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Tunisia ’ s prime minister – designate has unveiled the country’ s second government in six months, which must now seek approval from lawmakers incensed by how the administration was formed .

Hichem Mechichi had previously declared his intention to form a cabinet dominated by independent technocrats able to “ present urgent solutions” for a country where a sluggish economy has been further battered by the coronavirus pandemic .

The former interior minister ’ s decision to bypass consultations with political factions had angered , among others, the powerful Islamist party Ennahdha , which has demanded a “ political” government reflecting the balance of forces in parliament.

But Ennahdha and other parties have also spoken of the need to approve the government to avoid dragging the already crisis – hit country into disruptive early elections .

Mechichi told reporters he had decided to form a new cabinet composed of “ independent expertise” , with only a few outgoing ministers included in the line – up .

The 46 – year – old Mechichi is the third head of government to be appointed since polls last October , which resulted in a parliament divided among deeply antagonistic blocs .

The impasse further hampered a fledgling democracy — ushered in by a revolution 10 years ago — that has since struggled with regional inequalities and a pandemic that has wiped out thousands of jobs .

Ennahdha won the most seats in last year ’ s poll but fell far short of a majority and eventually agreed to join a coalition administration .

Parliament is set to vote on Mechichi ’ s line – up in the next 10 days .

AFP

The House of Representatives has defended its decision to suspend activities of its standing and ad hoc committees , saying there was no hidden agenda .

It also faulted its Committee on Treaties, Protocols and Agreements for investigating the $ 500 m loan facility Nigeria recently secured from China , saying it had already been approved by the National Assembly and captured in the 2020 Appropriation Act .

But before activities of the committees were suspended on Thursday , the Committee on Treaties , Protocols and Agreements had written the Ministry of Transportation , demanding documents containing loan agreements with China from 2000 to date .

Among the facilities the committee is probing is the $ 500 m loan secured from China – EXIM Bank to finance railway projects under the Ministry of Transportation .

The Peoples Democratic Party had, on Saturday, asked the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila , to step aside for allegedly frustrating investigations into executive corruption.

The party stated this in a statement titled, ‘ PDP Berates Gbajabiamila For Frustrating Corruption Investigation in the House of Representatives … Asks Speaker to Step Aside, ’ signed by its National Publicity Secretary , Kola Ologbondiyan.

But the Majority Leader , Alhassan Ado – Doguwa, who is also the leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress caucus in the House, in a statement on Monday , berated the PDP for faulting the decision of the House to stop committees from investigative hearings .

The statement was titled, ‘’ You ’ re suffering from horrific political hallucinations – Doguwa replies the PDP. ’

Ado – Doguwa said , “ It is at first repulsive for an opposition party , the PDP, that has seemingly lost the actual meaning and essence of opposition , to have brought in undue politics into a matter of national interest, especially at the time of prevailing health and economic challenges .

“ Although one should not have glorified them with a response by wasting precious time required for fixing the economic woes which they recklessly plunged the country into , it has become imperative , for the sake of educating their sympathizers , to set the record unambiguously straight.

“ It is ridiculous to discover that the PDP, a supposedly major opposition party in the country, does not know the workings of the National Assembly , let alone know where the constitution and the House procedures have been breached. ”

“ Hence , making reference to the recent $ 500 m China loan by the PDP spokesman which has already been approved by the National Assembly through a transparent and formal request was either a deliberate misrepresentation of facts or an utter ignorance of history .

“ Therefore , it is pertinent to know that the government has already captured the recent loan in the 2020 appropriation law and it should not be a subject of any controversy or query in the committee’ s investigation process , at least for now. And as a matter of norm and procedure , the House can only wait until disbursements and utilisation commence before embarking on oversight implementation . ”

The Academic Staff Union of Universities has vowed to sustain its ongoing strike action until the Federal Government addresses all its demands.

The President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Biodun Ogunyemi , stated this at the University of Port Harcourt during its interactive session with critical stakeholders, meant to provide public enlightenment on the struggles of the union .

Ogunyemi said ASUU was demanding the Federal Government to implement its 2012 universities needs assessment , adding that the union ’ s demands were genuine and in the interest of the nation.

“ Students who are our children and partners in progress should show understanding , what we are asking from the government is in their interest and the interest of the nation, good hostel accommodation , good classroom blocks that can engender effective learning, laboratories where cutting edge research can be carried out and offices that can drive the process of quality university education .

“ So , what we are asking of the government are not baseless things , but those things that in 2012 , the government conducted during a needs assessment survey and found out that there are widespread rot and decay in the university system , we asking that the government implement its own report of 2012 . ”

“ Salary issues are still there, we have not fully addressed that , it appears that some forces in government are bent on suffering our members by withholding their salaries . But we believe that once we sort out the issues of Universities Transparency and Accountability Solution , other issues will fall in place.

