13/06/23

PRESS RELEASE

Conference Of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) and civil society organisations (CSOs) under the aegis of the Coalition Of National Civil Society Organisations (CNCSOs) have demanded that the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu resign from office.

The CNPP and the CSOs issued a 14-day ultimatum to Prof. Yakubu to step aside or they will galvanised all democratic and legal means to force him to do so.

In a statement jointly signed by the CNPP Secretary General, Chief Willy Ezugwu and the National Secretary of the Coalition, Alhaji Ali Abacha, they explained that the INEC Chairman, who failed to deploy the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) it procured “despite billions of naira wasted on the 2023 general elections is not worthy of remaining in office and must not be allowed to continue to waste the nation’s resources in conduct of future elections.”

According to the statement issued in Abuja, the CNPP and the CSOs said that they are equally disturbed that “INEC under Prof. Yakubu has equally constituted itself into an obstruction to justice in the electioneering process in Nigeria by becoming a partisan umpire and opposing petitioners who are in the various tribunals to seek justice after being allegedly rigged out in the elections.”

They also accused the INEC Chairman of inflating about N105.25 billion spent on acquiring BVAS machines for the 2023 polls, saying that “despite having been severally accused of manipulating the February 25 presidential election results, counsel to INEC, Abubakar Mahmoud, recently aligned with the position of the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the February 25 presidential election to object to the presentation of subpoenaed witnesses who were INEC ad-hoc staff during the 2023 presidential election in the petition filed by Atiku Abubakar and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“We recall that at the resumption of proceedings on Atiku’s petition last Thursday in Abuja, one of the witnesses, Egwuma Friday from Kubwa area of Abuja entered the witness box and prayed the court to admit his witness statement, but all respondents in the petition, including INEC, raised objections to stop the witness from testifying.

“This is the same INEC that has been accused of manipulating election results by deliberately refusing to transmit polling units results as promised real-time.

“From mere allegations, a staff of INEC, Abedemi Joseph on Friday told the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) that they were instructed by the commission under Prof. Yakubu, their employer, not to give copies of election results to political party agents who declined to sign the results.

“It’s now becoming more obvious that, until INEC Chairman exited from the commission, rebuilding confidence in the electoral body will be impossible due to the now battered image of the commission in the eyes of the electorates.

“More so, INEC under Prof. Yakubu took four years to mislead Nigerians by creating false impression that uploading of the election results to the BVAS real-time was the only way to go for the country’s electoral system.

“Contrary to expectations, INEC made it impossible for electoral officers to upload the results of the presidential election real-time from the polling units, which may have created room for the upload of manipulated election results.

“We note that the former Minister of Transportation and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, had revealed that a member of the camp of the presidential candidate of his party, now President Bola Tinubu, nominated the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Yakubu, for his reappointment for a second term.

“In the words of Amaechi, ‘There are those of us who opposed the reappointment of Yakubu Mahmood. The person who nominated him is a member of Tinubu’s camp. So what are you expecting?’

“So, how can anyone convince Nigerians that such a character remain in office as INEC Chairman for a single day, not to even think of allowing him to conduct another election in the country?

“We equally call on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), other anti-graft agencies, as well as the Department Of State Services (DSS) to immediately commence investigation of INEC’s N105.25 billion budgetted for acquiring 200,000 units of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) as the budget has been found to have surpassed the estimated market cost by a whopping 30.4 percent, yet Nigeria lost the anticipated benefits, and for constituting himself into a national security risk as his continued stay in office could trigger violence in the country.

“According our findings as corroborated by the media, the BVAS machines, which were deploy during the now controversial 2023 general elections, EMP2920 Biometric tablets, were manufactured and supplied by Shenzhen Emperor Technology at an inflated unit cost of $795 (N366,089.55 at the rate of N460.47/$) as against the Amazon price, where the device sells under a different name SecuMind Tablet Biometric CX2920.

“Why should the INEC Chairman remain in office after wasting 34.51 percent of the total sum of N355 billion budgeted for the 2023 polls on the procurement of biometric devices that never worked?

