News
INEC Swears in Additional Nine New RECs
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, on Tuesday swore in nine additional Resident Electoral Commissioners.
The Senate had on November 1, 2023, approved the appointment of seven of the nominees of President Bola Tinubu as RECs of the Commission.
The appointment followed Tinubu’s request for confirmation of the nomination of the RECs for INEC in accordance with the provisions of Section 154(1) of the Constitution.
At the swearing-in ceremony held at the INEC Headquarters in Abuja, Yakubu told the nine new RECs that the conduct of elections was not only a huge responsibility but also a sacred duty urging them to be guided by the electoral legal framework, the code of conduct for RECs and good conscience.
He said, “The conduct of elections is not only a huge responsibility but also a sacred duty. As RECs, you are the representatives of the Commission in the various States to which you will be deployed shortly.
“I urge you not to engage in a puerile debate that adds no value to your work. At the same time, you must not be impervious to genuine criticisms. You must maintain the Commission’s tradition of regular consultations with critical stakeholders.
“You must always be very firm in ensuring fairness and transparency to all. Let me make it clear to you from the outset that you must at all times be guided by the electoral legal framework, the code of conduct for RECs, and your good conscience.
“Similarly, I must warn you to understand and operate within the limits of your delegated powers and responsibilities. Our State offices are part and parcel of the Commission and we will not hesitate to deal with acts of defiance, indiscretion, or transgression on the part of any REC.”
The INEC chairman further noted that the 10th REC-designate would be sworn in next month on the expiry of the tenure of the REC representing Akwa Ibom State currently deployed to Delta State.
He said, “Today, nine out of the 10 RECs screened and confirmed by the National Assembly were sworn in at this ceremony.
“The tenth REC-designate will be sworn in next month on the expiry of the tenure of the REC representing Akwa Ibom State currently deployed to Delta State. By the proactive decision taken by the appointing authority, there will be no long waiting period before the vacancy is filled.
“Let me therefore seize this opportunity to commend the selfless and dedicated service rendered to the commission and the nation by the outgoing REC in Delta State, Reverend Dr Monday Udo Tom. The same appreciation is extended to all the other RECs whose tenure ended after serving meritoriously.”
Mahmood added that this was the first time that several INEC career officers were appointed as RECs, calling on them to hit the ground immediately.
“Among the nine new RECs, four have been career officers of the Commission rising to the rank of Director. They have been involved in elections and electoral activities both in the field and at the Headquarters.
“Their experiences traversed electoral operations, election and party monitoring and electoral litigation. This is the first time that several INEC career officers have been appointed as RECs. You are not new to the conduct of elections. There is no learning curve for you.
“Consequently, there can be no excuses for failing to hit the ground running and for making a huge difference to the quality and transparency of elections. The other five RECs are sworn in today and have varied experiences in public service at both the National and State levels. We will hold you to the same standard as we hold the career officers of the Commission.”
The new RECs have been deployed as follows: Abubakar Dambo Sarkin Pawa, Kebbi; Abubakar Ma’aji Ahmed, Borno; Dr. Anugbum Onuoha, Edo State; Ehimeakhe Shaka Isah,
Akwa Ibom; Aminu Idris, Kaduna; Mohammed Sadiq Abubakar, Kwara; Barr. Oluwatoyin Babalola, Ondo; Olubunmi Omoseyindemi, Ekiti; and Shehu Wahab, Nasarawa.
Barr. Oluwatoyin Babalola who spoke on behalf of the newly sworn-in RECs pledged to be loyal to their duties while recognising their responsibilities as RECs in Nigeria.
Until her appointment, Barr. Oluwatoyin Babalola from Ekiti State was the Director of Legal Services at the commission’s headquarters.
Aminu Idris from Nasarawa state was a retired director, Election and Political Parties Monitoring Department, at the INEC headquarters.
Shehu Abdulwahab was the INEC’s administrative secretary in Benue State before he was appointed a REC.
News
FG launches new digital postcodes
The code is designed to provide a precise, GIS-enabled reference for identifying locations.
• Image credit: NIPOST
The Federal Government has launched the National Digital Alphanumeric Postcode System, urging Nigerians to find and begin using their postcodes.
The National Digital Alphanumeric Postcode, operated by the Nigerian Postal Service, gives every addressable building a unique 11-character code — the code is designed to provide a precise, GIS-enabled reference for identifying locations.system. Easier to find, share and use.
The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani announced the launch in a post on X on Thursday.
