The Chief of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari has charged Directorate cadre officers in public service to lead by example, conduct themselves well and discharge their duties.
Speaking today, January 25 at the opening of a two – day workshop with the theme: Code of Ethics and a Practical Guide on how to Complete an Asset Declaration Form, organised by the State House management in conjunction with the Code of Conduct Bureau at the State House Auditorium, Professor Gambari asked them to serve diligently in ways that would enhance the work of their superiors in the Public Service.
“I want to say a few words because of the importance of the subject matter of the workshop, the Code of Conduct in the Public Service and some elements of it especially, assets declaration.
“Mr President attaches great importance to probity in the Public Service. In the previous administration as Head of the Military Government between 1984 and 1985, of which I was privileged to be one of his ministers, the emphasis was on diagnosing some of the ills of Nigerian society and he identified indiscipline as one of those ills. And indiscipline in the Public Service is even more dangerous for the stability and development of any country.
“With that antecedent, he decided he would return to democratic rule and run for President of this country because of his passion to address some of the root causes of our problem as a nation.
“He contested four times, 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2015 until he was elected in 2015 and re-elected in 2019. Why I am using this emphasis is because of his consistency in the diagnosis of the biggest problems drawing us back as a nation and preventing us from realizing our true potentials as indiscipline and corruption. He therefore made anti-corruption one of the three major pillars of his message to Nigerians.
“Those challenges are; addressing the insecurity of our nation, growing the economy and the anti-corruption fight. Of all these three pillars, the root of success is really successfully addressing the issue of corruption in the private as well as the public sectors and reinstating commitments to transparency, and accountability in the public service.”
He explained that the President’s commitment earned him recognition by former President Barack Obama and the title of Anti-Corruption Champion in Africa by the African Union.
“The reason why I am going into these details is to show you leadership by example and now that you are directors, you will play a very pivotal role in the Public Service of this country.
“Your personal commitment to transparency, equity and integrity is very pivotal to the health of the public service.”
He urged them to use all they learn at the workshop to “help this administration, this President to really achieve one of the principal goals of his administration.”
The Permanent Secretary of the State House, Tijjani Umar, in his remarks said that as Public servants, “whatever it is that we do on a day to day basis, in our offices, on those small desks will all add up and contribute to either we are transparent and accountable or not.
“We have tried to establish an administration that has tried the very best to establish transparency and accountability in doing things here.”
He observed that the legacy of the nation’s founding fathers was being eroded by indiscipline.
“I think the very base of public service has been watered down now. Transparency and accountability is everything. Our forebears who established the tradition of the service have handed over to us service in the public interest and lead with personal examples of utmost openness and transparency and it was public knowledge that they left no assets amassed in the course of their public life.
“The only assets you will leave that is important is that of character, because character is everything. Therefore, we must imbibe honesty, transparency and serving the country in an altruistic manner for the sake of the public and for the sake of God,” he said.
The representative of the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Bureau, Mr Ibrahim Musa, reiterated the importance of completing the Assets Declaration Form for every public officer, saying that the organisation is a creation of the Nigerian constitution and the body would put the participants through its elements during the workshop in order not to run foul of the law.
The Presidency has expressed surprise that the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has allowed workers’ salaries and pensioners’ pay to continue to accumulate despite that he benefited from the over one Trillion naira which the Federal Government advanced to States to clear arrears of salaries and pensions.
Senior Special Assistant to Present Muhammadu Buhari on media and publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, in a statement today, January 25, said that at various times, the President had lent money to the states in excess of N1.682 trillion and that Governor Ortom’s state did not miss out on all occasions.
The bailout loans, according to Garba Shehu were the salary bailout, Excess Crude Loan and Budget Support loan, each repayable in 20 years.
“Lagos for instance didn’t collect any of the loans. A few other states declined to take one or two. Mr Ortom, an office holder who collected on all occasions, currently holds the country’s longest record of unpaid salaries and pensions and has no reason, absolutely no reason, to blame President Buhari for the mess in which he put his state and its workers.”
Garba Shehu, who reacted to Governor Ortom’s attack on President Buhari over none payment of workers and pensioners in his state, wondered why the President who inherited a lot of financial problems but still able to pay federal workers as and when due would be part of the fraud about none payment of Benue States workers.
According to Garba Shehu, President Buhari inherited unpaid salaries and pension arrears, adding: “this is a President who has not failed to pay the salary of those working for the federal government and declared the failure of states to do so “a national disaster.”
He said that instead of Governor Ortom to accept that he is “a national disaster” and find a way to raise the funds to pay the workers, he is blaming the President.
