The federal government says it will not hesitate to suspend any social media platform which allows activities that have a negative impact on the country.
Again, Lai Mohammed, minister of information and culture, disclosed this on Tuesday when he appeared before a house of representatives investigative panel.
He was summoned by the green chamber to explain the circumstances behind the decision of the government to suspend Twitter’s operations in the country.
Speaking before the house committees on communication, justice, information and culture, and national security and intelligence, Mohammed said Twitter became a platform for those who want to “bring down” the country.
He said the government would also suspend any platform that wants to toe the same path as the microblogging site.
“On Twitter not being the only social media in Nigeria but banning Twitter alone, honestly, we suspended Twitter because Twitter became a platform of choice for those that want to bring down this country,” he said.
“If any other platform does it, we will suspend their operations too. It is because there is a country called Nigeria that they have business here.
“Honestly, I think it is a good opportunity for our very resourceful Nigerians to also look at how they can have an app that can replace Twitter, and it would be patronised by all of us. We have received a few approaches and we want to encourage them.”
The minister said for those whose businesses are affected by the Twitter suspension, there are other social media platforms operating in the country.
He said the government is open to discussion with Twitter and its suspension may be reversed after meeting the conditions imposed by the government.
Reactions have continued to trail the incident of a leaking roof that disrupted plenary at the Senate chamber of the National Assembly on Tuesday.
Society gazette had reported that the Senate lobby of the National Assembly Complex was filled with water during the Tuesday downpour in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
The wind had blown off the roofs, leaving the lobby flooded with rainwater as visitors and Senators trooped in for the days business.
In a video making the rounds on social media, cleaners were seen battling to control the water.
Following the incident, some Nigerians on social media have taken to their handles to express disappointment in the incident citing the huge amount of money recently budgeted for the renovation of the complex.
Recall that in the 2020 budget, the Federal Government allocated N9.25bn, for the renovation/retrofitting of the National Assembly (NASS) Complex.
It was a capital allocation fixed under the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) budget.
A Nigerian socio-political activist, Omoyele Sowore on his verified Twitter handle said, “The rubber stamp @nassnigeria could not fix a leaking roof after budgeting N37b to fix the National Assembly complex. #RevolutionNow.
Below are some of the reactions from Twitter as compiled by DAILY POST correspondent.
@Mr-lordmekas: Mad people! Another way to embezzle money with the project of re-roofing.. na now una know say e Dey leak?
@Temijust1: Nigerians shouldn’t be deceived as the leaking roof is another plot to allocate 100 billion for the renovation of the leaking roof damaged intentionally by the house themselves.
@Micheal79147359: That building is not that old to start leaking. It shows the rut in the system and the failure of Nigeria as a whole. It is a shame.
@Von_Bismack: The current leadership of the National assembly renovated their building with 27b Naira, but immediately rain fell, the roofs started leaking. Yet Lawan had the guts to say that Saraki was the problem
Three members of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) who were detained for their alleged role in the arrest of Seriki Fulani Iskilu Wakili for kidnapping have been released.
The OPC members, who were arrested, charged to court and subsequent detained, were released yesterday by an Iyaganku Magistrate’s Court.
They are Dauda Kazeem, Awodele Adedigba and Ramon Hassan.
They were discharged based on Department of Public Prosecution (DPP) advised.
The court had ruled that the suspects should not be charged for any offence because there is no evidence to try them.
The OPC members were arrested in March.
Oyo State Coordinator of OPC, Comrade Rotimi Oguntade, also known as Oluomo, confirmed the released.
Wakili became famous for allegedly terrorising the Ayete community and other adjourning villages in Ibarapa area of Oyo State.
Buratai receiving the letter of credence from Foreign Affairs Minister Geoffrey Onyeama. Facebook/Foreign Affairs Ministry.
The federal government has presented a letter of credence to the immediate past Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt. Gen Tukur Buratai (rtd) as Nigeria’s ambassador-designate to the Benin Republic.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Geoffrey Onyeama handed over the letter to the former army chief in Abuja on Tuesday.
A former Chief of Defence Staff General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin (rtd) was also appointed as ambassador-designate of Nigeria to Cameroon.