Tijani described the system as a step towards making locations across the country easier to identify and connecting people and businesses to services and opportunities.
Tijani said the system could help businesses reach customers beyond their immediate neighbourhoods, enable families to provide accurate locations during emergencies and help government agencies reach communities with essential services.
The minister encouraged Nigerians to search for their postcodes through the official Digital Postcode website, postcode.gov.ng, and share them with family members, friends and businesses.
News
Nigeria @ 66: President Tinubu says next phase of reforms’ll cut cost of living
“Our reforms did not create the weaknesses in our economy. They confronted them,” he said, while warning against attempts to reverse the policies and return to what he described as the “abuse of addictive subsidies”.
President Bola Tinubu has declared that the next phase of his administration’s reform will be focused on reducing the cost of living, creating jobs and ensuring that the benefits of economic growth were widely shared.
President Tinubu gave the assurance in his Independence Day address to mark Nigeria’s 66th anniversary, titled “From Reform to Prosperity”, in which he defended the economic policies of his administration and urged Nigerians to stay the course.
Tinubu said the reforms undertaken since his assumption of office had corrected the country’s economic direction, describing them as painful but necessary treatment for longstanding structural problems.
Using a cancer patient as an analogy, the President said Nigeria had for too long treated the symptoms of its economic problems rather than confronting their underlying causes.
“By 2023, poverty was rising, and hope was nearly gone. The country’s situation was darker than ever. We had no choice but to act,” he said.
Tinubu said previous administrations had chosen “morphine” by sustaining inefficient arrangements and postponing difficult decisions, while his administration chose to “excise the cancer”.
He acknowledged that the reforms had produced painful “side effects”, but argued that the hardship should not be confused with the underlying economic problems they were designed to address.
“Our reforms did not create the weaknesses in our economy. They confronted them,” he said, while warning against attempts to reverse the policies and return to what he described as the “abuse of addictive subsidies”.
The President’s speech came as some stakeholders and analysts regretted that, despite various reforms embarked upon by successive Federal Governments, the country was yet to come out of the woods economically and socially.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has demanded the immediate release of five men arrested in Borno State for wearing T-shirts bearing the slogan “Tinubu Must Go.”
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate condemned the arrests, describing the slogan as a legitimate political expression rather than a crime. He argued that wearing a T-shirt with a political message should not lead to detention in a democracy.
The five men — identified as Baba Aji Gremami, Mustapha Abba Yemen, Abacha Mohammed Ali, Adam Umar Gubio and Abdulhamid Mohammed — were reportedly arrested by the Borno State Police Command in Maiduguri and charged with offences including criminal conspiracy and inciting disturbance.
Atiku recalled that President Bola Tinubu had previously protested against the fuel pricing policies of the Goodluck Jonathan administration. He insisted that Nigerians must equally be free to express dissatisfaction with current government policies.
“‘Tinubu Must Go’ is a demand for political change. It is not a weapon, a threat or a crime,” Atiku said. “Tinubu was free to tell Jonathan that his policies were hurting Nigerians. Nigerians must be free to tell Tinubu that his policies are hurting them. Release these five citizens now.”
He called on the authorities to disclose the detainees’ whereabouts, grant them access to their families and lawyers, and free them if the political slogan was the sole basis for their arrest.
Naira Rates To Dollar, Pound ,Euro… Friday, October 2
Obafemi Hamzat promises to end ‘unauthorised levies’ in Lagos if he is elected
President Tinubu, Other Political Leaders Watch MKO Documentary
Tech Expert, Zuckerberg trains with UFC champions, Adesanya, Alexander
Organ Trafficking: Ekweremadu bags 10 years in UK prison
SAINT OBI: Between his marriage and his death
-
Business3 days agoNaira To Dollar, Pound, Euro… Rates Friday, October 1
-
News3 days agoNigeria @ 66: President Tinubu says next phase of reforms’ll cut cost of living
-
Business3 days agoCourt orders NMDPRA to continue issuing fuel import licences to Matrix Energy, AA Rano, AYM Shafa
-
News3 days agoFG launches new digital postcodes
-
Business3 days agoMinister Tasks Charcoal Merchants on Sustainable Forestry
-
International3 days agoHow Passengers Overpowered Flydubai Co-Pilot After Stabbing Pilot, To Crash Plane
-
Business3 days agoObasanjo: “Aliko Embarrass Me”
-
Sports2 days agoNBA closes basketball academy in Africa