“ The 2009 agreement we had with government stipulates that that agreement would be reviewed every three years , but since then , we have not been able to review the salary scale and that is why we are saying that the negotiation we started with the government in 2017 ought to have been completed and with the completion of that negotiation process .

“ A new salary scale should be in place and we are insisting that the process is completed before this ongoing strike is suspended among other things . ”

Punch

The management of Chevron Nigeria Limited says it has engaged the leaders of the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers over the 175 workers laid off by one of its contract companies.

Mr Esimaje Brikinn , the company ’ s General Manager , Policy , Government and Public Affairs , made this known in an interview with NAN in Lagos .

Brikinn said the laid- off workers were not employees of Chevron but workers of an independent contractor providing services to Chevron .

He said the contract company laid off its workers following the suspension of the service contract agreement between it and Chevron .

“ CNL is a responsible and law – abiding company .

“ In keeping with our commitment to resolving issues through meaningful dialogue and respect for the rule of law , we are engaging the leaders of NUPENG and the contractor company to fully understand and seek an amicable resolution of the issues.

“ The company ’ s highest priority remains the welfare and safety of its employees , contractors and the security of its assets ; we will, therefore , do our best to safeguard these interests , ” Brikinn said .

NAN

The police have re – arrested Sunday Shodipe, the prime suspect in the series of ritual killings at the Akinyele Local government Area of Oyo State .

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state , Mr Olugbenga Fadeyi , confirmed this to newsmen .

The Inspector – General of Police , Mohammed Adamu , had dispatched additional investigative aids to Oyo State , including crack detectives to track down the fleeing serial killer.

The fugitive , who is the prime suspect in the multiple murder of innocent citizens at Akinyele Local Government Area , Moniya , Ibadan , Oyo State , had escaped from police custody in suspicious circumstances.

But the force spokesman , DCP Frank Mba , in a statement , said , “ The IGP , who condemned the unfortunate escape from the lawful custody of the suspect , has directed the Commissioner of Police , Oyo State Command , to intensify efforts and ensure the prompt re- arrest of the fleeing suspect .

“ The CP has also been directed to speed up investigations into the circumstances that led to the escape of the suspect . All persons indicted in the escape are to be identified and made to face the wrath of the law . ”

Punch

The planet should be able to rein in the novel coronavirus pandemic faster than the two years it took to tame the 1918 flu pandemic , the World Health Organisation chief said.

“ We have a disadvantage of globalisation , closeness , connectedness , but an advantage of better technology , so we hope to finish this pandemic before less than two years , ” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters .

By “ utilising the available tools to the maximum and hoping that we can have additional tools like vaccines , I think we can finish it in a shorter time than the 1918 flu, ” he said .

AFP

Former Nigerian President , Goodluck Jonathan , will lead other West African leaders to coup – torn Mali on Saturday “ to help the search for solutions” , AFP reports .

Mali ’ s elected President , Ibrahim Keita , was overthrown on Tuesday by mutinying troops, who took him as well as Prime Minister Boubou Cisse and other senior officials into custody .

The coup has sent shockwaves around West Africa, sparking fears that one of the region ’ s most volatile states , and a front line in the fight against jihadism , could collapse .

Earlier on Tuesday before the coup , Jonathan while briefing Nigeria ’ s President , Major General Muhammadu Buhari ( retd . ), said Mali ’ s main opposition group, M 5 , was adamant on its call for the resignation of Keita .

Keita , who later appeared in a state television broadcast on Wednesday , declared the dissolution of the government and National Assembly and said he had no choice but to resign with immediate effect .

“ If it pleased certain elements of our military to decide this should end with their intervention , do I really have a choice ? (I must ) submit to it, because I don ’ t want any bloodshed , ” the 75 -year – old said .

The United Nations , African Union , Economic Community of West African States , amongst others, had since condemned the coup .

ECOWAS on Thursday announced that it would dispatch a high – level delegation “ to ensure the immediate return of constitutional order” . It also demanded that Keita be restored as president and warned the junta that it bore “ responsibility for the safety and security ” of the detainees .

But according to an AFP report, Jonathan , who is ECOWAS Special Envoy to Mali , alongside 14 other leaders in the regional bloc, will be in the Malian capital of Bamako on Saturday for peace talks with the junta leaders including Assimi Goita who has declared himself head of the junta .

Reacting to the request for a meeting with the leaders , a junta official told AFP , “ We will receive the ECOWAS delegation with pleasure … it is important to talk to our brothers. ”

Meanwhile , the United Nations human rights officials visited Keita and other detained officials on Thursday while the junta on Friday said it had released two detainees , retaining 17 .

AFP/Punch

The President , Major General Muhammadu Buhari ( retd . ) , faulted the development in Mali which led to the military toppling the government of President Ibrahim Keita .

Describing the development as a setback for regional diplomacy, the President called for unconditional release of Keita and others detained by the military.