“Having first come claiming that his predecessors created the arrears, it was his business to prove that he was better by paying. Instead of doing that, he joined them!
“And while he runs up even further salary and pension debts on top of those he was bequeathed, instead of respecting the voters who elected him to office, he publicly attacks them in unprintable words and has raised his own thuggish militia to harass and violate them.
“The Governor now claims the voters wish to be “rescued by the PDP” and “regret voting for Buhari.
“The voters, of course, will not be asked to vote for the President again because – as a leader – President Buhari and the All Progressives Congress, APC respect term limits and the constitution, and will stand down next year at the end of his second democratically elected mandate. “It seems unlikely, however, that any voter would seriously consider it possible to be “rescued” by a party that would today, allow a politician such as Governor Ortom in its ranks.
“What is certain, however, is that Nigeria has had enough of failed politicians who blame others as a diversion for their inability to improve citizens’ lives.”
Former Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara has accused the Bauchi States Governor, Bala Mohammed over his suspension, by the Bauchi Emirate, as Jakadan Bauchi, a traditional title.
Reacting to the suspension, Dogara said that suspension of traditional titles of political opponents at the behest of the Governor has become routine now.
“Before mine came, our father, the Wazirin Bauchi, had been suspended. Likewise, my comrade in the APC, the Wakilin Birni, had also been suspended.
The Emir of Misau was also suspended by the Governor. The question is who is next?
“This has become the brand of infantile politics of the kleptocracy in Bauchi State. We are not only witnessing the brazen decimation of our State resources, of which hard evidence abounds, but our revered traditional Institutions and culture.”
Read the full text of Dogara’s statement, titled: “My Take On My Purported Suspension As Jakadan Bauchi.”
Yesterday, January 24, 2022, the Bauchi Emirate Council purportedly announced my suspension as Jakadan Bauchi. As of today, I am yet to be served with any letter of suspension and more tenuously, I was never informed that there was an allegation of wrong doing against me pending before the Emirate Council.
Ordinarily, I wouldn’t join issues with the Emirate Council because of the respect I have for both His Royal Highness and the Emirate Council. But because there is a ludicrous and legally inchoate criminal complaint filed against me and others by the Governor of Bauchi State and his money bag lackey who are at the centre of it all, I have decided to state my own side of the story as several well wishers and even the press have inundated me with request to respond to events of yesterday so that I am not convicted in the court of public opinion.
Firstly, on close examination, I noticed that the letter of suspension as seen on social media is not contained in the real letter head of Bauchi Emirate Council. That speaks volumes. More so, the reason for the suspension, if true, was that my “name was mentioned,” which clearly is hearsay. Bauchi Emirate is one of the oldest in the country and I doubt they would take a decision based on hearsay, especially when I am available and can be invited to appear before the Emirate council to face any allegations of wrongdoing against me. This, if true, is no doubt a violation of my constitutionally guaranteed right to fair hearing. It is additionally alleged in the letter under reference that I didn’t sympathise with the two Emirs over the unfortunate incident involving them, which is totally untrue. I therefore reproduce below the message I sent to the two Emirs in the aftermath of the incident for all to see:
“Allah ya taimaki mai Martaba.
I wish to write and extend my sympathies to you over the unfortunate incident involving your entourage while making your way from Bauchi to Bogoro earlier today. It is a huge embarrassment to all of us in my Constituency and the entire State which I totally condemn and disavow.
It is worth noting that I would have loved to personally visit to extend my apologies on behalf of my constituents but I know that such a visit would be misconstrued as was the case in the past when the gates of some palaces were shut anytime I visited as Speaker.
It is pointless to emphasise that the incident was totally avoidable as I had already requested the security agencies to obtain security guarantees from the organisers of the event failing which they should advise them to postpone the event in the interest of peace. It was therefore mindless in the first place, for anyone to have encouraged you to put yourself in harms way, especially when it was obvious that security breach was more probable than likely granted the tension generated by the recklessness of those who were supposed to show leadership.”
This message is sent through a proxy for obvious reasons.
“Allah ya ja zamanin Mai Martaba cikin koshin lafiya da arziki.”
Thankfully, I have witnesses that this message were delivered and acknowledged.
It was also said in the letter under reference that I did not show remorse over the incident. As we all know, remorse comes as a consequence of guilt. The Emirate council cannot convict me over hearsay, without investigation and without inviting me to face any allegations against me. I maintain a clear conscience before God that I have nothing to do with any mayhem in Zaar land, not least the incident involving the two Emirs as I had no inkling whatsoever that they would be attending an event that was already marred by crisis before it began.
