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The UK government’s main website was unavailable, as several international media platforms went down, including The Guardian and the Financial Times newspapers.
The portal gov.uk and the newspaper sites all showed error messages. The BBC was also temporarily inaccessible but later returned.
Punch
Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed made this known on Monday evening during an interview with BBC News Africa monitored by The PUNCH.
Adeboye, in a tweet on Monday, had said his church is present in over 170 countries and tweeting is in accordance with Article 19 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Hours later, Kumuyi also tweeted that his church has branches across over 100 countries and five continents hence it can tweet from anywhere in the world.
When asked specifically whether the government would prosecute Kumuyi and Adeboye for defying its Twitter ban, the minister said, “The Attorney-General has made it clear that if anybody violates the regulation that such a person will be prosecuted and this is not about any particular person. It is in the realm of the Attorney-General to decide who or who not to prosecute.”
The ambassadors stated this at a meeting with the Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, in Abuja.
The statement partly read, “The diplomatic missions of Canada, the European Union (Delegation to Nigeria), the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom and the United States of America convey our disappointment over the Government of Nigeria’s announcement suspending #Twitter and proposing registration requirements for other social media.
“We strongly support the fundamental human right of free expression and access to information as a pillar of democracy in Nigeria as around the world and these rights apply online as well as offline.
“Banning systems of expression is not the answer. These measures inhibit access to information and commerce at precisely the moment when Nigeria needs to foster inclusive dialogue and expression of opinions, as well as share vital information in this time of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Speaking on behalf of the five envoys at a closed-door meeting with Onyeama on Monday, US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard, maintained the earlier position of the five ambassadors that the ban on Twitter by the Nigerian government violates freedom of expression of Nigerians irrespective of the concerns by the government that the platform was being used to perpetrate hate speech and criminality.
“We recognise the official position of the Nigerian government on the responsible use of social media but we remain firm in our position that free access to information is very important and perhaps more important during troubled times,” she said.
Punch
Following reactions to the Federal Government’s suspension of twitter operations, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Geoffrey Onyeama will meet with foreign diplomats today.
US, UK, EU, Sweden have all reacted against the ban, which they condemned as infirngment on rights of the people.
The meeting, it was gathered, is meant to explain government’s stance on the issue.
This was contained in an invitation to pressmen issued on Monday morning by Kimiebi Ebienfa of the Crisis Monitoring and Public Communications Division of the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“I am directed to inform that following the recent ban on Twitter by the Federal Government and Press Statement issued by some Heads of Diplomatic Missions Accredited to Nigeria on the subject matter, the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, His Excellency, Geoffrey Onyeama has invited the affected Ambassadors to a meeting today at 12 noon.
“The venue is Minister’s Conference Room, 8th Floor.
” You are hereby invited to cover the meeting. Thanks for your usual cooperation,” the invite read.
Punch
This was announced in a statement titled, ‘Prophet TB Joshua – June 12th 1963 to June 5th 2021,’ issued on the verified Facebook page of his ministries.
The cause of his death was not revealed. However, the statement said the clergyman spent his last moment on earth in the service of God.
“On Saturday 5th June 2021, Prophet TB Joshua spoke during the Emmanuel TV Partners Meeting: “Time for everything – time to come here for prayer and time to return home after the service.”
“God has taken His servant Prophet TB Joshua home – as it should be by divine will. His last moments on earth were spent in the service of God. This is what he was born for, lived for and died for.
As Prophet TB Joshua says, “The greatest way to use life is to spend it on something that will outlive it”.
“Prophet TB Joshua leaves a legacy of service and sacrifice to God’s Kingdom that is living for generations yet unborn.
The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations and Emmanuel TV Family appreciate your love, prayers and concern at this time and request a time of privacy for the family.
“Here are Prophet TB Joshua’s last words: “Watch and pray.”
“One life for Christ is all we have; one life for Christ is so dear,” the statement read.
The US said in a statement that the move undermines Nigeria’s ability to exercise this freedom and it sends a poor message to investors.
The statement read, “Nigeria’s constitution provides for freedom of expression. The government’s recent #Twitterban undermines Nigeria’s ability to exercise this fundamental freedom and sends a poor message to its citizens, investors and businesses.
“Banning social media and curbing every citizen’s ability to seek, receive and impart information undermines fundamental freedoms. As President Biden has stated, our need for individual expression, open public conversation and accountability has never been greater.
“The part to a more secure Nigeria lies in more, not less communication, alongside concerted efforts towards unity, peace and prosperity.”
Punch
Akeredolu described the report quoting him as calling for the scrapping of the Senate as an “interpretative error.”
The Ondo Governor, who spoke in statement by his Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Donald Ojogo, said he had, like many other well-meaning Nigerians, identified Nigeria’s Bicameral Legislature and its full-time status as plausibly reducible weights to cut cost.
He said: “Succinctly, Governor Akeredolu’s view, which is the official position of the Ondo State Government is that, adoption of the Unicameral Legislature, and making it part-time would not only cut cost of governance but has the potentials of enhanced performance and altruistic services to Nigerians.
” Therefore, ascribing or misinterpreting this proposal to isolatedly, depict a call for the scraping of the Nigerian Senate is erroneous. The call for a part-time Unicameral Federal Parliament remains and shall be pursued with all vigour.”
TheNation
The bill also seeks to extend the years of service for teachers from 35 to 40 years.
Buhari, in the letter addressed to the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, and read on the floor, explained that the piece of legislation would provide for harmonised retirement age for teachers in Nigeria.
He said the move to increase the retirement age and service years was pursuant to Section 58(2) of the 1999 Constitution as amended.
The letter read in part, “Transmission of the Harmonised Retirement Age for Teachers in Nigeria Bill 2021 to the National Assembly for consideration
“Pursuant to Section 58 subsection 2 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), I forward herewith the harmonised retirement age for teachers in Nigeria Bill, 2021 for consideration by the Senate.
“The harmonised retirement age for teachers in Nigeria bill 2021 seeks to increase the retirement age for teachers from 60 to 65 years, and also increase the possible years of service from 35 to 40 years.
“While appreciating your usual expeditious consideration of this submission, please, accept Distinguished Senate President, the assurances of my highest consideration.”
Punch
THE Senate, passed a bill seeking to abolish the dichotomy between the Higher National Diploma certificate and the university degree holders in the country.
The piece of legislation, sponsored by Senator Ayo Akinyelure, passed the third reading on the floor of the Senate at plenary.
The Chairman, Senate Committee on tertiary institutions and TETFUND, Ahmad Kaita, presented his report and all the amended six clauses were approved by the Senate.
Punch
The governor, who made the announcement while paying a thank-you visit to the students of the institution, also pledged that the reduction will cut across the board benefitting indigenes and non-indigenes, adding that he is making such a move even though the institution’s tuition is the lowest in the entire South-West.
Gov Makinde also stated that in a bid to fulfil his promise to the students during his electioneering campaign, he actualized the sole ownership of LAUTECH for Oyo state and fixed the Under G road in the school.
In his words, “Let me tell you, the LAUTECH fee is still the lowest in the entire South West. Having said that, I will reduce your fee across the board; whether indigenes or non-indigenes, even new students. There will be a reduction of 25 per cent across board.”
OyoAffairs
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