“Today, the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Geoffrey Onyeama presented Letters of Credence to the Ambassador-Designate of Nigeria to the Republic of Cameroon, Amb. Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin and the Ambassador-Designate of Nigeria to the Republic of Benin, Amb. Tukur Yusufu Buratai,” the ministry posted on its Facebook page.
General Olonisakin getting his letter of credence from the minister. Facebook/Foreign Affairs Ministry.
Tuesday’s event comes about four months after President Muhammadu Buhari nominated the ex-service chiefs as non-career ambassadors.
Their most recent appointment had equally triggered outcry with critics calling on the Senate to reject their nominations.
But on February 23, 2021, the lawmakers confirmed their nominations. Senate President Ahmed Lawan during the confirmation said the former service chiefs served the country to the best of their abilities.
Senator Lawan urged the executive to utilise their experiences as much as possible and they should be posted to countries where they will be useful.
On February 18, the former service chiefs were screened by the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs.
The committee which was led by Senator Mohammed Bulkachuwa held a closed session before the service chiefs were ushered into the room for the commencement of the screening.
Buhari appointed the ex-service chiefs in 2015. Before they “voluntarily resigned” earlier in the year, they came under pressure to relinquish their positions due to the escalating levels of violence in the country.
Employers of labour have been warned to always endeavour to demand and verify authentication of the certificate of NYSC or exception duly issued by the Corps before offering employment to any holder of degree or Higher National Diploma.
Director General of NYSC, Brig.- General Shuaibu Ibrahim gave the warning, Tuesday, while declaring a one day Corps Legal Aid Workshop open, saying Section 12, sub-sections 1 and 2 of the NYSC Act demands every employer to authenticate any person who claims to have obtained his first degree at the end of the academic year.
He said it is the duty of every employer to produce on demand to a police officer, not below the rank of an Assistant Superintendent of Police, any such certificate and particulars or copies.
On the workshop, the DG said this is aimed at bringing together the corps lawyers involved in the Corps Legal Aid Scheme (CLAS) in order to harness their potentials for improved legal aid service to the indigent members of their host communities.
He said, “Legal Officers are expected to step up sensitization of Corps members on the provisions of both the Act and the NYSC Bye-Laws during orientation course.
“Furthermore, I urge you use the CLAS platform to sustain your enlightenment of Nigerians on their civic rights and responsibilities. In line with Management’s resolve to adequately track our performance at all levels and deepen effective service delivery, I hereby direct the Legal Unit to collate quarterly reports on the activities of CLAS in all States and the FCT for onward
submission to my office.”
Giving his opening remarks, the Director Legal Services NYSC, Barr Ahmend Tijani Ibrahim, said: “This workshop will no doubt provide a veritable platform for the Corps Lawyers and the Legal Officers of the Scheme to acquire new knowledge and skill in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) aspects of the law to enhance their service delivery.”
Abdulrazak Atunwa, governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara state, skipped the mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and forged certificate of the scheme, according to Premium Times. Atunwa’s certificate scandal is coming four months after Kemi Adeosun, former minister of finance, was exposed for doing same. Adeosun…
UJI ABDULLAHI ILIYASU examines the current reforms in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and reports that the Director-General of the scheme, Brig-General Shuaibu Ibrahim, is truly giving Nigerian graduates an orientation that changes their mindset for self-reliance and national development. Background The National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) is one…
NYSC, indiscipline and fading appeal of service
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) used to be a thing of pride, but its glory appears to be fading with discipline, which used to be the bedrock of the scheme, gradually eroding as corps members conduct themselves in a regettable manner healthcare works in Nigeria. ELEOJO IDACHABA and John…
The Senate lobby of the National Assembly Complex on Tuesday was filled with water with the cleaners battling to clean and control water from flowing into the Senate Chambers.
The water was leaking directly from the roof, but visitors and Senators coming into the Senate chambers at about 11.00 am became bewildered where such amount of water could be coming from.
Some Senators also stood to see the leaking water that the cleaners were trying to control even as journalists and photographers were busy taking pictures.
However, the National Assembly complex is the property of the Federal Capital Territory Administration and its maintenance too.
DAILY POST recalls that the sum of N37 billion was budgeted for the maintenance of the complex in the 2020 budget which elicited wild reactions from the public including the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs).
The controversy that trailed the budget which was considered too humongous led to its reduction but it wasn’t approved by the Federal Executive Council, DAILY POST has learnt.