I make bold to say, without any equivocation, that I did not know the Emirs have been invited to attend the event and even if invited, that they would indeed attend because none of the two Emirs is accustomed to attending any such event in Zaar land. Therefore, how could I have been responsible for any incident involving them? Those who should show remorse are those who insisted on going on with the event and unconstitutionally flooded the area with soldiers whose actions led to the breakdown of law and order in the area.
Even if it turns out to be true that the Emirate council did what they must do, it would be no surprise to keen watchers of events in Bauchi State. I am aware that both His Royal Highness and members of the Council have been under tremendous pressure from the Bauchi State Government to withdraw the traditional title conferred on me for quite some time now. It is all part of a smear campaign to portray me as insensitive and convict me in the court of public opinion for the political gains of some desperate characters.
The phrase; “Goje uban Kaura” torments the Governor and rents his sleep. Since I dropped like a bag of weed, in order to get at me, he procured the services of a money bag lackey in Zaar land who is also a victim of the same delusions of grandeur about destroying my political career as if they, not God, made me who I am. It’s a pity that they have failed to learn the hard lessons from others who have tried doing so before them. It is more tragic for them to imagine that they cannot see what others before them saw by doing what they did. Is there any wise person out there who believes that he can unmake what God has made?
For their sadistic entertainment, the Governor had before now illegally revoked two titles to my land just as he did to my colleague and namesake, Hon. Yakubu Shehu Abdullahi and a former Governor of the State who also doubles as his mentor and benefactor. Suspension of traditional titles of political opponents at the behest of the Governor has become routine now. Before mine came, our father, the Wazirin Bauchi, had been suspended. Likewise, my comrade in the APC, the Wakilin Birni, had been also been suspended. The Emir of Misau was also suspended by the Governor. The question is who is next?
This has become the brand of infantile politics of the kleptocracy in Bauchi State. We are not only witnessing the brazen decimation of our State resources, of which hard evidence abounds, but our revered traditional Institutions and culture.
Thankfully, for any Pharaoh there would be a Moses and I am happy to be one of the Moses in Bauchi who will content with this Pharaoh until the reproach that has become our lot is lifted. This mission cannot be deterred or delayed by all the shenanigans of this modern Pharaoh and all his puppets. Therefore, I rejoiceth as a strong man to run this race. We must not only take back our state from these maniacs but also our traditional institutions so that our people may run to them to obtain justice in times of need as was always the case.
In respect of the event in question, for two solid days leading to the event, there were demonstrations in Tafawa Balewa town. On the eve of the event, women came out in their numbers in exercise of their constitutional rights to peacefully protest against the hosting of the event but soldiers were unconstitutionally deployed to beat up and maim the women. I am sure the Commander- in -Chief who has the prerogatives under the Constitution did not order the deployment of soldiers into Tafawa Balewa.
The actions of the illegally and unconstitutionally deployed soldiers turned the peaceful protest violent on the eve of the event. The situation was not the same when soldiers had not been unconstitutionally deployed in the area as the protest then was very peaceful. Those soldiers were procured by the State Governor and his said money bag lackey who must bear the full responsibility for the break down of law and order in the area.
As a leader and elected member representing the area in the National Assembly, I had cleared my conscience by fulfilling my constitutional duty when I alerted security agencies of the undercurrents that may lead to breakdown of law and order if the event is allowed to go on without some guarantees from the organisers of the event that it would proceed peacefully. But since the State Governor and a money bag were the organisers, the spirit of mammon was let loosed, which blinded every operator.
Otherwise how could anyone have ignored the intelligence freely given by someone who has represented the area for about a decade and half? Not only that, they still ignored all the red flags of pre-event protests event after violence had ensued. How can any reasonable person turn around to put the blame of the direct consequences of the unconstitutional actions of the State Governor and a money bag who went to war with their own people in order to host an event; if not politics?
No leader anywhere could have done what they did, not least in a democracy whose culture is consensus and compromise which was what I called for but which regrettably, all of them crudely ignored. The million Naira question is between me who alerted the security agencies of the threats posed by the event and those who ignored all the red flags, who showed poor judgment and pathetic leadership?
I am happy to confront anyone in court over the rubbish filed against me and my brothers as criminal complaint. As a lawyer, I am yet to see a criminal complaint filed against anyone without the proof of evidence. No wonder they have been unable to serve the rubbish on anyone.
Why are they so inept in concocting even a proof of evidence but so alive when it comes to lying, stealing and deploying public funds?
I had always seen practice of dictators to charge political opponents with treason and unfortunately, the mini Pharaohs in Bauchi have fallen into that rap but thanks be to God, the Red Sea stands between us.
Very soon, the whole of Bauchi and indeed Zaar land shall sing; “the horse and its rider He hath thrown into the sea!”
