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RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has approved the establishment of state and local government police.

President Buhari has also approved the dismissal of 37 police officers as recommended by the National Human Rights Commission Presidential Special Panel on SARS Reforms.

This was contained in the statement by the Executive Secretary, National Human Rights Commission and Chairman Presidential Panel on SARS Reform, Anthony Ojukwu,
during the submission of the report of the Presidential Panel on the reform of Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, of the Nigeria Police, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The Panel according to Ojukwu received 113 complaints on alleged human rights violations from across the country and 22 memoranda on suggestions on how to reform and restructure SARS and the Nigeria Police in general.

He said, “At the end of its public hearing and having listened to complaints as well as defendants and their counsel, the Panel recommended thirty-seven (37) Police officers for dismissal from the force. Twenty four (24) were recommended for prosecution.

” The panel also directed the Inspector General of Police to unravel the identity of twenty-two (22) officers involved in the violation of the human rights of innocent Citizens.

“The police was directed to pay compensation of various sums in forty—five (45) complaints and tender public apologies in five (5) complaints and directed to obey court orders in five (5) matters.

“The Police was directed to immediately arrest and prosecute two (2) retired senior Police officers found to have violated the rights of citizens (one for extra-judicial killing and the other for illegal takeover of Property of a suspect). The Panel also recovered two vehicles illegally auctioned by SARS Officers and returned them to their owners.”

Some other key recommendations of the Panel include,” Significant improvement in the funding, kitting and facilities of the Nigeria Police Force; Strengthening Information and Communication Technology of the Force; Establishment of State and local government Police.”

President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinabjo were in Abuja, sworn-in for a second term in office by the acting Chief Justice of (CJN), Justice Tanko Muhammad.

President Buhari was on Feb. 27, declared winner of Feb. 23 presidential elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The Returning Officer for the 2019 presidential elections, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, made the declaration.

Buhari, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) polled 15,191,847 votes to defeat the country’s former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who had 11,262,978 votes.

Buhari was first inaugurated as President of Nigeria on May 29, 2015, making it the first time in Nigeria’s history that an opposition candidate was taking over from an incumbent President.

The 2019 presidential inauguration, held at the Eagle Square, was heralded by a colourful military parade which in turn recieved the service chiefs, CJN, Vice President and president as they arrived.

Buhari and Osinabjo were accompanied to the event by their wives–Mrs Aisha Buhari and Dolapo Osinbajo respectively.

Soon after the swearing-in, there was the lowering and hoisting of National and Defence flags and 21 gun salutes.

Afterwards, the president inspected the Guard of Honour and acknowledged cheers from the guests.

The event attracted former and serving state governors.

Others were service chiefs, members of the diplomatic corps, members of the Federal Executive Council, Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Head of Civil Service of the Federation and captains of industry.

Adams Oshiomhole, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and other party chieftains were also present.

Source: Vanguard

Theresa May has announced her resignation as Britain’s prime minister after weeks of deadlock and chaos surrounding several failed attempts to push her EU Withdrawal Agreement through parliament.

May announched she will step down as UK Conservative leader on June 7. She will stay on as prime minister until her successor is chosen, May added.

The move came after a meeting with the chairman of the influential 1922 Committee of her Conservative party backbenchers.

“I have done my best to implement the result of the referendum,” she said outside 10 Downing Street, which has been her home since shortly after Britain voted by a narrow margin to leave the European Union.

“I have done everything I can to convince MPs to back my deal,” May added. She said she would continue to serve as prime minister until a new leader is selected.

“It is a matter of deep regret that I have not delivered Brexit. My successor must find consensus in parliament.”

“I know the Conservative party can renew itself in the years ahead,” said May.

May concluded her speech with a litany of claims of her government’s achievements, before issuing a rallying call to future women leaders:

“[I was] the second female prime minister, but certainly not the last. It has been the honour of my life to serve the country that I love.”

#Aljazeera

The Nigerian government has gave an update on the implementation of the new National Minimum Wage.

Mrs Zainab Usman, the Minister of Finance, said that the financial implications had been worked out by the Presidential Committee set up and that the report had been submitted to the president.

She said this in Abuja, while addressing a news conference on the state of the Nigerian economy.