“In a sane clime, such an official who failed woefully to conduct an acceptable general elections after receiving all he asked for should have long resigned.

“We, therefore, demand the immediate resignation of the INEC Chairman within 14 days.

“At the expiration of the ultimatum, all democratic and legal means possible would be deployed to force him to quit the office.

“All the CNPP organs at the state level and the civil society groups under the CNCSOs across the country are being mobilised for appropriate action in event that Prof. Yakubu remains in office after two weeks from today.

“It is on record that the CNPP and the CSOs fully backed INEC in the build up to the 2023 general elections and insisted that all that the commission required should be made available to it since INEC Chairman had assured of conducting a free, fair and credible elections.

“The same promise to do what is right was made by the INEC Chairman at the CHATHAM House before the elections and today, the world is seeing Nigeria as a mockery among the comity of nations, especially with the testimonies emanating from the election petition courts where INEC staff are indicting the commission under Prof. Yakubu.

“Therefore, if the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, who followed the instructions of former President Muhammadu Buhari to redesign the naira to ensure that illicit funds were not deployed for 2023 elections, could be ordered to step aside from office, why should Prof. Yakubu, who has done more harm to the psyche of Nigerian electorates than any past Chairman of the commission in Nigeria’s history, remain in office?

“Prof Yakubu dashed the hopes Nigerians in a credible 2023 electoral system, raising voter apathy to the highest level in the country, and for us, it’s time up for Prof Mahmood Yakubu to quit the stage as INEC Chairman. Enough is enough”, the statement concluded.

12/06/23

SHINA J.O

The President Hailed past Heros of democracy,MKO Abiola, Kudirat, Alfred Rewane, Yar’adua

….. Said illegal court orders will no longer be tolerated

President Bola Tinubu has urged all Nigerians to rededicate themselves to strengthening the form of government of free peoples that has been the nation’s guiding light in the past 24 years.

The President said this on Monday in his first Nationwide Broadcast to the nation to commemorate June 12 democracy day.

He urge Nigerians not to take democracy for granted but forever jealously guard and protect it like a precious jewel.

He urged elected public officials at various levels in both the executive and legislative arms of government to recommit themeslves to offering selfless service to the people, and delivering concrete democracy dividends in accordance with their electoral promises.

The President says under his watch the unnecessary illegal orders used to truncate or abridge democracy will no longer be tolerated.

He explained that the recent harmonization of the retirement age for judicial officers is meant to strengthen the rule of law, which is a critical pillar of democracy, adding that the reform has just started.

The Nigerian Leader noted that the democracy MKO Abiola died for is one that promotes the welfare of the people over personal interests of the ruling class and one where the governed can find personal fulfillment and happiness.

President Tinubu hailed the contribution’s of heroes of democracy such as Kudirat Abiola, wife of Chief Abiola, Pa Alfred Rewane, Major General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua (rtd) saying they gave their yesterday for the liberty that is ours today.

On the recent removal of Fuel Subsidy, The President says “we must bear to save our country from going under and take our resources away from the stranglehold of a few unpatriotic elements”

He said his administration will repay Nigerians for their sacrifice through massive investment in transportation infrastructure, education, regular power supply, healthcare and other public utilities that will improve the quality of lives.

President Tinubu pledged the commitment of his administration to diligently fulfilling every component of it’s electoral pact with the people under the ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda.

He says his administration shall exercise authority and mandate to Govern with fairness, respect for the rule of law, and commitment to always uphold the dignity of all the people.

PRESS STATEMENT


Saturday, 10th June, 2023

Monday, June 12, 2023, Annually celebrated as Nigeria’s official Democracy Day, has been declared as a day of Nationwide Protests by the June 12 Pro Democracy Movement of Nigeria in conjunction with United Action Front of Civil Society, comprising eminent Civil Society Leaders and Pro democracy activists affiliated to about 120 concerned CSOs in Nigeria, who are conscious of the hardship and anarchy that the transfer of the cost and burden of Nigeria’s fraudulent subsidy regime on ordinary Nigerians, will further inflict on national security and productivity.

