AT LEAST FOUR (4) APC LEADERS ASSASSINATED IN RIVERS STATE. (GRAPHIC PHOTOS)

The political killings appeared to have started again in Rivers state ahead of the 2019 election. About four members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were brutally murdered yesterday in Rivers state.

The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ward 7-Onne, Eleme Local government area of Rivers State, Jonah Chu has was shot dead. 

He was killed alongside three APC youth leaders and members in Abua/Odual Local Government Area of Rivers. 

Jonah Chu was assassinated on arrival in his home after attending a function on Sunday.

Source:

 https://www.nationalhelm.co/2018/12/four-apc-members-brutally-murdered-by-assassins-in-rivers-graphic-photos.html

ELEME APC WARD CHAIRMAN ASSASSINATED IN RIVERS STATE (GRAPHIC PHOTOS)

Report reaching our news desk have it that the APC Chairman, Ward 7, Onne, Eleme LGA has been assassinated. Hoodlums came to the late chairman's house, took nothing, touched nothing, held everyone hostage and shot him dead.

Recall that Eleme local government area is a stronghold of the APC where PDP has never won before.

Those he left behind to mourn his death includes his wife and children.

RIVERS APC: IS TONYE COLE AND OTHER CANDIDATES TRULY OUT OF 2019 POLLS?

There is uneasy calm in the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State after the Appeal Court verdict which struck out the application seeking to validate the executives of the party at the various levels in the state through the quashing of the judgment of Justice Chiwendu Nworgu of the state High Court.

Nworgu had, in a judgment on October 10, annulled the ward, local government and state congresses of the APC in the state, bringing to question the legality of the primaries of the party which produced its candidates for the 2019 polls in the state.

23 aggrieved members of the APC loyal to Sen. Magnus Abe, a contender for the governorship ticket of the party, had approached the High Court for redress and the court cancelled the congresses.

The faction of the party loyal to the Transportation Minister, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, challenged the High Court ruling at the appeal.

The three-man panel, led by Justice Abubakar Yahaya, also struck out two joinder motions filed by the factional Chairman of the APC in the state, Ojukaye Flag-Amachree, the governorship candidate of the party, Tonye Cole, and other candidates who emerged from the primaries of the party ahead of the 2019 polls.

Justice Yahaya, who read the ruling, said the appeal against the High Court judgement lacked merit, adding that the application for joinder failed to observe the 14 days’ rule on the appeal.

On the substantive appeal, the panel ruled that the Amaechi faction of APC in the state failed to seek leave of court before appealing the judgment.

Yahaya explained that the judgment of the lower court was a consent judgment, explaining that the Ojukaye faction should have done the needful legally before approaching the appeal.

While saying the APC could reapply for the appeal if they wished, he lauded the counsel for the parties over the manner they conducted themselves, regretting that the matter bordered on internal party crisis.

The judge stated: “This matter is within one party. What is going to happen when it is between different parties?

“It is politics, we are brothers, same house and we are throwing stones at each other. Please let’s reconcile and settle this.”

THEY FILED OUT OF TIME – DEFENCE COUNSEL

Counsel for the 23 aggrieved respondents, Patrick Luke, narrated outside the court room that the appeal was statute barred as it was filed out of time.

“The first case was an appeal against the judgment of October 10, 2018 delivered by the High Court of Rivers State”, Luke stated.

“After listening to our arguments, the court dismissed the appeal because they filed the case outside the terms provided by the Constitution; they ought to have filed that appeal within 14 days of the delivery of the judgment of the lower court.

“But they filed the appeal 25 days later and it was accordingly struck out by the Court of Appeal.

“The other two matters were based on applications for joinder. Also the two applications were also dismissed for lack of merit.

“The implication is that the judgment delivered by the High Court of Rivers State on October 10, 2018 is valid, subsisting, sacred and inviolable.”

For his part, Emenike Ebete, the applicant’s counsel, said, “The Court of Appeal Special Panel held three appeals against the High Court of Rivers State arising from applications by some candidates against the lower court judgement of October 10, 2018.