Amid the leaking roof of the lobby, Senate President, Dr. Ibrahim Ahmad Lawan entered the chambers at exactly 11.00am to preside over the plenary.
A cross section of Nigerians has criticised the President Muhammadu Buhari administration for not questioning and arresting Sheikh Ahmad Gumi over his alleged link to bandits.
Gumi had in an interview on Monday warned the government against the killing of bandits, insisting that the criminals were victims too.
He insisted that no school was safe in the North West for now until the government negotiated with the bandits.
His recent statement has raised questions of his involvement with the bandits and why the Buhari’s administration has failed to summon him for questioning.
Nigerians on social media expressed their worries over the consistent demand by Gumi.
According to some, Gumi seems to know a lot about bandits kidnapping students and should be brought in for questioning.
Sanusi denies rift with Dahiru Bauchi over appointment of Tijjaniyya Islamic sect leader
They accused the government of injustice, adding that such statements if made by an Igbo man would have landed him in DSS custody.
Here are some comments gathered by DAILY POST;
@Cacot1 “Sheikh Gumi knows what DSS and other security agencies in Nigeria don’t know about Bandits operations but he won’t be called for questioning. Also, the central bank won’t freeze his account.”
@DoshimaJohn “What is Sheikh Gumi’s stake in Banditry and kidnapping? He sounds desperate over negotiations with bandits like a businessman running out of business.”
@JulyEarth “Gumi is the brain behind the kidnappings can’t tell me anything!
@Irokobiafra “And what is the government going to do about this statement? Nothing I think!
@ChisomMbonu8 “This man has proven beyond reasonable doubt that he knows and has hand in the insecurity facing the north, but because he’s a Fulani man no one has the right to call him for questioning. All this will pass and everyone will give account.”
@FS_Yusuf “Sheikh Gumi would rather 300 school children get kidnapped than the military killing an islamist terrorist they deceitfully call “bandits”.
“This can be easily inferred by his irrational advocacy for the devilish group.”
@Ezepatricktwit1 “The chief negotiator to Bandits. Gumi, has spoken by giving the Nigerian government Ultimatum. Do you see how these people are making cool cash in the North? Can such a thing or statement take place anywhere in the South, especially South-East.”
@DefenseNigeria “How Sheikh Gumi is a free man allowed to work with bandits to squeeze hundreds of millions of naira from the Nigerian government using the lives of innocent civilians as leverage is beyond me.”
@A_enemali “Gumi is an accomplice. There are no two words about it.”
@Monnyx4 “If Gumi is from Southern part of the country he would have been in jail along time, this is a formerly and highly referred Islamic clerics who suppose to preach to the bandits with a view to stop their Criminal pursuit now the Attorney General of these Criminals and Terrorist .”
@Egbayelo_levi “Cleric Gumi is an unfortunate cleric among clerics in the North. He deserves the same faith like his Fulani bandits in the forest. There’s no doubt that Gumi has bandits working for him in the forest.”
@Starlight4real “In your words the bandits have found a lucrative way of finding money, so now Gumi you are saying that the government should keep paying them off? For how long? The way this guy forces the federal government to pay baffles me.”
@Polymat43955 “Isn’t it clear that this shamelessly amoral Islamist cleric with his muddled up theology and horrendous moral philosophy is a terror sympathetizer and an enabler and was never a solution provider.”
@TopeOgun2011 “The ways information is managed in Nigeria quickens one’s withdrawal of patriotism. How does a government permit an individual to issue such sensitive updates on criminals without being taken through the process of the law? Well, this is Nigeria. Most of us are done!”
The High Court at the Olokuta Correctional Centre, Akure, Ondo state, on Monday refused to grant the 18-year-old, Kemisola Ogunniyi, who was arrested and detained during the #ENDSARS protest and gave birth in the prison custody bail as the Judge denied being aware of the bail application.
The trial judge, Justice Omolara Adejumo said she was not aware of the bail application by the Counsel to the defendant and she was returned to the correctional home.
While speaking on the development, Counsel to the Ogunniyi, Barrister Tope Temokun, expressed optimism that the teenager would be granted bail today, (Tuesday) saying every necessary procedure will be completed to ensure the release of the 18-year-old girl.
