Links

• 

According to a statement by the Service’s Public Relations Officer, Amos Okpu, titled ‘Clearance of backlog of passport applications,’ Babandede was quoted as making the announcement at the NIS headquarters in Abuja during a media chat.

The statement read in part, “A huge number of applicants are already turning up to collect their passports across issuing centres and this is causing some forms of congestion.

” Consequent upon the above, the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, has extended the commencement of the new passport regime earlier scheduled for June 1, 2021 by one week till June 8, 2021.

” The period shall be used to attend to applicants for collection, clear all the remaining backlogs as well as improve systems automation for the takeoff of the new passport regime effective 8th June 2021.

“The Comptroller General of Immigration assures all of full commitment to improved service delivery to all passport applicants and others.”

Punch

• 

He spoke after meeting with the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Mahmood Yakubu; and other electoral commissioners over the series of attacks on INEC facilities especially in the South-Eastern part of the country.

Rampaging hoodlums had razed no fewer than 11 INEC offices, 13 vehicles, 429 generators, others in over 41 attacks in the last few month.

Yakubu had described the situation as a national emergency which many analysts have said might affect the 2023 general elections should the spate continues.

Punch

• 

Akeredolu stated this at the Akure Centre of the South-West Zonal Public Hearing on the review constitution, held at the International Cultural and Event Centre, Akure, the state capital.

Represented by his deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the governor said the position of the state was for the Federal Government to be reduced in weight and responsibilities.

He said, “The position of the Ondo State Government has been made public. We advocate for a Federal Government largely reduced in size and scope of engagement. We want to see a Constitution that will enhance the performance of public office holders at all levels.

” It is possible to have a government that will serve the people in deed and truth. The law of the land must aid this realistic expectation. We must reduce the cost of governance and shift attention to service delivery in this trying period.”

He added, “The country may consider dropping the current bicameral structure of the National Assembly and adopt a unicameral legislature. The membership of the Assembly should be part-time. No member should earn allowances not known to the Revenue Mobilisation and Allocation Committee and, more importantly, people they claim to serve.

” Legislators should earn under a uniform salary structure. Allowance peculiarities must not be about obscenity. The Senate should be scrapped. The House of Representatives too should not be unwieldy. A maximum of four representatives should come from each zone.”

He mentioned the position of the state to include, creation of state police, devolution of powers, state control of resources, decentralization of supreme court among others.

Punch

• 

Lawan made this known.

According to a statement issued by the Special Assistant (Press) to the Senate President, Ezrel Tabiowo, “the 2-day National Public Hearing on proposals to alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 is scheduled for Thursday 3rd to Friday, 4th June 2021, at the African Hall of the International Conference Centre, Abuja.”

The statement said Lawan “described the zonal public hearings which held last week in the six geo-political zones of the country as “quite successful”.

“Lawan appealed to Nigerians to seize the opportunity provided by the national public hearing commencing on Thursday to state their position on issues that would improve the quality of governance.”

The Senate President was quoted as saying, “Let me also congratulate the members of the Constitution Review Committee of the Senate, who had conducted the public hearings across the countries.

” [And] in fact, the report we received has shown that in all the centres, the public hearings were quite successful.

” I want to also appeal to Nigerians to take the opportunity of the national public hearing that will take place from Thursday.

“This is an effort that the National Assembly – particularly the Senate is attached to.

“We believe that we must do whatever is necessary to provide a platform for Nigerians to air their views, give their positions and canvass for whatever they feel would make our country better, and make governance more efficient and successful.

“Like I said before, we have no preconceived positions on anything and, therefore, this is for our citizens to take the opportunity.”

Punch

• 

Wike insisted that there was no basis for JUSUN strike in Rivers because the judiciary was already enjoying financial autonomy and improved staff welfare.

The governor spoke in Port Harcourt at the special court session in honour of the retiring Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Adama Iyayi-Lamikanra.

But he said: “We would therefore neither set up any new implementation Committee because it’s simply unnecessary, nor allow the state’s judiciary to submit its budget directly to the state House of Assembly in breach of extant fiscal policies and regulations that regulate the state’s budgeting process.”

He said: “Apart from the basic qualifications, sound character, ability to lead and work harmoniously with colleagues, hard work and willingness to take on challenging cases without a penchant for returning files for reassignment on flimsy excuses are some of accepted dispositional requirements for such very important appointment.

At any rate, the state Judicial Service Commission could not have recommended a judicial officer who has become notorious for returning casefiles for reassignment on flimsy excuses to the prime position of chief judge.

” And no one could have convinced the State Judicial Service Commission to recommend for appointment as a chief judge a judicial officer who had promised to work with the political opposition to make the upcoming political transition process very turbulent and difficult for the state.”

• 

He disclosed this while answering questions at the end of a two-day monetary policy committee meeting in Abuja .

He said, “If you want an economy to grow, the level of insecurity must be low because if there is a high level of insecurity like what we see today, the economy will suffer.

“Efforts are now targeted at South Eastern and North Eastern parts of the country. About three years ago, the Federal Government and the United States signed a pact that resulted in a government-to-government acquisition of military equipment.

” Out of which, we are expecting 12 fighter planes that would help us solve our insecurity. I am aware that six of them are coming to the country in the month of July and August.”

” I, therefore, would like to appeal to our brothers, who decide that they want to live in bushes and forests that they should please, begin to retreat, drop their arms and come and embrace the anchor borrowers’ programme.

“If they do so, it will help them; if they choose not to do so, they will be confronted by the security as this battle continues.

“I am optimistic before the end of the year, around the year of the end, the security challenges confronting the country will substantially abate,” he added.

#Punch