“Arguments were taken but the court, in its infinite wisdom, held that in Appeal 461, that is, the substantive appeal, the consent judgment of the High Court of Rivers State and, by the provision of the Constitution, we ought to have sought leave of the Court to Appeal against that consent judgment.

“That is their own decision and they struck it out and they said we should come back and do the proper thing by seeking leave of the court.

“The joinder for the candidates and the party state exco was dismissed on the grounds that it was a pre-election matter, that we did not bring the applications within 14 days after the verdict was delivered on October 10. What that means is that we will approach the Supreme Court to contest that.”

COLE REMAINS ADAMANT

Meanwhile, the governorship candidate of the APC in the state, Tonye Cole, says what the Appeal Court did by not accepting his application for joinder had only saved him the cost of going to court.

Cole, who spoke to Sunday Vanguard, noted that the decision of the court did not affect his candidature in the 2019 elections.

He disclosed that he was going on with his campaigns ahead of the elections, stating that he was happy that the money he would have used to pursue the case in court had been saved by the judgment.

He said: “What the court did is just that they saved me the cost of hiring a lawyer and going to court. I am not bothered about that.

“I am on with my campaign because I am still the candidate of the party. I am not worried over the litigation because it is not really helping the party”.

ENUGU STATE APC CAMPAIGN OFFICE ATTACKED, BUHARI/OSINBAJO BRANDED BUSES BURNT

Enugu APC campaign office attacked, buses burnt

The campaign office of George Tagbo Ogara, one of the candidates laying claim to the Enugu State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship ticket, was Saturday night attacked by unknown persons.

The attackers, it was gathered, set two campaign buses branded ‘Buhari/Osibanjo campaign’ ablaze.

An eyewitness report says the resultant fire was controlled by officials of the State Fire Service who promptly arrived the scene.

However, Mr Ogara, in a reaction on the incident, claimed that the attackers used Improvised Explosive Device, IEDs to set the two buses ablaze.

Mr Ogara, who said he was in Lagos at the time of the incident, however, said he does not know where the attack came from.

“Improvised Explosive Device, IED, bomb is not a matter a civilian like me can intervene. The police and DSS will investigate that matter.

“Bomb is a military hardware it’s not something civilians can discuss and point accusing fingers at any person; it’s a very serious matter.”

Mr Ogara, who claims to be the duly elected Enugu APC governorship candidate for the 2019 election, is in court to challenge the party for publishing the name of a former senator, Ayogu Eze, as its candidate.

The tussle, which has lingered, has been fixed for hearing at an Abuja Federal High Court on January 10.

The police spokesman in the state, Ebere Amaraizu, confirmed the incident. He said an investigation has commenced into the attack.

According to him, the incident occurred at Ogara APC campaign office by railway line close to Ogui junction Enugu.

“It was gathered that in the early hours of 23/12/18 fire incident had allegedly occurred at Ogara APC campaign office where two buses allegedly got burnt.

“However, the prompt intervention of the police operatives and fire service prevented its escalation and further destruction as the fire was promptly extinguished”, he said.

Mr Amaraizu noted that while a full-scale investigation has commenced into the incident with a view to finding its cause and possible culprits, security has also been intensified in the area.

COMPLETE FAMILY DIE IN ACCIDENT ON BENIN/AUCHI EXPRESS WAY, TRAVELING FOR CHRISTMAS.

This is very sad and unfortunate. An entire family has been wiped out following an accident which happened yesterday along Benin/Auchi express way in Edo State.

The smaller vehicle which the passengers were travelling in ahead of the Christmas celebration - ran into a truck and got crushed in the process.

According to reports, none of the occupants came out of the car alive.

The accidentwas said to have caused a scene in the area as other motorists and road users lamented the tragic incident. 

May their souls rest in peace. 

NLC TO HOLD NATIONWIDE PROTEST OVER MINIMUM WAGE ON JANUARY 8

The Nigeria Labour Congress has declared January 8, 2019, a national day of protest over the delay in processing a new minimum wage for the country.

