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The Federal Government has expressed satisfaction with the roles played by the military, police , and other security agencies during the # EndSARS protests.

The Minister of Information and Culture , Lai Mohammed , said this at a televised press conference in Abuja .

He lamented that six soldiers and 37 policemen were killed during the “ # EndSARS crisis ” , claiming that soldiers killed no protester at the Lekki toll gate in Lagos on October 20 .

Though there were reports that some protesters were killed and injured , the minister said the soldiers were professional .

He also said reports indicating that protesters were killed relied on unverified facts from social media .

The minister argued that soldiers and policemen “ deserve commendation not condemnation ” unless people would say “ their lives do not matter ” .

He also described as demoralising reports stating that protesters were killed without stating attacks on security operatives and infrastructure by hoodlums.

He said , “ It is important to say that the Federal Government is very satisfied with the role played by the security agencies , especially the military and the police , all through the EndSARS crisis . The security agents were professional and measured in
their response . Even when their lives were at stake , they exercised uncommon restraint . Their professionalism and measured response saved many lives and properties . For example , despite arresting hordes of looters during the violence in Lagos , the army treated them humanely and even counseled them before handing them over to the police .

“ The same cannot be said of those who unleashed mayhem on the security agents , killing and maiming them, sometimes in such a barbaric manner that is unprecedented in these parts . As I said earlier , six soldiers and 37 policemen were killed all over the country during the crisis . This is in addition to 196 policemen who were injured ; 164 police vehicles that were destroyed and 134 police stations that were razed.

“ Also , the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Nigeria Customs Service and Nigeria Immigration Service all lost infrastructures , equipment and other valuables to attack by hoodlums during the crisis . Eight medium security custodial centres in six
states ( Edo, Lagos , Abia , Delta , Ondo and Ebonyi) were attacked , with 1 , 957 inmates set free and 31 staff injured .

“ The Federal Government will therefore not accept a situation in which some so – called human rights bodies and jaundiced media organizations will continue to harass the security agencies over their roles during the crisis . Soldiers , policemen and other security agents deserve commendation, not condemnation , except , of course , their critics are saying they are not human beings and that their own rights do not matter . It is depressing and demoralizing to continue to vilify men and women in uniform , who themselves were victims of senseless violence unleashed by hoodlums .

“ The role of the human rights organizations , in particular , became suspect after they simply ignored the brutal killing and maiming of security agents during the crisis , as well as the orgy of violence that left 57 civilians dead , 269 private/ corporate facilities burnt /looted / vandalized, 243 government facilities burnt /vandalized and 81 government warehouses looted , and instead continued to dwell on the bodiless and bloodless ‘ massacre’ at Lekki Toll Gate .

“ They did not see anything wrong in the public and
private properties that were burnt or looted , neither did they see anything wrong in the fact that some of the businesses that were looted belonged to struggling young men and women . All they could see in their biased view of the whole situation was a hoax massacre . ”

Punch

The Federal Government has insisted that there was no massacre when soldiers dispersed # EndSARS protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate , Lagos on October 20 , 2020 as Nigerians and the international community are being made to believe .

The Minister of Information and Culture , Lai Mohammed , said this at a press conference in Abuja .

Mohammed who was joined at the briefing by heads of parastatals under his ministry attributed the reports of massacre to those he described as purveyors of fake news.

He said what was alleged to have happened could either be “ social media massacre” or at best “ massacre without bodies . ”

The minister said , “ While we await the judicial panel in Lagos to unravel what transpired at the Lekki Toll Gate , what we can say, based on testimonies available in the public space , is that the world may have just witnessed , for the very first time ever , a massacre without bodies !

“ Some have tagged it ‘ social media massacre . ’ The testimony of Brig . – Gen, Ahmed Ibrahim Taiwo of the Nigerian Army before the panel was compelling , and I am sure many of you have listened to or watched it . ”

Relying heavily on Taiwo ’ s testimony , Mohammed insisted that soldiers at Lekki Toll Gate fired blank ammunition into the air and that could not have done any damage to the flesh , not to talk of killing anyone .