“There is nothing negative about this issue, the whole world knew that a boy was born and i am very sure that tomorrow, the whole world will also know the name of that boy. The boy has been announced to the world and am very confident that the boy is going to be great.
“But that is not to say that we should allow the naming ceremony to take place in prison. And we are fighting against that seriously.”
“We were fighting that Kemisola should not deliver in prison but she eventually delivered in prison, the noise was everywhere, so if we say we don’t want the naming ceremony in the prison custody.
It is still part of the agitation to get her released. But I must assure you that Kemisola will not spend additional day in the custody after delivery.
He expressed optimism that tomorrow, she would be granted bail because the naming ceremony is on Wednesday.
It would also be recalled that the state government had said it has begun the facilitation of the bail and release of Ogunniyi from prison custody.
While reacting, the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Charles Titiloye, said the bail application for the defendant had procedure which the court must follow.
Titiloye said “There are procedures for all court matters, it was a court order that put the person in the custody and the court order has to be followed in securing her bail . So Tuesday is not too late. We have to follow the court procedure,” the AG stated.
It will be recalled that young Kemisola was arrested with three others by the Ondo State police during the curfew imposed in Ondo in the state at the wake of the #EndSARS protest in October 2020.
They were accused of setting the APC secretariat ablaze during the protest.
Acting Registrar of the Polytechnic, Mr. B.L. Ojo signed the sack letters seen by SaharaReporters, stating that the institution no longer required the services of the affected staff members.
The management of Oke-Ogun Polytechnic, Saki, Oyo State, has sacked 184 workers of the institution.
Acting Registrar of the Polytechnic, Mr. B.L. Ojo signed the sack letters seen by SaharaReporters, stating that the institution no longer required the services of the affected staff members.
“I have the directive to terminate your Part-Time Appointment with the institution by giving you a month’s notice. The termination takes effect from 2nd July, 2021,” part of the letter read.
The action is coming few weeks after the workers took to the streets to protest alleged casualisation by the institution’s management.
Spokesperson for the workers, Adekunle Lookman had said the protest was staged to demand the regularisation of their appointments.
Lookman also accused the polytechnic management of paying lip service to their welfare, lamenting that they were poorly paid.
“Some of us had been recruited since 2011 as casual staffers, with N20,000 monthly salary, which was later increased to N30, 000 before tax deduction.
“We want people to know that the state government is cheating us and they are calling us slaves for working for them,” he had said during the protest.
“About 187 of us (teaching and non-teaching), with families and dependants, taking home less than N30,000 a month. It is disgusting.
“Worse still, they have refused to regularise our appointment, even after using us for accreditation of some of the courses.”
Lookman said the protest was necessary because the government had turned deaf ears to their demands, adding: “They are happy as we continue to suffer.”
Another worker, Adebayo Samson, said the government had issued a white paper on the regularisation of their appointments, wondering why it had refused to implement it.
“This is a copy of the white paper that was issued in 2019 but up till today, it has not been implemented.
“What is happening to us here is nothing but modern-day slavery and cheating, hence our resolve to embark on this peaceful protest,” Samson had said.
Reacting to the latest development, Kola Akanbi asked Governor Seyi Makinde to intervene and prevent the acting management of the Polytechnic, led by Engineer M.B Fasasi from giving his ‘good administration a bad name.’
He said, “Not minding the good works and reputation of the Governor, the management of The Oke-Ogun Polytechnic, Saki (TOPS) has decided to give him (the governor) a bad reputation by terminating the appointment of 184 casual/part-time workers of the institution.
“The sacked staff have been working with the institution, some for 10 years, some 8, some 6, some 4 while they are being paid stipend of not more than N30,000. They are holders of BSc, MSc, and PhD degrees. They have helped the institution during accreditations and have been working to help the institution.
“On 3rd June, 2021, the casual/part-time staff were issued termination of appointment letter by one Mr Ojo B.L., the acting Registrar of the institution. On whose directive did Mr Ojo act? Government? Governing Council or Management of the institution? This remains a mystery because the government of Engr Seyi Makinde, that is giving hope to the people could not have given a directive to terminate their appointments.
“The Council of the institution could not also have directed it either. Did the management of the institution, under its acting Rector, Engr M.B. Fasasi, deem it fit to terminate their appointments after working for more than a decade with the institution? One would wonder, what the management wants to gain from laying off 184 casual staff of the institution who are saddled with the bulk of teaching and instructional activities in various academic units.