NLC leaders took the decision at its National Executive Council meeting, according to a statement by the union’s President, Ayuba Wabba, and General Secretary, Peter Ozo-Eson, on Friday.

“The NEC-in-Session approved that the protests should hold in all state capitals and the Federal Capital Territory Abuja on January 8, 2019. The NEC mandates all industrial unions and state councils to fully mobilise workers and coordinate with other labour unions for this mother-of-all protest,” the statement read in part.

The labour leaders are dissatisfied with the progress made since November 6, when the Tripartite Committee on Review of National Minimum Wage submitted a report to the President, recommending N30,000 as the new minimum wage.

They expected that the Federal Government would have sent a bill on a new minimum wage to the National Assembly long before now.

On Wednesday, President Muhammadu Buhari had said he would send a bill on the implementation of the new minimum wage to the National Assembly soon.

The President, who disclosed this while presenting the 2019 budget proposal to a joint session of the National Assembly, added that he had given a directive that a technical committee should be set up to look at the mode of implementation of the new wage.

The NLC, however, accused the Federal Government of adopting a “leisurely conduct” in dealing with serious national affairs, especially as the House of Representatives had asked the President to transmit the report of the tripartite committee to the National Assembly for action, two weeks earlier.

“The NEC expressed total dissatisfaction with the consequential delay and unacceptable lethargy in the process of regularising and implementing the new national minimum wage of N30,000,” it said.

“The calculated inaction of the Federal Government is a demonstration of acute insensitivity to the plight of Nigerian workers, their families and ordinary citizens.”

NASARAWA TO BE ONE OF THE FIRST TO IMPLEMENT NEW MINIMUM WAGE, LIFTS BAN ON EMPLOYMENT -GOV AL-MAKURA

The Nasarawa State government says it has resolved to implement any amount arrived at as new minimum wage for workers.

Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State made this known while swearing-in 11 newly appointed commissioners and the Director Generals of Nasarawa Geographic Information Service (NAGIS) and Nasarawa State Market Management Bureau (NSMMB).

He said: “This was predicated upon the conviction that if our mandate, encapsulated in our policies and programmes, is to serve the people, then the public servant who is the nerve centre of policy implementation must be given his dues”.

According to him, as they are awaiting the final decision on the review of the national minimum wage, he assured the workers that his administration will be among the first states to implement any decision reached by the Federal Government.

Governor Almakura however, he had directed for the implementation of the promotion of deserving workers in the State, saying that it was his belief that it would strengthen the machinery of government for optimal productivity.

Meanwhile, the governor has lifted the ban on employment in the state after several years, saying “in our resolve to expand the frontiers of policy implementation, also, we have lifted the ban on employment.

“In this regard, we have demonstrated our commitment to reinvigorate the Service in the recent employment of teachers into our public schools in the State. I, therefore, encourage eligible citizens to apply for vacant positions in the Civil Service”.

HOW OKOROCHA LOCKED STADIUM AGAINST APC, DIVERTED MONEY MEANT FOR WORKERS -OSHIOMHOLE

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, has told the Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, that President Muhammadu Buhari has adopted the governorship candidate of the state, Senator Hope Uzodinma.

Oshiomhole also accused Okorocha of frustrating the APC candidate, an action he described as anti-party.

The former Edo stated governor said that by denying Uzodinma use of the state’s stadium, the governor has shown he is working against the party.

The former labour leader, who spoke during the flag off of the APC campaign in Owerri, on Friday, also accused the governor of neglecting the people of the state with his style of governance.

He said, “Let me appreciate the members of the National Working Committee for coming to join the governorship candidate of our party, we approach with one simple message.

“It is a message of Hope, not a message of lamentation. I want you to listen because for me campaign is not about entertainment.

“Today, we have come to deliver the message of Hope although things have gone wrong in the past.

“We have come to return the government of Imo state to the great people of Imo state.

“We have come to tell you that we have respect for you people. The next governor in the person of Senator Hope Uzodimma will restore all that have been destroyed.

