Metro
Ensure Violence Free Campaigns, Coalition for Good Governance Tells Presidential Candidates
A not for profit, non-religious and non-ethnic organization, the Coalition for Good Governance (CGG), has congratulated political parties across board for the successful conclusion of their primaries towards the 2023 general elections.
The group, which describes itself as a democratic and good governance watchdog, in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Don Anthony Chukwuma Harmattan, after a stakeholders meeting chaired by Engr. Okey Chikwendu, called on the candidates, especially the presidential candidates, to ensure violence free campaign to avoid overheating the polity.
The group also reiterates its firm belief that only credible candidates backed by free and fair election can guarantee peaceful co-existence among citizens, and take its rightful position among the comity of nations.
The statement reads:
CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE TO ALL POLITICAL PARTIES FOR THE SUCCESSFUL CONDUCT OF THEIR PRIMARIES
The Coalition for Good Governance, a democratic and good governance watchdog, a not for profit, non-religious and non-ethnic organization in its meeting of 11th June 2020 Chaired by Chief Engr. Okey Chikwendu and attended by 45 former National political leadership and current leaders including civil society organizations hereby congratulates political parties for the successful conduct of their primaries and all winners of their various party primaries in the build up to the 2023 general elections.
As a Democratic and good governance watchdog, we wish to reiterated our firm believe that Nigeria requires only credible candidates back by free, fair and verifiable voting system that can guarantee peaceful coexistence and tranquility in our country today and return Nigeria to the comity of nations as the giant of Africa.
We therefore call on all presidential candidates to ensure a violent free campaign during the process leading up to the elections and making sure that their campaign members strictly complies to avoid overheating up the polity.
Once more we send our warmest and hearty congratulations to you all and wish you success in your various campaigns.
The Minister of Police Affairs, Senator Ibrahim Gaidam, has inspected seven Modified Light Tactical Vehicles procured for the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to enhance and strengthen their operations in securing life and property in the country, according to a statement made available to the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP).
Gaidam performed the function in company of the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Anuma Ogbonaya Nlia, and top Management of the Ministry at the Federal Secretariat, Phase III, in Abuja.
The Minister stated that the seven Modified Light Tactical Armoured Vehicles were acquired from the budgetary allocation of the Ministry, and they would be handed over to the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to enhance their security operations to enable them to perform better. “They are supposed to use it professionally to combat insecurity in the country,” he stressed.
A stray bullet has allegedly killed a student who was heading to the examination centre to sit for the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination being organised by the West African Examination Council (WAEC) in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
The incident happened on Gbagi market road in the Egbeda Local Government Area of the state when a stray bullet allegedly fired by a police officer in pursuit of a suspect hit and allegedly killed the student on Tuesday.
Investigations revealed that the boy was on a motorcycle with his father and twin brother when the incident struck.
The student, according to multiple eyewitnesses, was on his way to the examination centre.
One of the sources, simply identified as Ajani, said, “A police officer opened fire while chasing a fleeing vehicle. One of the bullets reportedly hit the student. The student was riding on a motorcycle with his father and twin brother.
“The victim was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Another witness said, “The deceased was on his way to the examination centre alongside his twin brother when the tragedy happened.”
Meanwhile, irate youths took the student’s lifeless body to the state Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, to demand justice and called on Governor Seyi Makinde to intervene.
The deceased body has been deposited at Adeoyo Hospital morgue.
As of press time, authorities have not released an official statement on the incident.
The Punch
The Joint Action Committee of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU)and Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) have condemned the recent distribution formula for the N50 billion earned allowance approved by the Federal government for university-based unions.
The unions expressed their displeasure in the sharing formula in a jointly signed statement by the President of SSANU, Mohammed Ibrahim, and the General Secretary of NASU, Peters Adeyemi on Sunday in Abuja.
The Federal government last month approved the release of N50billion to universities as earned allowances.
The N50billion is to be shared between the Academic Staff Union of Universities; NASU, SSANU and National Association of Academic Technologists.
The statement said: “We wish to make it clear that this is not a contest of supremacy among unions. Rather, it is about fairness, recognition, and the equitable treatment of all workers who form the backbone of the Nigerian University system.”
The unions further demanded a review and reversal of the allocation formula, which they describe as “grossly unfair” and “totally unacceptable.”
The unions argued that the distribution was capable of creating industrial disharmony and accentuating the teaching/non-teaching dichotomy in Nigerian universities.
They vowed to stand united in demanding justice, fairness, and recognition of their rightful place in the university community.
They warned that going ahead with the unfair distribution will breed resentment and trigger widespread industrial disharmony.
“Non-Teaching staff of Nigerian Universities are not second-class citizens but are critical stakeholders who contribute immensely to the day-to-day functionality, administrative efficiency, research excellence, technical operations, and overall development of the Nigerian Universities system.
“A harmonious and productive academic environment can only be achieved when all stakeholders are treated with respect, dignity, equity, and fairness,” the statement added.
