Senate Confirms Seven Of 10 INEC RECs Appointed By Tinubu.

Senate Confirms Seven Of 10 INEC RECs Appointed By Tinubu.

The remaining three nominees were not present for screening.

 

The Senate has approved the appointment of seven of the nominees of President Tinubu as Resident Electoral Commissioners of the Independent National Electoral Commission.

The remaining three nominees were not present for screening.

The nominees approved are Mr Etekamba Umoren – Akwaibom; Mr Isha Ehimeakne from Edo; Barr. Oluwatoyin Babalola- Ekiti; Mr Abubakar Ahmed – Gombe; Shehu Wahab – Kwara; Aminu Idris – Nasarawa; Mohammed Abubakar Sadiq – Niger.

The confirmation follows Tinubu’s request on Wednesday for confirmation of the nomination of the RECs for INEC in accordance with the provisions of Section 154(1) of the Constitution.

Tinubu had last week approved the appointment of 10 new RECs for INEC for a five-year term each.

Ekiti State Government Hands Out Working Tools To Health Workers.

Ekiti State Government Hands Out Working Tools To Health Workers.

Governor Biodun Oyebanji Led  administration has distributed work tools worth millions of Naira to some health workers in the State. 

The working tools are 35 units of laptop computers, 30 units of mobile tablets, 1 Human size medical mannequin for life saving, 4 video transmitters and receivers, and 30,000 Ulerawa cards. 

Others are Maternal care tools, RCM Manuals and Information Education and Communication Materials, 3-in-1 Printers and 58 Anti-Shock garments. 

The offices and officers that benefited from the gesture include local Government Measure and Officers, Logistics officers, Ulerawa programmes in some Public Health Centres across the state, Reproductive Health Unit, State Primary Health Care Development Agency, 3 Tertiary Hospitals, 22 secondary facilities, and 2 Public Health Centres in each local government area.

Vice President Shettima, US Envoy Meets Over Food Security.

Vice President Shettima, US Envoy Meets Over Food Security.

...Mechanization, quality seeds, fertilization, others top agenda.

The Vice President, Kashim Shettima, has sought the assistance of the United States government for the agenda on food security of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration. 

He made the request when he met with Mr Cary Fowler, U.S Special Envoy for Global Food Security, as part of his schedules in the United States of America. 

Specifically, VP Shettima identified key areas where Nigeria would require urgent support, saying “we seek the support of the United States Government, be it technical or otherwise, towards addressing challenges in our agricultural sector.” 

The Vice President continued: “Mechanization is absolutely essential, good quality seeds, fertilization, improved agricultural practices, smart agriculture, these are the solutions we seek because the whole mantra is on increase in yield, it is about improving productivity. It goes beyond the acreage that is used for production. 

“So, I am here surrounded by other stakeholders who have all the figures, facts and knowledge to make this partnership easy and smooth sailing,” the VP stated. 

He further reassured the US Special Envoy for Global Food Security of the readiness of the Tinubu administration to collaborate with relevant stakeholders to improve agricultural productivity, not only in the country, but across Africa. 

According to him, Nigeria will sustain existing relationships with partners in the agricultural sector, even as he noted that the country will nurture the alliance. 

“We will nurture it because more than ever before, we are facing food security challenges. We have to think outside the box, we have to look for ingenious solutions that can help us to overcome the challenges. I believe with your support (the political will is there now more than ever before), together, we can save humanity and serve the human race,” he noted. 

In his response, Mr Fowler disclosed that the US government, in partnership with other stakeholders, has launched an agricultural initiative, assuring that Africa would be prioritised. 

He said, “What we are trying to do here in the US, which we coined the ‘Vision for Adapted Crops and Soil’, is a partnership between the US, the AU and the FAO. 

“In summary, what we are trying to do working with African countries is to help them, right from the national level down to the farmers, to manage the soil more properly and to ensure sustainability and productivity (that is on the soil side). 

“On the crop side, we are extremely concerned about climate change and its effect on Africa. So, this programme that we have with the AU and FAO is focused on Africa,” the special Envoy underlined. 

He disclosed that the programme “will look at indigenous African crops that have long suffered from massive underinvestment. 

“We have established a multi-donor trust fund at the IFAD to provide long term funding for the programme and the USAID is also involved. The US government has allocated 100 million dollars to the programme,” he added. 

He however emphasized that stakeholders “need to work in a collaborative way with countries like Nigeria. 

“We need your partnership, we need your political support to push this. We have to make these efforts more permanent; we have to institutionalize the efforts and have a strong African voice on this. We want this programme to be African led,” he further noted. 

Vice President Kashim Shettima who attended the Belt and Road Initiative in China before proceeding to the United States is expected back in Nigeria at the weekend.