He challenged those who alleged massacre at the toll gate to appear before the judicial panel to the world or simply admit that they goofed .

The minister said , “ Sadly, the purveyors of fake news and disinformation succeeded in deceiving the world that indeed there was mass killing in Lekki , even when, till date , not a single body has been produced and not a single family or relative has come out to say their child or ward was killed at Lekki.

“ More surprising and irresponsible is the fact that some people have been calling for sanctions against Nigeria or against Nigerian government officials on the basis of a hoax .

“ This is one of the dangers of fake news and disinformation . Once fake news is out, many run with it, without looking back , even when the truth is
eventually revealed .

“ We , therefore , want to use this opportunity to ask those who have alleged massacre at the Lekki Toll Gate to go to the judicial panel to present their evidence( s ) to the world or simply admit that they have goofed . ”

President Muhammadu Buhari has assured Nigerians that he will do whatever it will take to ensure that the #EndSARS protests does not repeat itself in the country.

Minister of Police Affairs, Muhammad Dingyadi, disclosed this while briefing State House correspondents at the end of the National Security Council meeting chaired by President Buhari at the Presidential Villa Abuja.

Dingyadi said that the meeting was convened to brief the President about security situation in the country.

According to him, “The meeting noted with concern the increasing cases of armed banditry particularly in the North West and North Eastern part of the country. The meeting agreed to be more proactive in dealing with the situation in a more decisive manner.

“The meeting noted the need to pay greater attention to the police in the discharge of its functions to maintain peace in the country, in the areas of equipment and moderne technology.

“The meeting thanked the President for the concern which he has shown in repositioning the police to perform more effectively.

“In his concluding remarks, Mr. President thanked members for the efforts they are making in maintaining peace and assured members that he will do whatever it takes to support security agencies in providing peace in the country.

“Mr. President assured Nigerians that he will do whatever it takes to ensure the repeat of EndSARS protests does not occur in Nigeria again.

“Mr. President reassured that all stakeholders will be involved in the process of maintaining peace in the country, particularly the youth, community leaders, traditional rulers, politicians, public servants, religious leaders etc.”

Asked to explain what the President meant by saying he will not allow a repeat of EndSARS protest and whether he would move against any such protest in future, the Minister said, “What we are saying is that government will continue to dialogue, it will continue to listen and will continue to carry all stakeholders along in ensuring that there is no repeat of what happened that destroyed a lot of properties, public and private, individuals in this country.”

Punch

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, has assured that Nigerians will get used to the deregulation of the pump price of petroleum product just as they have become in the case of kerosene and diesel.

Speaking to State House correspondents after his routine briefing of President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Chief Sylva said diesel and kerosene were even more important to the ordinary citizens than petrol, which he said was mostly used by the elite.

He explained that trucks that move food produce from one part of the country to another use diesel while kerosene also used by most of the Nigerian masses has since been deregulated.

According to him, “Look at it, a situation where diesel has been deregulated long ago, a situation where kerosene has been deregulated long ago, and these are the fuels the poorest people in Nigeria interact with more. Why do I say that?

“If you want to transport food from the north to the south, it will be by trucks that are run by diesel, not with petrol. Those trucks that transport food from the north to the south are usually run by diesel.

“Kerosene is the preferred fuel at the lowest level of our society. These have been deregulated long ago. So, what is the problem with deregulating petrol, which is mostly used by the elite?

“Let us be fair to this country, let us be fair to the poor people in this country.

“If we have deregulated what they were using, then there is actually no reason why we should continue to subsidize petrol. I feel so. That’s my personal feeling.”

Vanguard

The National Examinations Council has released the 2020 National Common Entrance Examination results and fixed the national cut off marks at 142 .

NECO said that “ 16 , 713 candidates were absent due to the # EndSARS protests that rocked the country recently . ”

According to the organisation , a total of 70 , 580 candidates sat for the examination nationwide , out of which 24 , 416 candidates passed , scoring a minimum of 66 .

The Registrar and Chief Executive of NECO , Prof . Godswill Obioma , while presenting the results to the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu in Abuja said three students got the highest scores .