In a decisive resolve to compel Government to reverse its latest controversial and unbearable fuel prices back to the former official price of N167 per litre and also to enter into immediate consultations and negotiations with key segments and stakeholders of country, including Labour, Private Sector and the Organised Civil Society to agree a national consensus on how to deal with fuel subsidy question in Nigeria, the coalition have decided to mobilise and lead the collective intervention of Nigerian citizens, youths and the masses to ensure that the ELITE CONSENSUS to remove the Fraudulent Fuel SUBSIDY in Nigeria does not become another opening for state Cartel to manipulate and exploit the subsidy removal policy to further dis-empower and pauperize the vulnerable and poor in Nigeria in order not to plunge the vast majority of Nigerians into deeper economic crises, crimes and insecurity.

The leaders and activists, who took this decision at a consultative meeting last night over the increasing pain and sufferings being experienced daily by ordinary Nigerians also agree on the following:

1. That since there seems to be a national elite consensus that the Fraudulent contraption called FUEL SUBSIDY should be removed, it is therefore obvious that all other subsidy regimes in Nigeria are plagued with the same disease of corruption and official mismanagement. Targeting just the fuel subsidy is anti-people. ALL CORRUPT/ PHANTOM SUBSIDIES MUST BE REMOVED.
2. This consensus for removal notwithstanding, the organised Civil Society and Pro Democracy Movements frown and object to the lack of consultations and the dictatorial tendencies exhibited by government, in removing the subsidy, especially the unilateral decision and arbitrary way it acted in its first week in office.
3. The Coalition also insist on the reversal of the latest price regime of fuel for the template used to arrive at the new outrageous pump prices to be verified by all stakeholders. Other questions of how much are the savings from the removal of Subsidy? Who owns the savings therefrom and what they will be applied to beyond the servicing of those spurious debts created by Buhari and what are the direct correlation between fuel subsidy removal and available funds for capital projects and infrastructural development in Nigeria? All these in the estimation of the coalition need to be urgently addressed by all concerned and affected stakeholders.
4. Similarly, the coalition resolved to collate and generate popular demand of Nigerian Citizens and Civil Society on the $800m World Bank SUBSIDY loan collected by the Federal Government in terms of its application and to raise issues about the supply side of refined petroleum products vis a vis full deregulation of the oil sector in allowing for other players and healthy competition, while addressing the NNPC Ltd question. Whether it is going to remain as an arm of government and its true powers in the context of Petroleum Industry Act, PIA, its holistic implementation and the pricing of PMS in Nigeria.
5. That in addressing the recently signed agreement of government with TUC and NLC, as a component of the broad demand of the larger workforce of the country, who are majorly in the informal/private sector and in the civil society, who is going to handle what and how will the funding for the implementation of the agreement going to be sourced?
6. That the empirical data before the Civil Society shows that the real problem with the Nigerian economy is the cost of governance and the privileges showered on a few elites in government and around government, which are paid for through state funds and how to deal with this powerful cartel that Kashim Shettima spoke about recently during his meeting with state Governors.

To this end and flowing from the resolution of the coalition to openly express it dissatisfaction and rejection of the manner in which government unilaterally imposed a new regime of outrageous and unbearable cost of subsidy removal on the innocent masses of Nigeria through foisted hike of fuel prices by the NNPC Ltd, the National Coordinating Team was mandated to Mobilise and coordinate a nationwide mass protests slated to commence on Monday, June 12, 2023, and to develope a popular template of what the organised Civil Society and Nigerian Citizens actually want from Government as touching the harsh effects of its Subsidy Removal Policy

It was further decided that on Monday, June 12, every concerned and affected Nigerians is expected to adorn a shade of black outfit and to make and take up placards with clear protest inscription to show the rejection of government callousness on the fuel subsidy question. Citizens are also directed to post their various protest inscriptions, slogans and recorded or snapped activities to a dedicated online portal of the organised civil society to be announced on Sunday for online civic referendum to be conducted by the coalition on the kind of economic reforms, plan and development the citizens prefer in the light of the removal of petroleum Subsidy

The coalition also endorsed a national engagement platform tagged “The June 12 National Dialogue” of eminent stakeholders in Nigeria slated to hold on Monday, June 12 in commemoration of Democracy Day of Nigeria. This will include past and present rulers of the country, legislators, representatives of the private sector, labour and the organised civil society in charting the way out of the current subsidy and electoral crisis in Nigeria.