President Muhammadu Buhari has directed football authorities in the country to undertake a critical assessment on the Super Eagles’ performance at the Cup of Nations tournament for improvement in the world cup qualifying competition lying ahead.
Reacting to a 1-0 defeat the Eagles suffered in the hand of their Tunisian opponents in the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations tournament, the President Buhari said that it is too early to begin to blame the players for the loss.
He said that although the team did not live up to the expectations of Nigerians in the AFCON tournament, but that officials and players deserve commendation for the tough fight they put up.
“They gave everyone the confidence that they were up to it, and I am sure it was something they could have achieved. Nonetheless, we should not write them off.”
President Buhari urged Nigerians to encourage the players to do better next time, especially in view of the World Cup qualification matches that have been lined up for them.
He particularly asked Nigerians to send their suggestions on how the team can improve, to the Nigeria Football Federation “so that it will reflect and plan well for a better outing in the forthcoming World Cup competition.”
A total of 246 officers newly recruited by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) have graduated from the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense (NSCDC) training academy after a six-week course.
The Chairman of the Commission, Professor Bolaji Owasanoye, who was the Reviewing Officer at the Passing Out Parade, which held at the NSCDC training academy, Sauka in Abuja, said that the new staff would bridge the human capacity gap being faced by the Commission.
Professor Owasanoye said that the recruitment of the 246 staff, comprising senior and junior cadres, out of over 400,000 applicants, would enable the Commission to tackle the problem of corruption that has been bedeviling Nigeria.
“Consider yourself lucky to have been selected by the Commission out of the over 400,000 that applied for the job.
“Your conduct must be above board because the ICPC mandate demands it. Integrity and discipline are essential character traits you must have to excel in your career.
“You must make integrity and honesty your watchword.”
The chairman said that as the country is battling with the menace of corruption posed by illicit financial flows, internet fraud among others, they should be seen to be above board, warning that defiant staff would be shown the way out of the Commission.
“You have the herculean task of ridding Nigeria of the menace of corruption. This board and management have zero tolerance for corruption, indiscipline, and other forms of official malfeasance. You must strive to always live above board. Any act of disloyalty to the Commission will not be tolerated and the person will be shown the way out.”
The Commandant-General of NSCDC, Dr. Ahmed Audi, said that the new staff have been rigorously trained and equipped to function as anti-corruption officers.
Dr. Audi, who was represented by the Deputy Commandant, Nnamdi Nwenyi, said that the training has churned out well cultured, disciplined, and loyal staff for ICPC.
The camp commandant, Wellington Nkemadu, who spoke to newsmen on the side of the event, gave the assurance that the new staff would perform any task assigned to them having undergone six-week rigorous military and technical training.
He said that the senior cadre would be moved immediately to the Anti-Corruption Academy of Nigeria, (ACAN), the training arm of ICPC for another six-week training, focusing on technical and core mandates of the Commission, while the junior cadre will remain in Sauka for another two weeks.
The event, which witnessed displays such as a parade by the graduating officers in slow and quick march, unarmed combat and other non-regular military drills also featured the presentation of awards to four outstanding officers.
Those awarded for outstanding performances and best behavior are the Course Senior, Akanmode Olayemi, Aisha Mohammed and the two parade adjutants; Ahmed Mohammed and Mariam Suleiman.
Akanmode Olayemi who spoke after the parade said that the training had toughened her to cope with the rigors of anti-corruption work, while also admitting that they had been adequately prepared as integrity officers who would not condone any act of corruption.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and it’s Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Professor Umar Danbatta have, again, bagged another award of excellence from a private media organization.
The Director, Public Affairs of the. Commission, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, in a statement today, January 24, said that while the NCC received the REGULATOR OF THE YEAR Award for 2021, Professor Danbatta, received the PUBLIC OFFICIAL OF THE DECADE Award.
According to Dr. Adinde, the combined awards, issued on the heels of a public lecture, titled, Public Sector Financing: The Oil Revenue, Challenges, Solutions and Prospects, would not be unconnected with the telecoms’ 12.45 per cent contribution to the nation’s GDP in 2020, which was central and pivotal in taking the nation out of recession.
Dr. Adinde said that the awards was issued by Nigerian NewsDirect, a multimedia firm, adding that they were presented two days ago at an impressive event at the Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos, organised by the firm to commemorate its 11th Anniversary.
He said that the presentation of the awards was preceeded by the Nigerian NewsDirect anniversary public lecture, Delivered by Dapo Okubadejo, Ogun State Commissioner for Finance and Chief Economic Adviser to the Governor.