“To further worsen the situation, the termination letter also states that: ‘However, you may wish to re-apply if you are still interested in rendering your services to this great noble institution.’ Why lay them off in the first instance if you still want them to re-apply? Are there arrangements made for the years wasted? These casual/part-time staff members have been helping in upholding the institution in that they have been used to man departments where there are no permanent staff members on the ground.
“While institution like The Polytechnic, Ibadan has placed an internal advertisement to take care of the interests of their casual staff, the callous acting management in TOPS can only think of termination of appointment. Mr Ojo B.L. who acted as APC (All Progressives Congress) collation officer in the last regime should not be allowed to tarnish the image the image of our dear Governor.
“The Executive Governor is implored to look into this situation to prevent the school from further disintegration. Since this acting Management assumed office, the vehicle of the institution has been in reverse gear. A visit to the school will prove that instead of progressive and forward movement, it has been from one problem to another. Under this management, there has been division, chaos, and crisis of all sorts. Now, they have laid off 184 staff members for reasons best known to them. Why the hurry, when you know the substantive management will soon be put in place?
“Your Excellency sir, you are appealed to wade in so as prevent the acting management of TOPS under Engr Fasasi M.B. from giving your good administration a bad name, which it does not deserve. We also want the Visitor to investigate the clandestine motive behind this mass sacking.”
The Nigeria government has announced the establishment of two additional universities of technology in Jigawa and Akwa Ibom, while also upgrading and equipping four others.
The Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr Sonny Echono disclosed this to Journalists in Abuja on Monday.
Adamu said that a National Institute of Technology (NIT) would be established in Abuja to serve essentially as a postgraduate centre devoted to research and innovation.
He said ,” this will draw the best graduates from the six universities of technology as well as other exceptional graduates from reputable universities within and outside Nigeria”
“Recall that at the inception of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, he promised to establish an apex National Institute of Technology (NIT) in Abuja with six Satellite Universities of Technology, one in each geo-political zone of the country.
“This was captured in the 2015 APC Manifesto and also stressed in the Education for Change: Ministerial Strategic Plan 2018 – 2022 of the Ministry. The objective is to stimulate rapid technological transformation of the country.
“After a comprehensive review of the policy by key stakeholders in the education sector, it was resolved that the four existing Universities of
Technology located in Yola (North East), Akure (South West), Owerri (South East) and Minna (North Central) be upgraded and equipped.
“While two additional Universities of Technology to be located in Jigawa and Akwa Ibom States, would be established for the purpose.
Similarly, a National Institute of Technology (NIT) shall be established in Abuja. The institute shall be patterned after similar institutions in Singapore and Malaysia.
“This is to serve essentially as a postgraduate centre devoted to research and innovation, drawing the best graduates from the six Universities of Technology as well as other exceptional graduates from reputable universities within and outside Nigeria,” he said.
Adamu said that the president had also approved the phased development programme, compelled by the country’s lean resources.
He said that the two new Universities of Technology would be established in 2021, while the upgrade of the existing four Universities of Technology and the National Institute of Technology would come up in 2022.
Adamu said the president had also observed from the report of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, the weak institutional capacity for disease control and surveillance in the country, particularly with respect to medical facilities, trained personnel and supporting infrastructure.
“With the recent establishment of the only Federal Government-owned University of Health Sciences, Otukpo in Benue State and the huge gap in doctor-patient ratio as well as in medical research and production of pharmaceutical products, government recognised the compelling need to establish two other specialised universities in Health, Nutrition and Medical Sciences.
“These universities will be located at Azare, Bauchi State and Ila Orangun, Osun State. These shall lay a solid foundation for building national preparedness and resilience in anticipation of future challenges in the health sector, while reducing medical tourism to countries like India, UAE, Egypt, Europe and the U.S.”
Adamu said that the president had also approved a take-off grant of N4 billion each for the Universities of Technology and N5 billion each for the Universities of Health Science from the funding Resources of Tetfund.
He said that the ministry would collaborate with the Federal Ministries of Health, Science and Technology, Communications and Digital Economy, the FCT Administration as well as other relevant agencies and Institutions to facilitate speedy actualisation of these projects.