Finally, the coalition directed all its affiliates, allies and Stakeholders in the 36 States and Abuja to collaboratively mobilise for the June 12 Citizens Mass Protests and to undertake dynamic protest actions and demonstrations during their June 12 commemorative events that are in tandem with their peculiar environment in compelling the Tinubu’s government to stem its foisted economic and political crisis in the country.

To this end, State affiliates of the coalition are strongly advised to partner with all progressive Mass media in their various states and to explore all available social media platforms, while organising various stakeholders into different tasks teams of the new coalition at the State and Local Government Areas levels in preparation for the National Citizens Mass Action to commence on Monday, 12th June, 2023

Signed:
For: June 12 Movement
& United Action Front of Civil Society:
Olawale Okunniyi
08033993867
Head of Secretariat,
National Coordinating Centre.

JUNE 10th 2023

JAF’s Position on the Suspension of Planned Strike by the NLC
Struggle against Criminal Hike in Petrol Price, other Anti-Poor Capitalist Policies and Economic Hardship Must Continue by the Working People and Youth!

1. The Joint Action Front (JAF) receives with disappointment the suspension of the strike that was scheduled to commence on Wednesday, July 7 by the Nigeria Labour Congress against the criminal hike in petrol price under the guise of fuel subsidy removal. We feel strongly that the NLC should have gone ahead with the action in compliance with the resolution of its NEC of June 2 as the government had not met the demand for the reversal to petrol prices, which was rightly made as the condition precedent for any further negotiation
2. At the moment, millions of workers and poor Nigerians are finding it hard to go out daily to earn their living. Society is in a state of semi-paralysis and the worsening socio-economic situations have forced governments in Kwara and Edo States to direct their workers to only come to work thrice in a week. In other states, workers are trekking to work. This is aside many others, who depend on generators to carry out their socio-economic activities at work and domestic activities at home, in order to endure darkness because they cannot afford the new petrol price! This deplorable state of hardship cannot continue for long before a social explosion, would inevitably occurs! Unfortunately, the trade unions leadership’s capitulatory approach of negotiating for palliatives, which even, if granted, will not cushion the effect of the subsidy removal for the majority of the population! The tradition of the Labour movement is to stand firm in a principled struggle, by insisting not only on the reversal of the hike in the petrol price and but to advance the demand for public ownership of the oil and gas sector under workers’ control and democratic management!
4. In view of this, JAF hereby calls on Nigerian workers, youth and the poor not to be demoralized by the highly condemnable surrender to the Government’s intimidation of black market court injunction, without any iota of commitment to fight in defence of the working people and poor! Even, the new Government and its hurriedly packaged negotiators of ex-trade union bureaucrats in admixture with NNPC and private individuals on the Government’s team, were alarmed to have an easy ride to victory! The Government’s had a price on which to negotiate, as a fall back position, but nothing the leadership of the trade unions could have negotiated in the absence of adequate organising, en-mass mobilisation and materials readiness to inspire the workers and the population, other than to surrender to the regime and its IMF-World Bank deceptive imposition!
5. We consider it even more worrisome the reason given in the communique of the NEC of the NLC of June 6 for the suspension which was the need to obey the black-market injunction procured by the government in the name of a so-called rule of law. We are of the opinion that this decision has set a bad precedent that will be exploited by the government whenever workers embark on a strike forced on them by the refusal of the same government to fulfil its own obligation or meet the legitimate demands of workers. We already saw this with the last strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities. We hold that even on the basis of the principle of reciprocity given the blatant breach of the 2023 Appropriation Act, which makes the provision for petrol subsidy up till the end of June, by Bola Tinubu’s government, the NLC had a solid ground to disregard the injunction procured by the same government. The same bourgeois rule of law has a maxim that says one who comes into equity must come with clean hands. So, as against the suggestion in the communique of the June 5 NLC’s NEC, going ahead with an action aimed at defending the interest and living conditions of the vast majority of Nigerians does not amount to encouraging lawlessness.