According to him, Okubadejo’s paper reflects on the increasing challenges of the nation’s dependence on oil revenues for public sector financing.
“The paper offers solutions to better public sector financing from the context refocusing on the opportunities and prospects inherent in the oil sector but particularly in other sectors.
“By sheer coincidence, or conscious contextual social intervention, the topic of the Lecture and its treatment were not just poignant reflections of the state of the economy, they were fluent and persuasive of the role of NCC in midwifing and enabling the utilisation of telecoms and ICTs applications for economic recovery and growth.
“A fact that gives concrete expression to the imperative of diversification of the nation’s economy from oil, which is being vigorously pursued by the Federal Government and which NCC is a key sectoral driver.
“Thankfully, the role NCC is mandated to play in enhancing Nigeria’s growth and development is not lost on its Management.
Dr. Adinde, who received the awards on behalf of the beneficiaries, emphasized this strategic role and commitment to it, adding that the Commission will not rest on its oars but rededicate itself towards demonstrating its worthiness of the public trust and confidence reposed in it as an agency central to diversification of the nation’s economy.
“These garlands, swelling the repository of awards to NCC would not surprise discerning watchers of national events. In November 2021, the Commission conducted a historic auction of the 3.5GHz spectrum, in preparation for the deployment of 5G services to be activated this year.
“It was not the first time NCC will conduct an auction but it was the first time it had completed an auction with the final bid ending at a price more than 30 percent higher than initial bid offer.
“The auction, which started with initial offer of $197.4 million, close after 11 rounds at $273.6 million. Two companies, Mafab Communications and MTN Nigeria Plc, won the bid.
“Besides it routine activities, just a forthnight ago, the EVC delivered the Convocation Lecture of the Fountain University, at Osogbo, where he emphasised the imperative of youth’s embrace and exploration of the opportunities the ICT revolution has offered them to contribute to the nations growth and development.
“Similarly, just a day after the Convocation Lecture, a digital training centre, facilitated by the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF), an arm of NCC, was commissioned at Ijesa Muslim Grammar School, Ilesha, Osun State.
“The foregoing shows that the Commission is unwavering in its commitment to expanding the nation’s frontiers of growth and development within the context of its mandate.”
Kano State Government, angered by the murder of five-year old Hanifa Abubakar in the hand of the proprietor of her school, Abdulkadir Tanko, has shut down all other private schools in the state, by revoking their operational licences for revalidation.
The Commissioner for Education, Muhammad Sanusi-Kiru, at a media briefing Kano today, January 24, confirmed that the decision was as a result of the murder of Hanifa Abubakar at Comprehensive College.
He said that the withdrawal of the certificates of operation of the private schools was to allow for revalidation and screening of the proprietors of those schools.
“All the certificates issued to private schools in the state are hereby revoked.
“The ministry has constituted a committee that will look into the registration of all private schools.
“The ministry will bring out criteria for the recertification of all private schools, which include Ministry of Justics and Department of State Services (DSS).”
The commissioner listed others as the police, Fire Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Kano State Road Traffic Agency and other government officials.
The Joint Admission and Matriculations Board (JAMB) has scheduled the 2022 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) to hold from April 20 to 30th nationwide.
The Board also announced that the UTME mock examination would hold on April 2nd, while registration for the examination would commence from 12th February and end on 19th March 2022, respectively.
This was contained in a weekly bulletin of the Board released by JAMB’s Director of Media and Public Relations, Dr. Fabian Benjamin on Monday.
The Board has also resolved to refund N4,000 which many candidates paid but were unsuccessful in completing the registration process for the 2021 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination including the Direct Entry Examinations.
The information reads: “This is to notify all 2021 candidates who had deposited a draft of four thousand naira (N4,000) for late registration for the 2021 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination and Direct Entry but were unable to complete the registration process owing to no fault of the Board, even after the Board had extended the registration period twice, to visit the board’s Website https://www.jamb.gov.ng, and complete a form for the refund of the value of the draft they submitted to the Board.
“The above candidates are to click on the link 2021 UTME/DE Unregistered Candidates Bank Draft Recapture and fill the spaces after which they would key in the token sent to the phone numbers they had submitted during the submission of their drafts.
“It is this token that would be used to access a form on which they will fill in their account details for the refund of the value of the draft. Candidates are to provide these details within the next two weeks from the date of this publication.”
“A text message containing OTP has been sent to the affected candidates besides this notification,” the bulletin added.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has made it clear that it will monitor the campaign spendings and finances of Political Parties in the 2023 general elections.
