a statement on Monday.
He said, “Our attention has been drawn to a fake competition trending online which claims to celebrate its so-called “Anniversary Event”. We have nothing to do with the purported anniversary event contest.
“NNPC hereby reiterates that whenever it decides to conduct a recruitment exercise or send out information to the public, it will do so through authentic public communication channels, particularly the NNPC’s website”, he said.
Former NUJ President Bonnie Iwuoha Is Dead
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has lost one of its comrades, Bonnie Iwuoha.
Iwuoha, a former National President of NUJ and former Commissioner for Information in Abia State, died on Monday evening in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, family sources said.
Comrade Iwuoha held several leadership positions in and outside the media. Until his death, he was a Special Adviser, Media to the Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu.
His last major media engagement was as Chairman, Screening and Election Committee of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) at the 40th Biennial Convention of the guild held in Kano in June this year.
Nigeria Hits Fourth Wave Of COVID-19 – NCDC
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), says the country is currently experiencing its fourth wave of the COVID pandemic.
Ifedayo Adetifa, director-general of the NCDC, who announced the development in a statement on Monday, advised Nigerians to take caution during the Yuletide season.
The statement read, “Nigeria has recorded a 500% increase in the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases over the past two weeks across the country caused by the Delta and Omicron variants. As of 19th December 2021, a total of 223,887 cases and 2985 deaths have been recorded in Nigeria across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. The country is now in a fourth COVID-19 wave.”
NCDC urge Nigerians to take all precautions necessary to ensure that we and our loved ones live to celebrate many more events and festivities.
Buhari Declines Assent To Electoral Amendment Bill
President Muhammadu Buhari has declined his assent to the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2021.
In a letter to the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, Buhari explains reasons he withholds assent to the bill. The President pointed out the high cost of conducting direct primaries.
He also cited heightened insecurity as another reason, saying that it would be too risky to monitor direct primary elections, which may result in violation of people’s rights.
According to the President, small political parties that lack capacity and structure would be marginally denied which he said, he has taken his time to study the bill and wasn’t in the interest of the country. The president said that it would be better to allow each political party to determine its mode of selecting candidates for election.
FG Addresses Assault On Nigerian Travelers At Togo Airport
The Director-General, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Musa Nuhu, has explained why Nigerian passengers were manhandled by Asky Airline officials at Lome Airport, Togo.
A video of airline officials handcuffing and generally manhandling Nigerian passengers went viral, generating reactions. According to Captain Nuhu, the Nigerians entered restricted areas.
Speaking to newsmen on Monday in Lagos, Captain Nuhu said: “The security agencies in Togo maltreated some of the Nigerian travellers, who were stranded in that country.
“But before then, they alleged that the travellers entered the restricted areas at the airport. The airline has written us a letter, apologising to us that it will not happen again.
Police Nabs Kidnappers Terrifying Ijebu-Ode
Police in Ogun State have nabbed two members of a kidnap syndicate terrifying Ijebu-Ode and its environment.
The suspects: Samuel Oke Abiodun 46 and Denis Blessing, 28, were arrested following a series of Kidnap cases in Ijebu-Ode.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi confirmed this to newsmen in a statement in Abeokuta, the state capital
Oyeyemi said that on interrogation, the two suspects confessed to having participated in four different kidnap operations in Ijebu-Ode. He also assured the good people of Ogun State of police readiness to fish out any criminal hibernating within the State.
DSS Describes El-Zakzaky’s Allegations as false
The Department of State Security Services (DSS) has denied allegation made by leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, that the Service diverted N4million meant for feeding while in detention.
El-Zakzaky had in an interview with a national daily alleged that he and his wife, fed themselves during their five-year incarceration at a DSS facility.
But DSS spokesperson, Dr Peter Afunanya, described the allegation as falsehood.
In his words he said: “This is a complete falsehood spread by someone desirous of maligning a noble organisation like the DSS. The Service is completely guided by the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) which governs its suspect handling rules. Those who have issues before the court should face their cases and stop blaming the DSS. We respect the laws and will always be governed by the principles of rule of law.”