President Tinubu Highlights Lucrative Investment Prospects as Foreign Ambassadors Present Credentials.

President Tinubu Highlights Lucrative Investment Prospects as Foreign Ambassadors Present Credentials.

President Bola Tinubu has assured foreign ambassadors in Nigeria that his administration is ready to maintain open lines of communication and cooperation, with a focus on advancing mutually beneficial economic opportunities across sectors.

The President gave the assurance while receiving the Letters of Credence of the Ambassador of Angola to Nigeria, Mr. Jose Bamoquine Zau; the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium to Nigeria, Mr. Pieter Leenknegt; the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway to Nigeria, Mr. Sevin Baera, and the Ambassador of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to Nigeria, Mr. Albert Castelar. 

In separate meetings with the Ambassadors, the President emphasized the importance of strong diplomatic relations and expressed his willingness to engage with the foreign missions. 

He told the Ambassadors that the Foreign Ministry and the Office of his Chief of Staff would always be available to interact with the foreign missions and address any matter of concern.

"We will maintain an open-door policy. We are ready to do anything that will make your stay rewarding and our relationship strong. Do not hesitate to bring up any matter with the Foreign Minister or my Chief of Staff; they will bring it to my attention," the President said, while wishing the ambassadors the best in their duty tours.  

During his meeting with the Angolan Ambassador, President Tinubu congratulated President Joao Lourenco of Angola on his re-election and referred to him "as a very good friend."

Receiving the Belgian Ambassador, President Tinubu acknowledged the active participation of Belgian companies in Nigeria's maritime industry and expressed the need to strengthen political and economic cooperation, particularly in the maritime and energy sectors. 

The President also exchanged views with the Ambassador on the potential dredging of Calabar port to make it more viable for revenue generation.

In his discussions with the Norwegian Ambassador, President Tinubu articulated his energy transition vision for Nigeria, stating that the transition from petroleum to gas to hydrogen is a priority for his administration. 

He called on Norway and other EU-member countries to support the economic reform programmes of his administration, particularly in the areas of food security, preservation, and other key agro-allied investments. 

‘‘You are a valuable partner, and we need your support. We have the population in Nigeria, and one out of every five black persons is a Nigerian. We must stimulate our economy. If Nigeria succeeds, Africa succeeds. This government is promoting a lot of reforms, and it is committed to improving the ease of doing business,’’ the President said.   

The Angolan Ambassador expressed gratitude to Nigeria for its role in liberating his country from colonial rule and expressed his commitment to building sustainable partnerships between the two nations. 

“I have four years to stay in the country, and I have the mandate of my President to build bridges between our countries. I am here to work to build a sustainable partnership,’’ he said.

Ambassador Pieter Leenknegt of Belgium discussed the commercial linkages that bind the port of Antwerp with ports in Lagos and Onitsha, while he expressed interest in expanding their presence to the Calabar port. 

He also called for enhanced ministerial engagements between the two countries, noting the interest of Belgian companies in Nigeria’s renewable energy sector. 

Ambassador Baera of Norway congratulated President Tinubu on the recent affirmation of his election by the Supreme Court. 

‘‘The bold steps you have taken on economic reforms since your assumption of office have been well received by Norwegian firms,’’ he said. 

Stressing the need to strengthen business partnerships between the two nations, the Ambassador noted that there was great interest of Norwegian firms in Nigeria’s agriculture and energy sectors, highlighting recent investments in Nigeria's growing cocoa and solar panel industry. 

The Ambassador of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to Nigeria called for the establishment of direct flights between Nigeria and Venezuela, even as he expressed his country’s desire to deepen economic partnerships between the two oil-producing nations across multiple sectors, in terms of trade and investment.

Hon. Kolawole Davidson Akinlayo Extends Heartfelt Message of Grace and Blessings for November.

Hon. Kolawole Davidson Akinlayo Extends Heartfelt Message of Grace and Blessings for November.                                                      By: Comr Olamide Akinwumi J.

In a touching message, the Member of the House of Representatives for Ekiti North Federal Constituency (II), Hon. Kolawole Davidson Akinlayo, shares his hopes for the new month.

With November on the horizon, Hon. Kolawole Davidson Akinlayo takes a moment to reflect on the past and look forward to a brighter future. In a heartfelt message addressed to the resilient and wonderful people of MOBA, Ido/Osi, and Ilejemeje local governments, he extends his wishes for a month filled with grace, hope, and blessings.

Hon. Akinlayo draws a beautiful analogy, comparing life to a tapestry, with each day as a thread and every month as a new chapter. He calls upon the community to embrace November as a chapter rich in grace, a quality that enables individuals to navigate life's challenges with dignity, kindness, and understanding.