The National Commissioner, Information and Voter Education(IVEC), Barrister Festus Okoye, who made this known today, January 24 in a keynote address he delivered at a 2-day Capacity Building Workshop for Heads of Voter Education and Publicity and Public Affairs Officers of the Commission from 17 States of Nigeria in Delta State, said that at the operational and administrative level, the Commission will monitor the Congresses, Conventions, Meetings and Primaries of the Political Parties.
Full text of the speech reads:
On behalf of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), I welcome our Heads of Department and Public Affairs Officers from 17 States of Nigeria to this Capacity Building Workshop.
Knowledge is central to democracy and communication is at the heart of our work as election managers. It is imperative and fundamental that we continually and continuously build the capacity of our frontline staff to understand issues in the electoral process and communicate effectively.
I congratulate the Director Voter Education and Publicity Victor Aluko and his team for putting together this program. Let me also thank the European Center for Electoral Support (ECES) for supporting this program. We expect additional support as we progress to the 2023 general election.
The year 2022 will be busy and challenging for the Commission. It will present complex realities and showcase the complexities of our democracy and electoral process. In the year 2022, the Commission will release the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2023 general election. The Commission will give the statutory notice signifying the date of election and the place for the submission of nominations. The Timetable and Schedule of Activities will contain the period for the commencement of campaigns and rallies in public by Political Parties and the last day of campaigns by Political Parties. It will contain the period for party primaries and submission of names of nominated candidates and resolution of issues and challenges arising from party primaries. It will contain the period for the submission of personal particulars of candidates, withdrawal, and the replacement of candidates and publication of the final list of candidates. It will contain the period for the submission of the names of Poll Agents. It will set out the period for the publication of official register of voters.
At the operational and administrative level, the Commission will monitor the Congresses, Conventions, Meetings and Primaries of the Political Parties. The Commission must track campaign spending and finances of Political Parties. The Commission will procure sensitive and non-sensitive materials and deploy them as at and when due. The Commission must identity, harvest and recruit ad-hoc staff and various categories of collation and returning officers. The Commission must identify, prepare and equip Registration Area Centers, Collation Centers and other Centers for various and variegated activities. The Commission will hire vehicles, boats, and motorcycles and engage human carriers for the movement of personnel, materials and reverse logistics. The Commission must train and assist in the deployment of security personnel on election duty. The Commission must also defend pre and post election litigations and petitions.
The 2022 is loaded with activities and all Heads of Departments and Public Affairs Officers must be abreast of these activities. Elections take place at the base level and it is important to build the capacity of our communication experts to undertake the arduous challenges that comes with election management and organization.
The Commission has reduced pernicious human interference in the electoral process and deepened democracy through greater use of technology. The Commission introduced the Candidates Nomination Portal through which Political Parties upload the List and Personal Particulars of their Nominated Candidates. The Commission introduced and deployed a Portal for the Accreditation of Observers and the Media. The Commission deployed a Portal for the accreditation of Polling Agents (Party Agents). The Commission developed and deployed the INEC Voter Enrolment Device currently being used for the enrolment of qualified applications desirous of registering as voters. Coterminous to this, the Commission deployed a pre-registration portal for eligible Nigerians to start their voter registration exercise before proceeding for biometric capture. The Commission retired the Smart Card Reader and introduced the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) for purposes of Voter Accreditation. The Commission introduced and deployed the (Irev) through which it uploads Polling Unit Results to a Central Portal for public viewing in real time.
As communicators, you must devise and deploy creative and innovative approaches of communicating issues and challenges in the electoral process. You must be dynamic and imaginative against the background of the COVID-19 pandemic that has completely altered lifestyles and ways of doing things. More Nigerians now patronize the social media. We must find the right balance between the traditional and new media.
We must wean ourselves of dogmatism and orthodoxy and extricate ourselves from the trap of “we have done it before and there is nothing new to learn or do”. The society has changed. The old ways of communicating issues and developments have given way to new approaches. Door to door means of communication is receding and no longer feasible. The demography of Nigeria has changed and a lot of young Nigerians are using the social media. The implication is that printing posters, handbills and banners are no longer fashionable. As a Commission, we must compete and dominate the social media on issues around the electoral process. We must understand the language of young people and their interests. It is a fight of ideas and a fight for the minds of young Nigerians who constitute the bulk of the voting population. We must use info graphs, short messaging and other creative and innovative approaches to capture their imagination.