According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity , Femi Adesina , the President spoke at a virtual Economic Community of West African States Extraordinary Session on the situation in Mali .

The statement was titled “ President Buhari says Nigeria stands by ECOWAS decision on return to constitutional order in Mali. ”

Adesina quoted the President as saying, “ The action of the military in Mali has regrettably hoisted on us as a sub – region , the need to decide the options that will be consistent with the provisions of the Protocol on Good Governance and Democracy , which ECOWAS, AU, and the UN subscribe to .

“ In this context , therefore , Nigeria subscribes to the under – listed recommendations for action by our organisation : President Keita and other detainees should be released unconditionally and with immediate effect .

“ Nigeria supports the efforts of President Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger, for wider regional and continental consultations , especially on the possibility of detaching ECOWAS and AU troops with the UN Mission in Mali , to protect state institutions and also act as first layer of defence in the country to help preserve and protect lives and property . ”

Buhari noted that the removal of the Malian leader could spiral into more crises in the country, with devastating consequences for the West African sub – region .

He added , “ Indeed , it saddens me greatly as we meet today to discuss the turn of events in Mali , which commenced on Tuesday this week, where President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita , his Prime Minister and senior members of his government were arrested , resulting in the forceful resignation of the President as well as the dissolution of the Parliament .

“ ECOWAS interventions , through series of efforts by ministers , the special envoy and chief mediator and a group of Heads of State of our organisation as well as an Extraordinary Summit did not yield positive results .

“ Today , Mali has not only descended into political chaos , but also socio-economic and security disaster with potential tragic consequences to Mali and the sub – region . ”

The Federal Government has approved the sum of N13 . 3 bn for the take- off of community policing initiative across the country .

The approval is part of measures aimed at containing the security situation in the country.

The Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Publicity , Laolu Akande, disclosed this in a statement titled “ FG approves N 13 bn for take – off of community policing in Nigeria . ”

Akande said , based on the approval, the National Economic Council at its virtual meeting and chaired by Vice- President Yemi Osinbajo, resolved that the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum , Kayode Fayemi ; with two other governors , meet with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation , Boss Mustapha ; Minister of Finance , Budget and National Planning , Zainab Ahmed ; and the Inspector – General of Police , Mohammed Adamu, to coordinate the proper utilisation of the funding of the initiative .

The statement read , “ The National Economic Council Ad- hoc Committee on Security and Policing had made a presentation on its assignment to the council , noting that engagement with key stakeholders on the operationalisation of community policing in the country was ongoing .

“ The presentation was made by Governor Kayode Fayemi , who is also the Chairman , Nigeria Governors Forum .

“ Other reports received by council at today ’ s meeting included reports on the COVID- 19 pandemic situation in the country; flood disaster risk management in Nigeria for 2020 , and the issue of compensation payments regarding federal highway projects across the country.

“ Responding to two presentations on the situation of the COVID- 19 pandemic in Nigeria : one by NEC ’ s Adhoc committee interfacing with the Presidential Task Force on COVID- 19 , and the other by Nigerian Centre for Disease Control , the state governors commended the efforts and commitment of the Federal Government in containing the spread of the COVID – 19 pandemic and supporting states ’ response capacity through various interventions .

“ The NCDC report indicates that the positivity rate has fallen from 19 . 7 % in June to 13 . 7 % in August 2020 , while number of states with testing laboratories increased from two to 32 , including the FCT. ”

The Nigeria Police Force said that the screening of candidates who applied to join the organisation as constables will commence from August 24 to September 16 , 2020 .

It directed the applicants to appear at the screening centres in clean white T- shirts and shorts for the exercise which would take place at designated locations in each state and the Federal Capital Territory.

The police said specific guidelines for each state would be announced by the Police Public Relations Officers in the 36 state commands and the FCT, noting that the screening and other aspects of the recruitment would be carried out in strict compliance with the COVID- 19 prevention protocols.

According to a statement in Abuja , by the force spokesman , DCP Frank Mba , the applicants were expected to come with their National Identity Number ; original and duplicate copies of credentials , ( O ’ Level results ); certificate of origin and birth certificate or declaration of age neatly arranged in two white flat files with recent passport photographs .

The statement cautioned that any candidate who failed to present the requirements will not be considered for the screening .

The statement titled, ‘ Recruitment into the Nigeria Police Force ( Constables ) : physical and credential screening to commence from August 24 to September 6 , 2020 , ’ read in part, “The Inspector – General of Police , Mohammed Adamu , reiterates that the recruitment exercise is absolutely free of charge and without any pecuniary obligation. ”

The IGP equally assured that the process would be conducted “ in the best tradition of transparency and accountability. ”

He advised the applicants to be wary of online imposters , scammers and other criminal elements who might want to take advantage of the recruitment process to dupe innocent candidates .

He said anyone found wanting will be arrested and prosecuted .