The message underscores the importance of extending grace to one another and emphasizes that it is through shared compassion and support that the community thrives. It encourages everyone to count their blessings, both big and small, such as families, friends, and the beauty of society, and to nurture these blessings while remaining mindful of the responsibility to make the world a better place for all.

The essence of community strength lies in the collective spirit of its people, and Hon. Akinlayo calls for unity in facing challenges, celebrating victories, and building a brighter future together. He wishes for November to bring an abundance of grace, a wellspring of hope, and a cascade of blessings.

Hon. Kolawole Davidson Akinlayo's message reflects his deep care for the community and his commitment to fostering a harmonious and prosperous environment for all residents as the Member of the House of Representatives for Ekiti North Federal Constituency (II).

This heartfelt message resonates with the community as they prepare to welcome the new month of November, filled with grace, hope, and the promise of better days ahead.

Tinubu writes Senate, seeks confirmation of 10 RECs.

Tinubu writes Senate, seeks confirmation of 10 RECs.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday, October 31, asked the Senate to screen and confirm 10 nominees for appointment as Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for a term of five years.

Tinubu’s request was contained in a letter read by the Senate president, Godswill Akpabio at plenary.

The RECs nominees are; Etekamba Umoren (Akwa Ibom), Isah Shaka Ehimeakne (Edo), Oluwatoyin Babalola (Ekiti), Abubakar Ahmed Ma’aji (Gombe), Shehu Wahab (Kwara) and Prof. Mohammed Yelwa (Niger).

Others are Anugbum Onuoha (Rivers), Isma’ila Kaura Moyi (Zamfara), Bunmi Omoseyindemi (Lagos) and Aminu Kasimu Idris (Nasarawa).

Tinubu in his letter asked members of the red chamber to give expeditious consideration to his request.

Credit: The Nation Newspaper

108,000 Kogi voters won’t participate in November 11 election – REC.

108,000 Kogi voters won’t participate in November 11 election – REC.

It has been established that 108,000 registered voters will not vote during the November 11 governorship election in Kogi State, the Resident Electoral Commissioner for the Independent National Electoral Commission, Gabriel Longpet, has disclosed.

The figure represents the number of registered voters who did not show up during the four-week window INEC opened for the collection of Permanent Voter Cards during the last collection exercise which lasted from the September 10, to October 9, 2023.

In an exclusive interview with Arewa PUNCH in his Lokoja office, the Kogi REC further revealed that as at the close of the collection date on October 9, 2023 only 20,000 PVCs had been collected out of the outstanding 128,000 uncollected before the general election of February 2023.

Longpet disclosed, “The last day was 9th October for collection of PVCs, and we identified the number yet to be collected to be 128,000 uncollected PVCs in Kogi State. So, the Commission thought it wise to give more people the opportunity to come forward and collect theirs, since the majority of those affected were those who have requested for transfer and those who have defaced their cards.

“We have since gone through, and I am sad to say that within the period of four weeks, we are not able to distribute to people the number of PVCs we estimated because people didn’t come to collect their cards. Actually, just about 20,000 out of the 128,000 were collected during the period of the four weeks,” he noted.

Arewa PUNCH recalls that Kogi is one of the states whose Governoship election is conducted off INEC’s regular election season. The state does not conduct its elections at the same time with the general election due to an earlier political crisis which led to court injunctions that ensured that the then Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris spent extra nine months in office even after the expiration of his two-term of eight years in 2011.

Before the presidential election, which held February 25,  2023, out of a total 1.65 million registered voters, only 476,038 persons voted. This means that only one in every four registered voters in the state voted in the last presidential election.

While speaking on steps being put in place to ease accessibility to flood prone areas and the riverine parts of the state for easy accessibility and movement of election materials, personnel and logistics, the REC assured that such areas like Ibaji, Kupa, Egon and others already identified would be given special consideration.

“We are talking to the Airforce and the Navy to see the possibility of making use of their Aircraft and boats for conveying both personnel and electoral materials to and from those areas,” he said.

Dr Longpet who also commented on the payment modalities for the Ad-hoc staff stressed that this category of INEC workers have been warned not to domicile their transfer account in any bank not recognised by the Central Bank of Nigeria to avoid delay in payment of their wages after the election.

“Some of those who experienced delay in the payment of their wages last time were those who used online banks that were not recognised by the CBN like ‘OPay’, ‘Palmpay’, ‘Kuda’ and other such online banks. We will not accept those banks this time around to avoid unpleasant experience of not getting paid as and when due,” he advised.

Mr Bakare, pls sir, this Kogi election story too needs simple infographics to better illustrate the story, the reason I’m sending them early

Credit: The Punch Newspaper.