We cannot in truth and in fact communicate what we do not know or understand. We must read and have a basic understanding of the constitutive constitutional and legal instrument underpinning the work of the Commission. We must understand the powers and the duties of the Commission as set out in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999(as amended); the Electoral Act, 2010(as amended) the Rules, Regulations, Guidelines and Manuals of the Commission made pursuant to the powers conferred on it by the Constitution the and various laws. We must therefore read and be very versatile. A Head of Department or Public Affairs Officer that is ignorant of the basic duties and functions of the Commission is a danger to the electoral process. The Nigerian people expect us to be upfront with information. The Nigerian people expect us to clearly, simply and comprehensively communicate changes and innovations in the electoral process. We can only do this when we understand these processes and procedures and communicate them effectively. If we fail to communicate and communicate simply and effectively, rumour mongers and the rumour mill will take over and define the narrative and present us with a fait accompli. It is better to be upfront with information rather than being reactive or defensive.
The year 2022 is the year of preparation for bye-elections, off cycle elections and the 2023 general election. Most of the important events in the electoral calendar will take place this year. Political Parties, Aspirants, Candidates and their Supporters will position to gain advantage. Some of them will attribute their problems and challenges to the Commission. They will praise the Commission when they win and denigrate the Commission when they lose. Some of them will analyze every action of the Commission and our press releases and comments may be tendered in court and become objects of litigation.
Some of the critical stakeholders may misunderstand some of our actions, processes and procedures and read different meaning into well intentioned processes and procedures. It is our responsibility to provide clarity and dispel negative notions and insinuations with potentially damaging impact on the electoral process. Some persons may go to the extent of planting negative stories about the Commission and in the process attempt to drag the Commission into a mud fight. Some people may by acts of commission or omission portray the Commission in bad light. It is our responsibility to remain firm, focused, courageous and engaging. The Commission is a public trust and must be open and transparent. We must on no account personalize the issues. We must respond to those that deserve our response and allow the Nigerian people to take a position on others.
The Commission regulates the organization and activities of political parties but in the heat of campaigns, rallies and nomination processes, attempts will be made to turn the table. We must continually and continuously remind political parties and their candidates and supporters that the Commission is the regulator of political parties and the table must on no account be turned.
As Heads of Department and Public Affairs Officers, you must assist your Resident Electoral Commissioners to engage the media. You must also engage the media. Running away from the media will not make them go away. Engage the media within the ambit of your own ability and expertise. You must not be an orator. You must not be charismatic. Your business is communication and you must communicate in knowledge and humility.
When the new electoral legal framework is passed and assented to by the President, we may have additional engagement with our Heads of Departments and Public Affairs Officers and clearly and comprehensively explain the issues in the new Act. There are clear and differential timelines in the Bill. There are new provisions and new innovations that change the dynamics of the electoral process. There may be new ways of determining over voting in the electoral process. The method of accreditation will change using the BVAS. You will be called upon to explain the architecture of the Permanent Voter Card (PVC). With the shift of accreditation technology from Smart Card Reader (SCR) to the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) the new technology, the BVAS extracts voter data in four ways:
By typing in the Voter Identification Number (VIN)
By typing in the last name of the voter
By reading the Barcode on the PVC
By reading the QR code on the register of voters.
You will be called upon to explain Issues around Campaigns and Rallies. As some of you are aware, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is empowered by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, (1999) (as amended) and the Electoral Act, 2010(as amended) to regulate the activities of registered Political Parties. The Commission issues Regulations, Guidelines and Manuals to give effect to the intendment of the law and the Constitution. Section 99 of the Electoral Act, 2010(as amended) prescribes and circumscribes the period of campaigning in public by political parties. Based on the existing law, campaigns in public shall commence 90 days before polling day and end 24 hours prior to that date. However, section 99 of the Act recognizes that Political Parties are not the only operators in the electoral process. Therefore, section 100 of the Act provides that a candidate and his party shall campaign in accordance with such rules and regulations as may be determined by the Commission.
You may be called upon to explain issues relating to finances of political parties, limitation on election expenses; election expenditure by political parties and disclosure of sources of income by political parties.
You may be called upon to explain the concept of validity of party primaries and other related issues. You must therefore be prepared and arm yourself with the requite information.
We must see improved permanence by our Heads of Voter Education and Publicity and our Public Affairs Officers. We want to see better and robust engagement with the media. We want to see well written press statements that represent the clear intentions of the Commission and convey same in simple language. We want to see clear engagement in the social media. Policies of the Commission and innovations must be cascaded to the grassroots using the best and most effective means of communication.
I once again welcome you to this program. On behalf of the Commission; I hereby declare this workshop open.
