Metro
FG Trains Police Personnel on Human Rights, Conflict Management
The Federal Government has commenced training for Nigeria Police Personnel across the geo-political zones of the country.
The training according to a press statement signed by the Head, Press and Public Relations Unit in the Police Affairs Ministry, Mr Bolaji Kazeem, is on Human Rights, the Rights of the Police, and conflict management to help in broadening officers’ perspectives on innovative policing approaches.
The training program with the theme “Psychological Development, Human Rights, the Rights of the Police and Conflict Management” was organized by the Nigeria Police Trust Fund (NPTF) at the NICON Luxury and Sheraton hotels in Abuja respectfully.
The Minister of Police Affairs, Dr. Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi in his address read by the Director (General Services), Mrs. Edenmaya Ibiroke Brayia stated that the training will elicit gains in the area of human rights and conflicts management that will open a fresh vista in deepening relations between the Police and the communities, as well as harness human intelligence for crime control.
In his words, “this, I believe, will immensely improve your knowledge, enhance your job performance, create an avenue for exchange of ideas, ensure your overall skills development and bring you up to date in modern policing techniques. I, therefore, have no doubt that at the end of this training, you will come out refreshed, reinvigorated, and adequately repositioned for more effective and efficient delivery of your very challenging task of securing the nation and most especially, well equipped to provide adequate security during the 2023 general elections”.
He opined that the establishment of the Nigeria Police Trust Fund is very apt and timely; as it provides the avenue for a more holistic approach to mobilizing funds to address the various security challenges facing the country.
Dingyadi noted that the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is adequately prepared to give all necessary support to the Nigeria Police Trust Fund with a view to enable it to achieve its mandate of reforming the Nigeria Police Force.
According to him, “It is, therefore, the collective aspiration of all Nigerians that the Trust Fund, should among others, bridge the funding and other developmental gaps in the policing and internal security sector through providing the NPF with required operational tools and equipment, training and re-training of personnel as well as the motivation of officers and men through improved welfare. In this regard, therefore, what we are witnessing here today, is indeed a move in the right direction aimed at actualizing the lofty ideas of Mr. President in establishing the Trust Fund”.
The Executive Secretary, Nigeria Police Trust Fund (NPTF) represented by the Director (Planning, Research, and Statistics), Muhammad Yahaya stated the training was part of the training activities of the year 2021 budget as appropriated by the National Assembly signed into law by Mr. President in July 2021 and the programs were selected to make a very contentious need assessment program undertaken by the Nigerian Police force, Ministry of the Police Affairs and the Nigerian Police Trust Fund.
He said the objectives of the police training are to enhance the operational police preparedness to effectively tackle security challenges in the country in order to secure the lives and properties of citizens.
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.
