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Credibility Crisis In INEC’s Online Voters’ Online Registration – HURIWA

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Why Anambra Election Is Different - INEC

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has raised the alarm that the ongoing online registration of prospective voters by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) may have been heavily compromised going by the suspicious figures of registrants from officials.

“We appeal to the ebullient and resourceful Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission Professor Yakubu Mahmood to order an immediate investigation into this very serious suspected breaches. HURIWA acknowledges the fact that INEC’s management supports the independence of INEC by the show of courage and patriotism so far in stating the fact that the institution is capable of transmitting the results of elections electronically contrary to the lies told by the National Assembly and the National Communications Commission that intends to erode the constitutional independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission.  So it is expected that the chairman will guard against any technological breaches that may undermine the integrity of the voters registration process , ” the rights group said.

READ ALSO: ASUU Set To Begin Another Strike

Citing the case of Osun State, HURIWA, in a statement by the National Coordinator Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko and the National Media Affairs Director Miss Zainab Yusuf, called for a comprehensive investigation, saying that the recently released updated figures of eligible voters who have registered in the ongoing Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) being conducted online certainly appears twisted and doctored to favour certain political power centres across the country.

Quoting INEC, HURIWA said a breakdown of the statistics uploaded on the commission’s website recently gave Osun State 67,773 out of the total figure of 203, 497 eligible voters who have registered within a week of the start of the online phase of the Continuous Voters Registration at the beginning of July 2021.

According to data released by INEC, Osun State is trailed by another southwest state, Lagos which has 30,338 followed by Ogun State with 8,886.

READ ALSO: INEC Releases 2023 General Elections Timetable

The rights group, which faulted these updated figures, has therefore called for an immediate, transparent and accountable forensic investigation of the process because it is inconceivable that Osun has these figures allotted to it but Anambra State with a highly anticipated governorship election that is only few weeks away is not even mentioned in these “edited and heavily doctored statistics of voters already enlisted by way of the ongoing online registration.

“HURIWA believes that it appears that some political heavyweights have infiltrated the ongoing voters registration process to the extent that there is a systematic manipulation of the process of online pre-registration of voters, hence emerging statistices. Otherwise, it beats one’s imagination that Osun State recorded such a hyperbolic figure compared to other states where off-season governorship elections are expected to hold.

“Although a section of the media quoted sources at INEC as attributing the Osun high figures to the forthcoming 2022 governorship election in the state, we in HURIWA see this half-baked justification as puerile and distasteful because the reason advanced falls flat on its face when it is considered that Ekiti State, which is also expected to conduct governorship election next year, has a meagre 2,734 as prospective voters.

READ ALSO: We’re Ready To Resume Continuous Voter Registration – INEC

Also, Anambra State with a heated gubernatorial poll in another three months is no where near the Osun State magic figures. Ogun State is trailing Lagos with 8,886, as eligible voters who have taken advantage of the online platform for registration. The North-West State of Kano which had the largest number of voters in the 2019 general elections has recorded 2, 988 so far.”

HURIWA therefore warned INEC to be totally non-partisan, neutral and conduct the voters registration with abiding faith in the principle of rule of law and every iota of diligence and scrutiny so as not to push Nigeria into a state of instability because the year 2023 national election would virtually be a referendum on the Nigerian nation-state.

It urged INEC to investigate Osun figures and not hesitate to sanction any of its staff or agents found wanting.

It nevertheless enjoined eligible Nigerians to take advantage of the eligible registration of voters, which starts on Monday, July 26, 2021, to register in order to be in a position to decide Nigeria’s leaderships at state and federal level levels in both the off-season elections and the 2023 general election.

 

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BREAKING: Fire Guts Supreme Court

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A wing of the Supreme Court on fire on Monday morning.

A section of the Supreme Court complex in Abuja, was gutted by fire on Monday morning.

It was learnt that the fire, which started around 7am, caused panic among staff members of the court who scampered to safety.

Though no human casualty was recorded, however, it was not clear whether sensitive documents and files were destroyed by the early morning fire at the court situated at the Three-Arm-Zone, Abuja.

It was learnt that the fire might have been caused by electrical malfunction in one of the offices within the administrative wing of the court.

The source confirmed that three offices, including that of Justice Mohammed Saulawa, was touched by the fire before it was eventually put off.

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Abiodun Pays Tribute To Alaperu’s Late Wife, Harps On Enduring Legacies

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Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun

Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun has extolled the exemplary virtues of the late wife of the Alaperu of Iperu, Olori Kehinde Idowu Basibo-Odoru, describing her as a strong pillar for her husband and a unifying factor for the entire royal family while alive.

The late queen was born on April 23, 1962, and passed on at the age of 61 on 27th July 2023. Her funeral and thanksgiving service was held on Friday at the St. James Anglican Church, Iperu.

The governor, in his remarks, expressed his heartfelt condolences to the royal father, Alaiyeluwa, Oba Adeleke Idowu-Basibo, and the people of the town over the loss, as he prayed for necessary fortitude to carry on in her absence.