“Please Imo people cool temper. Today is a day to pass a message of Hope. Today we desire to talk to the young people especially to my fellow colleagues the civil servants.

“The days are gone for a governor who will look at people and say there is money to do other things and not to pay civil servants.

“I want to tell you that those governors that were given money including the governor of Imo state that did not use it for that purpose will be retrieved.

“Buhari has adopted Hope Uzodimma as the governor of Imo state. I want you to go and tell people what I said.

“Nigeria needs to produce political leaders that have political concentration.

“How will you believe that an APC governor will lock the stadium against an APC governorship candidate?

“It is the tax payers’ money that is used to build that stadium and not his personal money.”

FACT CHECK: VERIFICATION OF PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI’S CLAIMS IN 2019 BUDGET SPEECH

President Muhammadu Buhari, on Wednesday, December 19, presented the 2019 budget to a joint session of the National Assembly.

In his speech, he made a number of claims and quoted statistics, while reviewing economic developments over the past three and a half years.

Most of the figures claimed are being examined by PREMIUM TIMES and DUBAWA, to verify the level of correctness. It must, however, be noted that many of assertions made on expenditure are difficult to verify as there are no documents in the public space to verify.

This is the reason we have had to tag some of the claims as “unproven” due to lack of data.

We will, however, keep researching to update this work in the coming days.

The president made the following claims in his presentation:

First claim: The economy has recovered from recession and we have had six quarters of growth since then. Real Gross Domestic Product growth stood at 1.81 per cent in the third quarter of 2018, compared to 1.17 per cent in the third quarter of 2017.

We have had a sustained accretion to foreign exchange reserves from a low of $28.57 billion in May 2015 to $42.92 billion by mid-December 2018.

This has contributed to exchange rate stability and will provide a buffer against any unanticipated external shocks. Inflation has also declined from a peak of 18.72 per cent in January 2017 to 11.28 per cent in November this year.

Verification: When did Nigeria exit recession?

Nigeria’s official repository of data, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), had in September 2017, announced to the world that the country’s economy had officially exited recession.

The NBS’ National Gross Domestic Product’s (GDP) report for the second quarter of 2017, released in September 2017, showed the GDP grew by 0.55 per cent (year-on-year) in real terms, an indication the country’s economy was gradually pulling out of recession after five consecutive quarters of contraction since the first quarter of 2016.

The official announcement of the economic comeback only came about two years after Nigeria was declared to be in recession. Quoting the statistics bureau, “the second quarter 2016 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) declined by -2.06 per cent.

Annual inflation rose to 17.1 per cent in July from 16.5 per cent in June, and food inflation rose to 15.8 per cent from 15.3.

Fact on GDP

The nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 1.81 per cent (year-on-year), in real terms, in the third quarter of 2018. Compared to the third quarter of 2017 which recorded a growth of 1.17 per cent, there is an increase of 0.64 per cent points.

The second quarter of 2018 had a growth rate of 1.50 per cent showing a rise of 0.31 per cent points. Quarter on quarter, real GDP growth was 9.05 per cent.

In 3rd quarter 2018, aggregate GDP stood at N33,368,049.14 million, in nominal terms. This performance is higher when compared to the third quarter of 2017, which recorded a GDP aggregate of N29, 377,674.03 million thus, presenting a positive year on year nominal growth rate of 13.58 per cent.

Fact on foreign reserve

According to the Central Bank Of Nigeria, Nigeria’s foreign reserves hit $36.3 billion in October 2014, fell to $32.4 billion in January 2015, and stood at $28.6 billion by May 2015 and as at December 14, 2018 (the president said mid-December) Nigeria’s reserves stood at $42,918,575,967.

VERDICT: As documented by the National Bureau of Statistics, the president’s claim that the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 1.81 per cent (year-on-year) in real terms in the third quarter of 2018 compared to the third quarter of 2017 which recorded a growth of 1.17 per cent is TRUE.

Also, his claim on foreign reserves in 2015 and 2018 is TRUE, according to the Central Bank Of Nigeria.

Second Claim: In the area of trade, Nigeria has moved from a deficit to surplus in its trade balance.