They were Umeonyiagu Chinua Crucifixio from Anambra State (199 ) , Onwuamanam Udochukwu from Enugu State ( 198 ) and Salaam Mariam Aderemilekun from Lagos State ( 197 ).

After receiving the results , Adamu said he was delighted with the speed with which the leadership of NECO conducted the 2020 National Common Entrance Examination despite the setbacks occasioned by the outbreak of COVID- 19 and the # EndSARS protest .

He said that with the Unity Colleges now 110 , admissions carrying capacity has been shored up to 26 , 625 for the current academic year.

Adamu said , “I understand that a total of 70 , 580 candidates sat for the examination, out of which 24 , 416 candidates passed, scoring a minimum of 66 . I noted also that the total carrying capacity of our 110 Unity Colleges now stands 26 , 625 , having added 720 slots with the establishment of six more Federal Science and Technical Colleges across the six geopolitical zones.

“ As has been the tradition for decades , the admission criteria include 60 per cent strictly on merit , 30 per cent based on states ’ representation in the Unity Colleges and the remaining 10 per cent to cover other sundry considerations such as special needs candidates , gender , local community and biological children of teachers , PTA, SBMC and old students organizations , etc.

“ Consequently , in this year ’ s admission , the 60 per cent merit based on admission will come first , followed by the 30 per cent equality of States and 10 per cent discretion .

“ I have , therefore , directed that within 72 hours of the receipt of the results , principals are to complete both the merit – based ( 60 per cent ) and 30 per cent of equality of states admission .

“ The selection meeting to be held at a designated date and venue will deal with the shopping and swapping of candidates to meet the 30 per cent states representation as much as possible . ”

Punch

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige , has expressed optimism that the prolonged strike action embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities will be resolved by next week when the Federal Government team meets the union leaders again .

He , however , said if the matter was not resolved by then , he would explore the provisions in the labour law and other channels. Government had previously appealed to the union to call off the strike .

Speaking on Politics Today on
Channels Television, the minister said the government had met six of the union ’ s nine demands and that they would meet again next week with the hope of ending the prolonged strike .

He stated , “ Even if countries go to war , at the end of the day they come to the negotiation table . I ’ m inviting them (ASUU ) next week. We are doing side meetings on our part and we are collating everything . I ’ m collating responses from the Accountant General of the Federation ’ s Office and everybody who has something to do with this matter .

When asked if it meant that the lecturers may not return to the classrooms in the next one or two weeks , he said , “ I ’ m not looking at that ( long) period . I ’ m an optimist on this matter . By next week, we will conclude this matter . There are so many options left . We have the labour laws and I have options left to me in the labour laws . I have other channels. ”

The minister , who said his children had also been at home as a result of the strike , explained that government had agreed to give the University Transparency Academic Solution , the payment platform proposed by ASUU , a trial . He however said the feedback he got from the National Information Technology Development Agency , the agency mandated to follow- up the trial with ASUU , showed they had just concluded the first phase and that the second phase to assess the functional requirement of UTAS had not been done .

He added , “ UTAS has yet to be ready but government will not discourage them. And we have told them there is no need using the same old method of strike to make demands since such had been deployed since 2017 . ”

“ A committee that looked into the Needs Assessment of universities held a workshop on how funds could be generated came up with the recommendation that other things could be done to raise funds , because revitalisation cannot be done through the budget , especially when the country is running a deficit budget , ” Ngige added .

Punch

MINISTER of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige has said the Federal Government was addressing the strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, holistically to ensure that all other unions in the university system were carried along.

The Minister said this while defending the budget of his Ministry before the Senate Committee on Labour and Employment.

Reacting to the concerns expressed by the senators on the prolonged ASUU strike, Senator Ngige told the committee that the Federal Government has met most of the demands of the union.

According to him, “Out of the eight demands of ASUU, the government has solved five. We have made N50 billion available. A total sum of N20 billion for the revitalisation of the universities and N30 billion for Earned Academic Allowances (EAA).

“The union agreed and went back to their members, only to return and say that the money for EAA should be for ASUU members alone, excluding other unions, namely, SSANU, NASU, and NAAT.”