6. Therefore, we support the NLC for registering “in strongest terms its disgust and disapproval with the ruling of the National Industrial Court (NIC) for its continuous weaponization of the instrument of Exparte injunction in favour of Government against the interest of Nigerian workers”.
7. But we would like the Labour leadership to realise that court and law are primarily instruments of repression of interests of working class and the poor by the state. So, the Labour leadership has a responsibility to ensure that any law or court order that attacks the livelihood and conditions of the vast majority is ignored at all times and mobilise for its defeat with a mass action by the working people.
8. We note that from the agreement signed with the government on Monday June 5, and the NLC’s NEC Communique of June 6, both the NLC and TUC have dropped the demand for the reversal of the obnoxious hike of petrol price. We condemn this decision which is logically not unconnected to the capitulation of the organized Labour to the neo-liberal policy of deregulation as shown by the agreement signed with the government following the botched strike of September 2020. We strongly hold that this is wrong and will continue to engage Labour leadership over it as well as the entire neo-liberal economic agenda, which is antithetical to the interest of workers, and also agitate within the trade union movement for the return to the tradition of opposition to anti-poor capitalist policies. We also call on workers to challenge this retreat of their leadership on the question of fuel price hike by raising their voice of opposition within their trade unions. If a mass opposition develops within the rank and file of the trade unions against the action of the leaders, they can be forced to abandon their current barren approach for one that seriously fights to defend members’ interests.
9. However, we identify with some of the demands put forward by the Organised Labour in their ongoing negotiations with the government. These include revival of the state-owned refineries and N200,000 minimum wage. But it should be realized that without a mass struggle, a demand such as a decent minimum wage will not be met or implemented. This a lesson from the current minimum wage which has not been implemented by many states despite having come into effect since 2019.
10. By and large, despite our objection to the latest decision of the leadership of the Organised Labour over the criminal hike in petrol price, we are prepared as usual to continue to join the NLC and TUC as well as individual industrial unions over any agitation and demands in the defence of interests and conditions of workers.
11. Also importantly, we of the JAF are prepared, independently or with other groups, to continue the mobilization and sensitization of working people, youth and the poor masses in general for resistance not only against the petrol price hike but also other anti-poor policies such as the hike in fees at public universities and devaluation of naira which Tinubu government has planned to unleash. Therefore, we call on artisans, traders, community people and youth to organize and resist any attack on their interest, living conditions and means of livelihood.
12. We in the JAF and other organisations of the people should be prepared to provide leadership should the mass of Nigerians decide they want to take their destinies in their own hands. To this effect, mass meetings need to be held and democratic committees of struggles need to be set up at all workplaces, communities and campuses. And such a series of activities should be linked up across cities and states in order to provide a powerful lever for the struggle against this criminal policy of fuel imposition. Through consistent but determined mass protests and demonstrations across the length and breadth of the country, we can compel the regime to reverse this criminal policy.
    12. Most importantly, we reiterate our consistent call on workers, artisans, traders and youth to join us in the struggle for a System Change which means an END to the unjust system of capitalism and its failed policies of Privatisation, Deregulation, etc, and its reign of looting and exploitation by the corrupt capitalist ruling cabals in order to bring forth a new political and economic order under a just system (socialism). It is only a just SYSTEM that can ensure that the wealth of the country is judiciously used to benefit the majority working population (formal and informal sectors) and the oppressed poor.
13. 
    Be prepared & join others to organise for mass action
14. dare to struggle, dare to win!

DR. DIPO FASHINA Comrade ABIODUN AREMU
JAF Chairperson JAF Secretary

11/06/23

SHINA JO

Few Days to the inauguration of 10th National Assembly, Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima on Saturday told Senators-elect that the stability of Federal Republic of Nigeria is far important than the stability of their pockets.