As at the third quarter of 2018, the trade balance was a surplus of N681.27 billion, representing a significant improvement from the deficit of N290.1 billion in 2016. This reflects the rebound in crude oil exports, increased non-oil exports and a reduction in the importation of food and items that can be produced locally.

Foreign capital inflows, including direct and portfolio investments, also responded to improved economic management. Capital importation to Nigeria in the third quarter of 2018, stood at $2.86 billion, which is a 56.7 per cent increase, compared to the corresponding period in 2016.

Verification

According to Nigeria Bureau of Statistics’ foreign trade report for Q3 2018, Nigeria’s trade balance nosedived by 67.6 per cent, quarter-on-quarter, to N681.3 billion in the third quarter of the year (Q3’18). The report revealed that foreign trade rose by 30 per cent with total imports rising by 73.8 per cent while exports rose by 7.8 per cent during the quarter.

The report stated, “Nigeria’s external trade totalled N9.025 trillion during the third quarter of 2018. Compared to the value of N6.903 trillion recorded against the second quarter; a rise of N 2.12 trillion or 30.7 per cent was indicated.

“The total export component of this trade was recorded N4.9 trillion, representing increase of 7.8 percent over Q2’18 and 35.7 percent over Q3’17. The import component stood at N4.2 trillion in Q3’18 showing 73.8 percent higher than Q2’18.

“The total value of capital importation into Nigeria stood at $2,855.21 million in the third quarter of 2018. This was a decrease of 48.21% compared to Q2 2018 and a 31.12% decrease compared to the third quarter of 2017.

“The largest amount of capital importation by type was received through Portfolio investment, which accounted for 60.5% ($1,723.05m) of total capital importation, followed by Other Investment, which accounted for 21.07% ($601.53m) of total capital, and then Foreign Direct Investment FDI, which accounted for 18.58% ($530.63m) of total capital imported in the third quarter.”

Also, the total value of capital imported into Nigeria in the third quarter of 2016 was estimated to be $1,822.12 million, which represents an increase of 74.84% relative to the second quarter, and a fall of 33.70% relative to the third quarter of 2015.

VERDICT: The president’s claim is TRUE according to the nation’s official data repository.

Third Claim: In agriculture, we are seeing increased investment across the entire value chain from agricultural inputs to farming and ultimately, food processing. Barely three years ago, Nigeria was spending $5 million dollars a day, on rice importation.

Today rice imports have virtually stopped. Indeed, we are on course to achieve food security in major staple foods in the not too distant future.

Verification

There is no documented evidence to back up the president’s claim on rice importation and food security.

According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Nigeria consumes more rice than any African country and is one of the biggest producers and importers of the grain on the continent.

Even though the Nigerian government, through the Central Bank of Nigeria, imposed import restrictions on rice and introduced a borrowing programme to stimulate local rice production while reducing the country’s food import bills in 2015, available data from Index Mundi and the United States Department of Agriculture states that rice imports increased from 2.1 million tonnes in 2015 to an estimated 2.5 million tonnes of rice in 2016, 2.6 million tonnes in 2017 and 3.0 million tonnes in 2018.

Also, according to the International Grain Council, rice imports in 2016 was estimated to be 2.1 million tonnes and 2.7million tonnes in 2017. It is estimated that Nigeria’s rice import will be 2.8 million tonnes in 2018.

Verdict: The president’s claim remains UNPROVEN.

Fourth Claim: Infrastructure development is also another area in which we have made a lot of progress.

For example, in the ministry of water resources, we identified 116 abandoned or uncompleted projects relating to irrigation, dams, drainage and water supply.

To date, we have completed and/or commissioned a number of these projects including; Central Ogbia Regional Water Project, Bayelsa State, Northern Ishan Regional Water Supply Project, Edo State, Sabke Water Supply Project, Katsina State,Takum Water Supply Project, Taraba State,Ogwashi – Uku Dam, Delta State, Shagari Irrigation Project, Sokoto State, Galma Dam, Kaduna State, Mangu Water Supply Project, Plateau State and Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi Water Supply Project, Benue State.