“We have looked at the report and what we are working on now is how we can finance it”, NAN quoted her as saying.

“Apart from the increase of the minimum wage from N18, 000 to N30, 000, there is also consequential adjustment that we have to negotiate with the labour unions.

“The total implication of that would be worked out only after the negotiations and that would involve determining how much increase every other staff that is above the minimum wage would get.

“It could be a flat amount or a proportion, but the other aspect that is clear is that there would be an increase for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) as well because by the Act they should earn at least the minimum wage and the NYSC also has to increase to that N30, 000.

“So, because we have not done the negotiation with labour, I cannot give you the details of what we are projecting because it is simply on projections, at the end of the day, it is what we agree with labour that will be the amount that is due.”

On the issue of debt increase from N12.2 trillion to N23.0 trillion, Usman said it was by design.

According to her, the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) is designed to reflate the economy and plunge the nation out of recession by borrowing in the first to third year and in the fourth year start reducing the borrowing.

She said the borrowing was majorly to finance capital projects, which was why the nation was able to come out of recession.

“The method we adopted helped us but the consequence is this increase in debt and that is why the Ministry of Finance and all its agencies are working to ensure that we increase revenue.

“At 19.0 per cent debt to Gross Domestic Product (GDP), we still are the lowest among our comparator countries.

“The problem we have is a revenue problem and that is why all we are doing is to make sure we enhance our revenue, if our revenue performs optimally, we are in a good place as far as debt is concerned.”

#NAN

President Muhammadu Buhari will tomorrow depart Nigeria for Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah, otherwise known as lesser pilgrimage.

A statement by presidential spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu, said the president is embarking on the trip on the invitation of King Salman Bin Abdulaziz, the ruler of Saudi Arabia and Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to perform the Umrah (lesser pilgrimage) in the Kingdom.

According to him, the president who will be accompanied on the trip by his close personal aides, will return to the country on Tuesday, May 21.

Shehu added that Umrah is an optional but recommended pilgrimage to Makkah that can be embarked upon any time of the year.

Super Eagles’ Technical Adviser Gernot Rohr has listed midfielder Mikel John Obi in a 25-man squad to prepare for the 32nd Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals in Egypt.

Ademola Olajire, Director of Communications at the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), in a statement said Rohr also placed six other players on standby.

Mikel, who captained the team at the FIFA World Cup finals in Russia last year summer, had not been with the squad for some time now.

That was since Nigeria’s elimination from the Russia 2018 finals, after a 1-2 defeat by Argentina in Saint Petersburg.

However, a recent meeting with Rohr in the UK sealed the former Chelsea FC player’s return to the three–times African champions, with the possibility of adding to his 85 international caps.

THE 25 EAGLES LISTED FOR PRE-AFCON 2019 CAMP

Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (Anorthosis Famagusta, Cyprus); Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Katsina United); Daniel Akpeyi (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa)

Defenders: Olaoluwa Aina (Torino FC, Italy); Abdullahi Shehu (Bursaspor FC, Turkey); Chidozie Awaziem (Caykur Rizespor, Turkey); William Ekong (Udinese FC, Italy)

Leon Balogun (Brighton & Hove Albion, England); Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain); Jamilu Collins (SC Padeborn 07, Germany); Semi Ajayi (Rotherham United, England)

Midfielders: Mikel John Obi (Middlesbrough FC, England); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Oghenekaro Etebo (Stoke City FC, England); John Ogu (Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel)

Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Al Nassar FC, Saudi Arabia); Victor Osimhen (Royal Charleroi SC, Belgium); Moses Simon (Levante FC, Spain); Henry Onyekuru (Galatasaray SK, Turkey); Odion Ighalo (Shanghai Shenhua, China)

Alexander Iwobi (Arsenal FC, England); Samuel Kalu (Girondins Bordeaux, France); Paul Onuachu (FC Midtjyland, Denmark); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain)

Six On Standby: Theophilus Afelokhai (Enyimba FC); Bryan Idowu (Lokomotiv Moscow, Russia); Ikouwem Utin (Enyimba FC); Mikel Agu (Vitoria Setubal, Portugal); Junior Ajayi (Al Ahly, Egypt); Valentine Ozornwafor (Enyimba FC)