He recounted the enviable attributes of the late Olori while alive as bold, lovely and supportive; with passion to help those around her, adding that she would be sorely missed by her immediate family, the entire town of Iperu and Ogun State in general.

“On behalf of the government and the good people of Ogun State, I want to express my heartfelt condolences to my brother, the Alaperu of Iperu, Oba Adeleke Idowu-Basibo, on the passing of his adorable wife.

“The late Olori was a friend and reliable companion to her husband till death. She was also a doting mother to her children. We are going to sorely miss her; may the good Lord repose her soul,” Abiodun said.

The governor counselled the congregation on the need to be fair to all in all ways while alive, to leave worthy legacies after death as exemplified by the late Queen.

He continued: “Life is a journey; we all have our exit points. We have no power over that, it is inevitable. What is important is what we do while we are here, what type of tribute would be written about you when you are no more.”

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BREAKING: Govt Increases Salaries Of University Lecturers, Others

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Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamma

In a bid to improve the lot of tertiary education, the Federal Government has increased the salaries of the lecturers and non-academic staff in the nation’s public universities.

The increase was approved by the National Salaries, Wages and Income Commission.

This includes payment of a newly approved percentage increment in salaries for academic and non-academic staff of all Federal Government’s tertiary institutions in the country.

This is as the percentage increment for junior staff of tertiary institutions was raised from 23.5% which was reviewed last year to 25%. Our correspondent gathered that the arrears of the increment from January 2023 will also be paid.

Though nothing was said about the withheld salaries of the academics and non-academics who embarked on strike in 2022, it was learnt that the Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman, earlier wrote the Chairman of the NSIWC, Ekpo Nta, to demand the status of the collective.

According to sources within the Ministry of Education, the decision of the minister to write the NSIWC might not be unconnected from visitations by some of the academic unions and intervention by some pressure groups.

When asked if polytechnic lecturers were aware of the new development, the National President of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, Dr. Anderson Ezeibe, said that the union heard of the news and were looking forward to the implementation.

“Definitely, we heard of it and we are looking forward to it. There will be 25% increment for junior lecturers while chief lecturers and professors will benefit from 35% increment,” he said.

The National Vice-President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Prof. Chris Piwuna, disclosed that such a letter would be addressed to the management of universities and not ASUU.

A letter by the Chief Executive Officer/Chairman of the NSIWC, Eyo Nta, which was addressed to the Minister of Education on September 14,2023 shortly before his departure to the United Nations General Assembly in New York
tagged ‘RE: Implementation of the 35% and 23.5% salary increment for staff of tertiary institutions,’ reads: “I refer to your letter No. FME/IS/UNI/ASUU/C.I/IT?/90 dated 8th September 2023 in respect of the above-subject. Find attached the circulars pertaining to the four salary structures in the Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education for your information (attached).

“The 23.5% earlier reflected in our letter SWC/S/04/S.149/I/59 of 28 July 2022 and stated in paragraph 2 of your letter, has been increased to 25% which accounted for the increased cost implications. This Commission is really pleased with the success your informal discussions have achieved. We shall endeavour to support all your efforts aimed at repositioning the Education Sector. Please accept the assurances of my warm regards.”

Consequently, the commission proceeded to issue a circular also dated September 14, 2023 and addressed to the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Office of the Accountant General of the Federation among others informing them of the implementation of the newly reviewed salaries.

The circular reads: “ The Presidential Committee on Salaries at its 13th meeting having taken into consideration the various stages of collective bargaining in various sectors, and specifically engagements between the Federal Ministry of Education and Tertiary Institutions-based Unions, and consequent upon the Federal Government’s approval, as well as 2023 budgetary provisions, approval is hereby conveyed for the revision of the Consolidated Polytechnics and Colleges of Education Salary Structure for academic staff of Federal Polytechnics and Colleges of Education, with effect from 1st January 2023.”

Also, a letter from the Office of the Auditor General of the Federation dated September 21, 2023 which was made available to our correspondent on Friday in Abuja confirmed the increment.

The letter which was signed on behalf of the Director, Human Resource of the office, Ajanaku F.O reads, “I am directed to inform you that the Presidential Committee on Salaries at it’s 13th meeting having taken into consideration the different stages of collective bargaining in various sectors and specifically engagements between the Federal Ministry of Education and Tertiary Institutions-based Unions and consequently the Federal Government’s approval, is hereby conveyed as revised for the following:-

“Consolidated Polytechnics and Colleges of Education Salary Structure for Academic Staff of Federal Polytechnics and Colleges of Education with effect from 1st January, 2023.

“Consolidated Tertiary Institutions Salary Structure II for non-Academic Staff of Federal Universities, with effect from 1st January, 2023.

“Consolidated Tertiary Education Institutions Salary Structure for non – Academic Staff of Federal Polytechnics and Colleges of Education, with effect from 1st January, 2023.

“Consolidated University Academic Salary Structure II (CONUASS II) for Academic Staff of Federal University with effect from 1st January, 2023.”

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