Verification: This claim has been made several times, by the government, even though there is no publicly available documentation to support the claim.

In lieu of this, we will continue to research and will also send Freedom of Information letters to the ministries of finance and water resources, to demand the actual status of these projects and contract terms.

Verdict - Until we are able to get the official figures of money spent from the ministry of finance and status of project from the ministry of water resources, this claim remains UNPROVEN.

Fifth Claim: In the railway sector, we completed and commissioned the Abuja-Kaduna Rail Line and the Abuja Metro-Rail Project.

Similarly, the previously abandoned Itakpe-Ajaokuta-Warri Rail Line is undergoing test runs and will soon be commissioned.

We are also on track for the Lagos – Kano rail line as significant progress has been made on the Lagos to Ibadan segment of the project. We remain committed to rebuilding and expanding our road network.

In 2018, an additional 1,531 kilometres of roads have been constructed and 1,008 kilometres rehabilitated across the country.

Verification: Apart from some news report where the government had been making claims, there is no official data repository to substantiate these claims, we will, however, request full details of road and rail projects from the Ministries of Transportation and Ministry of Works, we hope to update this report as soon as we get details.

Sixth Claim: As a Government, we took a long-term view on tackling the effects of climate change which must be contained and ultimately reversed. We have stepped up our afforestation efforts. In the past two years, we have planted over 2.3 million seedlings in 21 States.

We also successfully launched the Green Bond which will focus on developing environmentally friendly projects and other green programs across the country. Nigeria is also actively participating in international efforts to tackle climate change.

Verification- There is no publicly available documentation to support the claim. Until there is any, this remains UNPROVEN.

Seventh Claim: Working with key stakeholders including the National Assembly, State Governments and the private sector, we intensified our drive to remove obstacles, reduce processes and lower costs of doing business.

The fact that over the past three years, Nigeria has gained 24 places in the World Bank Ease of Doing Business rankings is a clear indication that we are moving in the right direction.

Verification: According to the World Bank Ease of Doing Business report, Nigeria went down from 120 to 170 between 2008 and 2015. In 2017, Nigeria moved 24 places from its 2016 spot of 169 to 145. According to World Bank Ease of Doing Business report released in October 2018, out of a total of 190 countries ranked by the World Bank, Nigeria was ranked 146th in 2018, dropping by a spot from its 145th position in 2017.

Verdict- So, the statement by the president that Nigeria has risen by 24 places under his administration is TRUE.

Eighth claim: Through the N-Power scheme, 500,000 graduates have been employed to date. The National Home-Grown School Feeding program is feeding 9,300,892 pupils in 49, 837 schools in 24 states across Nigeria, and empowering 96,972 cooks; The Government Enterprise and Empowerment Program has seen to the disbursement of 1,378,804 loans to small businesses and farmers in all states including the FCT.

These are interest free loans that will be paid back; 297,973 households in 26 states across the country are benefitting from the Conditional Cash Transfer program.

Verification- The government’s National Social Investment Programme remains a major programme where different government officials have been making claims on its impacts. However, these claims are difficult to verify as there is no credible database that houses the activities of this programme.

In a freedom of Information reply to PTCIJ by the National Social Investment Office, the office refused to provide details on the actual number of beneficiaries of these programmes with an explanation that the FOI Act prohibits the sharing of personal information of the specified individuals who are currently receiving financial and social grants from public institutions without their consent.

The office also said the National Cash transfer programme is well known to the Community Trained Facilitators of the scheme who are said to be visiting the conditional cash transfer beneficiaries every week to support them with financial skills, (savings) group, basic numeration etc.

Verdict– Based on this reply, we can ascertain that there is no public data to support the figures the president quoted on beneficiaries of the social programme, so it remains UNPROVEN.

Verification- Regarding the president’s claim on the Npower programme, the information available on the website of the scheme states that 200,000 Nigerians have been enrolled so far in the scheme while news report have it that another 300,000 youths have been engaged so far, on the programme.

Verdict-The claim is TRUE.