The Vice President made this known during the Valedictory plenary in the upper chamber, urging senators elect to vote wisely on Tuesday June 13th during election of principal officers of the 10th Legislature

Senator Shettima says the chamber will forever be memories of lives touched by the laws and decisions made by the senators

He called on those who will continue in the next Assembly to be bound by the ideals of democracy

He promised that the new administration will work to renew hope for the citizens

BENEDICTA T.D

11/06/23

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, has rescued about 1,200 victims of human trafficking, convicted Ten Suspects from 2022 till date in Kaduna State.

The State commander of the Agency, Musa Aliyu stated this during a programme where about Eighty Victims of Human Trafficking benefitted from a free medical outreach in Katsina State aimed at reducing the impact of psychological trauma on victims and returned migrants.

The outreach was carried out under the Strengthening Niger-Nigeria Cooperation on Countering Trafficking in Human Beings project by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons in collaboration with the International Centre for Migration Policy Development, ICMPD.

At the program, the Director General of, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, Dr. Fatima Waziri-Azi who was represented by the Director of Counselling and Rehabilitation of the Agency, Angela Agbayekhai said the project was necessary to reduce the impact of psychological trauma on Victims of human trafficking and returned migrants.

According to her, the only challenge the agency faces during counseling is the inability of the victims to speak up in the first encounter.

The program assistant of the International Centre for Migration Policy Development, Adeniyi Bakre said the project was aimed at building the capacity of shelter operators in the identification, care, reception, rehabilitation, and reintegration of victims.

The project is implemented by ICMPD through support from NAPTIP and the National Agency for the Fight against Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants in the Niger Republic.

10/06/23

DANIELS O.G

PRESS RELEASE

The Director General of National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Professor Fatima Waziri – Azi, has advocated all-round support for Parents and Caregivers so that they can be properly informed and enlightened with requisite knowledge on how to protect their children from the hands of traffickers and violent people.

Professor Fatima Waziri – Azi stated this in Abuja at a One-Day round table meeting on Parenting tagged “Evidence–based Parenting Support to Help Nigerian Parents Raise their Children to Reach their Full Potential in Life” hosted by the Oxford Policy Engagement Network (OPEN) and the Global Parenting Initiatives at the Department of Social policy and Intervention, University of Oxford.

The Director General pointed out that due to the evolving nature of Human Trafficking occasioned by globalization, parents need to know those trending recruitment methods and risks involved in Child Trafficking and Violence Against Persons and pass such important information to their Children.

Speaking at the workshop, Dr. Isang Awah, Head of Advocacy at the Global Parenting Initiative, said that the workshop was designed to explore how various stakeholders could work together to ensure that Nigerian parents have access to free evidence-based, playful parenting support so that they are equipped with the knowledge and tools to help their children realize their learning potential and to prevent child sexual abuse, exploitation, and family violence.

She explained how parenting interventions work and shared research findings that show that parenting interventions reduce violence against children, improve the mental health of parents and children, increase adolescents’ chances of thriving in school, and reduce adolescents’ chances of using drugs and engaging in risky sexual behaviours.

Dr Isang outlined different accelerators to address the challenges of child upbringing including food security, safe schools, parenting support, and good mental health.

It was a highly impactful meeting as participants who were drawn from Ministries, Department, and Agencies (MDAs), Development Partners, Members of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), and even the media, took time to evaluate issues confronting the well-being of Children and agreed on the need to scale up care for children, support for parents and caregivers and massive awareness for all stakeholders, all in the interest of the Children.

Key presentations at the meeting include Emotional Well-being and Mental Health of Children, Strengthen Care Givers – Child Relationship, Quality Education for the Children, and others.
The participants commended the sponsor of the meeting, Oxford Policy Engagement Network (OPEN), and the Global Parenting Initiatives, describing it as timely in view of the numerous issues threatening the growth and well-being of Children in the Country.
There was a general consensus on the need for a Policy on parenting in Nigeria.

Adekoye Vincent
Press Officer, NAPTIP.