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja has been thrown into darkness as the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) workers began a strike action over the sack of some senior officials of the company. This is coming less than two months after the same workers embarked on another strike that plunged FCT, Niger, Nasarawa and Kogi states in total darkness. In December last year, AEDC workers had embarked on industrial action leading to the shutdown of the company’s facilities and disrupted power across FCT, Kogi, Nasarawa and Niger states. Information reaching Greenbarge Reporters online newspaper showed that today, January 24 strike was due to the compulsory retirement of the power company’s General Managers by the new management. The industrial action was conveyed to the staff via a memo titled ‘CALL FOR ACTION: PICKETING EXERCISE.’ Signed by ZOS Liaison. The memo said: “following the directive to all the General Managers (GMs) to proceed on compulsory retirement by the Interim Management of Abuja Electricity Distribution company (AEDC), without following the due process, an action the Union view as highly Tyrannical and an attempt to commence the gradual downsizing of workers by style. “This plan must be Resisted! “You are to that effect directed to commence with immediate effect, the picketing of all AEDC offices including the Corporate Headquarters effective from Monday, 24th January, 2022, until the action is reversed. “An injury to one is injury to all. “Victory is certain!! “Thanks. “ZOS (Liaison).” Another memo instructed all AEDC and NUEE staff to converge at the company headquarters. It said: “All staff of AEDC and NUEE members in Abuja should assemble at the company’s HQ tomorrow morning. The new management has sacked some categories of staff through phone calls and are mobilising the police to the HQ at this moment. “We have passed through this road before, this is a little challenge. All members in FCT, transmission, Distribution and Generation are expected to be present. “The GS is expected to address the rally. “The struggle has started.” The AEDC Headquarters at Wuse Zone 4, has been shut down. Workers A staff of the company said: “I am at home as I am talking to you. No work today. We are on strike.” The latest wave of strike was triggered by the decsion of the new interim management of the AEDC which sacked at least 17 General Managers (GMs). – Background- The new management came on board about after United Bank for Africa (UBA) which provided the finance to KANN Utility, the core investor of 60 percent stake in the AEDC in 2013, invoked its receivership clause over the incomplete settlement of the loans. Subsequently, the former board and management of KANN was removed and a new UBA-led board and management headed by the chairman, Victor Osadolor and the interim managing director, Bada Akinwumi, was installed. The takeover was ocassioned by the management crisis since November when the staff went on strike over non-payment of their entitlements and allowances. After the takeover, Minister of Power, Engr. Abubakar D. Aliyu, had explained why management of the AEDC was cahnged, saying it was a decsion taken by the company’s shareholders. In a statement he personally signed, Engr Aliyu said the electricity distribution company had been faced with operational challenges arising from a dispute between KANN Consortium, a core investor with 60 percent equity in AEDC, and UBA which lent the fund for the acquisition of the majority shareholding of the disco. The minister said: “The attention of the Federal Ministry of Power has been drawn to publications in the print and electronic media relating to recent changes in the ownership structure and management at the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company Plc (“AEDC”). “While noting that the news has largely been communicated out of context, the Ministry wishes to notify all stakeholders that the AEDC has, of recent, been facing significant operational challenges arising from a dispute between the core investors (KANN consortium) as owners of 60% equity in AEDC and the UBA as lenders for the acquisition for the majority shareholding in the public utility. The situation has currently deteriorated due to lack of access to intervention finances leading to a point whereby legitimate entitlements of the staff are being owed thus leading to service disruptions on 6th December 2021 within its franchise area. The Federal Ministry of Power has since taken the initiative to engage organised labour and electricity service has since been restored in the FCT and the states served by AEDC. “The UBA, as a lender, and in exercising its rights over the shares of KANN Consortium in AEDC, has taken over the shares of the obligor in the AEDC. This takeover of the majority stake in AEDC by UBA has consequently led to the reported changes in the management of AEDC. The changes in shareholding in AEDC and the appointment of an interim management for AEDC by the shareholders has been endorsed by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (the industry regulator) and the Bureau of Public Enterprises (“BPE” as co-shareholders in AEDC). “The Honourable Minister Of Power, Engr. Abubakar D. Aliyu, wishes to reaffirm the commitment of the Federal Ministry of Power for working with all stakeholders to ensure service continuity in all areas served by the AEDC.” Source: 21st CENTURY CHRONICLE reporter
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The Presidency has expressed surprise that the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has allowed workers’ salaries and pensioners’ pay to continue to accumulate despite that he benefited from the over one Trillion naira which the Federal Government advanced to States to clear arrears of salaries and pensions.
President Muhammadu Buhari has directed football authorities in the country to undertake a critical assessment on the Super Eagles’ performance at the Cup of Nations tournament for improvement in the world cup qualifying competition lying ahead.
The Joint Admission and Matriculations Board (JAMB) has scheduled the 2022 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) to hold from April 20 to 30th nationwide.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has made it clear that it will monitor the campaign spendings and finances of Political Parties in the 2023 general elections.