Ninth Claim:[/b] Of the total appropriation of N9.12 trillion 2018 budget, N4.59 trillion had been spent by September 30, 2018 against the prorated expenditure target of N6.84 trillion. This represents 67 per cent performance.

Debt service and the implementation of non-debt recurrent expenditure, notably payment of workers’ salaries and pensions are on track. Despite the delay in the passage of the 2018 Budget on 20th June 2018, the sum of N820.57 billion had been released for capital projects as at 14th December, 2018.

Verification: The latest budget implementation report by the Budget Office of the Federation has no capture of the 2018 budget performance, so far. This will make it difficult to verify the president’s claim. We will expand our scope of research and update this report once new information arises.

Verdict: Until more information emerges on this, the president’s claim remains unproven.

Source: 

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/302096-fact-check-verifying-president-muhammadu-buharis-claims-in-2019-budget-speech.html

INEC DEMANDS IMMEDIATE RESOLUTION OF ASUU STRIKE

.....Warns it may mar 2019 election

“We call on ASUU and the Federal Government to quickly and gently resolve the lingering impasse that has led to the uncertainty in the education sectors.”

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has raised the alarm over the lingering industrial action embarked on by lecturers in tertiary institutions, particularly members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

According to the electoral umpire, if not speedily resolved, the strike is capable of truncating the 2019 general elections, especially the presidential polls scheduled for February 16.

National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, who gave the warning at a one-day seminar on ‘Media and gender sensitive reporting in elections’ in Abuja, yesterday, pointed out that it was impossible for members of the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) to provide all the ad hoc staff needs and requirements of the Commission.

“As you are all aware, Nigeria is 56 days away from the presidential and National Assembly elections. INEC is the constitutional, statutory and administrative driver of this particular process. But the commission is not the only player or stakeholder in the electoral process.”

While making appeal for the resolution of the strike, the INEC’s National Commissioner said: “For the 2019 general elections, INEC will recruit and deploy over one million ad hoc staff made up of lecturers from federal high institutions, members National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), and students of tertiary institutions.

“These categories of ad hoc staff will serve as returning officers, collating officers, supervising presiding officers and assistant presiding officers. The bulk of the assistant presiding officers will be drawn from the students of tertiary institutions in Nigeria.

“INEC is presently organising real training for Corps members that will be deployed as presiding officers. We want to resume training for students in various tertiary institutions in Nigeria and it is imperative that these category of students are in school at this point in time. It is next to impossibility for Corps members to provide all the ad hoc staff needs and requirements for the commission.

He said it was important that students of tertiary institutions were in school, at least a month before the February 16, 2019 presidential and National Assembly elections.

“They are a critical resource and their absence will have adverse effects on the ad hoc staff requirements of INEC,” he said.

“We, therefore, call on ASUU and the Federal Government to quickly and gently resolve the lingering impasse that has led to the uncertainty in the education sectors. The national interest, the interest of our democracy and the reputation of Nigeria demand the immediate resolution of the issues that led to the strike and we so urge.”

On the aim of the seminar, Okoye said: “For the media to cover, disseminate and report election activities in an objective and professional manner to deepen our democracy, it is imperative for the INEC to constantly interact, explain upfront in providing information to the public, to avoid speculation, and rumour mongering, especially at this critical election year. INEC is wrapped around inclusivity and believes in the doctrine of not leaving any segment of the Nigeria society behind,” he said.

Programme, the INEC Director, Gender Division, Mrs. Blessing Obidegwu, gave further details on the objectives of the media workshop.

“Today’s seminar is designed to sensitise the media on the need to take conscious steps in mainstreaming gender in their reportage of the electoral activities for the 2019 general elections and beyond.

“In the past, male politicians tended to receive more media coverage at the detriment of their female counterparts who sometimes get displaced for lack of adequate exposure.

“In general, election-related media reporting is naturally gender blind and insensitive to the challenges women face in the pursuit of their political ambition.”

The workshop organised by INEC, in collaboration with the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, had participants drawn from various media organisations from the north.