He said, “We cannot ignore the other unions whose services are indispensable for the full functioning of the university. If we ignore them, even if ASUU calls off the strike, the other unions will down tools-close the lecture rooms, the libraries, the laboratories- and in fact, even the university gate.”

He said, “They said that university autonomy is being eroded. Autonomy cannot work when the government is paying the lecturers. It can work only when the governing council generates its own resources to pay workers.

“IPPIS has blocked all leakages and exposed those who are not paying taxes, as well as those who underpay.

“So, we are meeting again with ASUU soon, so that they can also hear that other unions in the university have developed their own payment system against UTAS. Do you now realize why we are tackling this problem holistically?”

“White-collar job syndrome has afflicted us. We have green and blue-collar jobs that will feed people and give them shelter. Agriculture can give us jobs. We have Anchor Borrowers but we can do more. The educational curriculum is straight-jacketed. That is why everybody is in the labour market looking for jobs.

” It is for us to wear our thinking caps and see what can be done. We budgeted 60 percent for constituency projects to train people in empowerment. But, when you give empowerment to people, they sell it. They tell you that this is not the kind of job they want to do. They don’t want to engage in soap making or baking, welding, and fabrication. Even mechatronics, which we are encouraging because of its computer-based component, they are not going there,” he said.

Vanguard

The West African Examination Council, WAEC, Nigeria has stated that registration for 2020 second series West African Senior School Certificate Examination, WASSCE registration ends today, November 13.

This is as they called on those who were yet to complete the registration process to do so before the portal closes on Sunday, November 15.

The Acting Head of Public Affairs WAEC Nigeria, Mr. Demianus Ojijeogu said that: “This is to inform all prospective candidates and stakeholders that registration for the above examination ends today, Friday, November 13, 2020.

“However, for those who have already purchased PIN, upload will continue till midnight of Sunday, November 15, 2020, after which the site for the registration of entry would be closed.

“Provision will be made for ‘Walk-In’ candidates to register 24hrs before the commencement of the paper they intend to sit,” Ojijeogu explained.

Vanguard

The Petroleum Products Marketing Company , a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation , has increased the ex- depot price of Premium Motor Spirit , also known as petrol , to N155 . 17 per litre from N147 . 67 per litre .

The PPMC disclosed this in an internal memo with reference number PPMC/ C/MK /003 , dated November 11 , 2020 , and signed by Tijjani Ali .

The memo, a copy of which was seen by our correspondent, said the new ex – depot price would take effect from today (Friday).

The National Operation Controller , Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria , Mr Mike Osatuyi , in a telephone interview with news correspondent, said the over N7 increase in ex – depot price would translate into an increase in pump prices .

He said , “ The implication of the increase in the ex – depot price is that there is going to be an increase in the pump price. We are expecting the pump price to range from N 168 to N170 per litre.

“ Crude oil price is going up , ” he said , noting that the Federal Government has fully deregulated petrol prices .

Following the deregulation of petrol prices in September, marketers across the country adjusted their pump prices to between N 158 and N162 per litre to reflect the increase in global oil prices.

Punch

Osun State Governor, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, has lifted the curfew imposed on the state following the disruption of peace recently.

This, according to the Governor, was due to the compliance by residents with government’s effort to restore peace in the state.

In a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Mrs Funke Egbemode, citizens can now go about their businesses and other transactions beyond 8:00pm without any hindrance or restrictions with effect from Wednesday November 11.

She stated: “The government has once again observed the level of compliance to all directives aimed at restoring tranquility to our dear State, and hereby appreciates the citizens for their patience and understanding. The government also appreciates security agencies for their efforts in maintaining law and order in the State.

“With effect from Wednesday November 11, residents of the State are free to go about their businesses without any hindrance or restrictions, while security agencies continue to discharge their duties to forestall breakdown of law and order.

“The government urges every citizen to be wary of actions that can upset the peace and harmony that the State is reputed for, and not hesitate to provide useful information to security agencies in case of suspicion of violence in any of our communities.

“The government is also calling on parents and guardians to continue to caution their children and wards not to allow themselves to be used by unscrupulous elements to jeopardize the peace of the State”, Egbemode stated.

Vanguard