Electoral Act nothing to worry about – Ahmad Lawan

Electoral Act nothing to worry about – Ahmad Lawan

Senate majority leader Ahmad Lawan has backed President Muhammadu Buhari’s refusal to assent to the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, saying there was nothing to worry about.

Ahmad-Lawan

Lawan said in Abuja, that the Electoral Act (2010) was good enough for the conduct of the 2019 general elections.

He said the President’s decision should not be misinterpreted, adding that it was done in the interest of the country.

That the President declined assent to the bill was no big deal.

“We can still use the Electoral Act, 2010, that was used in 2015 general elections.

“This is to allay the fears of the citizens, who might think that the 2019 elections would not be well conducted without the amendment.

“What we need to do is to look at the few lapses, especially in terms of administration which does not need any legal backing.

“INEC conducted a very good election in 2015 with the existing act.

“So, I believe that we can use that and nobody should start thinking that the elections will not be free and fair.

“The 2015 elections were free, fair and transparent. All over the world, we were commended for conducting such a credible election.

“It is not like the current act is so defective that we cannot use it, ” he said.

The leader said the bill could be worked on, to be used in elections beyond 2019.

He pointed out that: “If we cannot use the current amendments in 2019, who says we cannot use it in the 2023 elections and elections in between 2019 and 2023.

“So, national interest is of utmost importance and not the noise been made by some people. So, there is no reason for worry or agitation.”

Lawan said the President, as an elder statesman, had the interest of the country at heart and his action should not be misconstrued to mean selfishness.

According to him, the President cares for the masses, the progress, stability and development of the country and would not take any decision that would impact on the nation negatively.

Electoral Amendment Bill 2018: 3 Political parties ask court to stop presidential assent

“The President believes in due process and as such he will do anything possible to ensure that our election processes are transparent.

“For me, Mr President took his time with his advisers to study the bill before coming up with the decision.

“We are all working in the interest of the nation and as such nobody should claim to be more patriotic than the President.

“The President has his track records. This is a President that his whole life has been devoted to public good.

“He has never shown selfishness or done anything to enhance his personal status.

“All he does is for Nigeria to be better. So, I want to say that he cannot be forced to sign something as important as the electoral bill,” Lawan said. (NAN)

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Electoral Act nothing to worry about – Ahmad Lawan

Electoral Act nothing to worry about – Ahmad Lawan

  

Senate majority leader Ahmad Lawan has backed President Muhammadu Buhari’s refusal to assent to the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, saying there was nothing to worry about.

Ahmad-Lawan

Lawan said in Abuja, that the Electoral Act (2010) was good enough for the conduct of the 2019 general elections.

He said the President’s decision should not be misinterpreted, adding that it was done in the interest of the country.

“That the President declined assent to the bill was no big deal.

“We can still use the Electoral Act, 2010, that was used in 2015 general elections.

“This is to allay the fears of the citizens, who might think that the 2019 elections would not be well conducted without the amendment.

“What we need to do is to look at the few lapses, especially in terms of administration which does not need any legal backing.

“INEC conducted a very good election in 2015 with the existing act.

“So, I believe that we can use that and nobody should start thinking that the elections will not be free and fair.

“The 2015 elections were free, fair and transparent. All over the world, we were commended for conducting such a credible election.

“It is not like the current act is so defective that we cannot use it, ” he said.

The leader said the bill could be worked on, to be used in elections beyond 2019.

He pointed out that: “If we cannot use the current amendments in 2019, who says we cannot use it in the 2023 elections and elections in between 2019 and 2023.

“So, national interest is of utmost importance and not the noise been made by some people. So, there is no reason for worry or agitation.”

Lawan said the President, as an elder statesman, had the interest of the country at heart and his action should not be misconstrued to mean selfishness.

According to him, the President cares for the masses, the progress, stability and development of the country and would not take any decision that would impact on the nation negatively.

Electoral Amendment Bill 2018: 3 Political parties ask court to stop presidential assent

“The President believes in due process and as such he will do anything possible to ensure that our election processes are transparent.

“For me, Mr President took his time with his advisers to study the bill before coming up with the decision.

“We are all working in the interest of the nation and as such nobody should claim to be more patriotic than the President.

“The President has his track records. This is a President that his whole life has been devoted to public good.

“He has never shown selfishness or done anything to enhance his personal status.

“All he does is for Nigeria to be better. So, I want to say that he cannot be forced to sign something as important as the electoral bill,” Lawan said. (NAN)

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Electoral Act nothing to worry about – Ahmad Lawan

Electoral Act nothing to worry about – Ahmad Lawan

  

Senate majority leader Ahmad Lawan has backed President Muhammadu Buhari’s refusal to assent to the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, saying there was nothing to worry about.

Ahmad-Lawan

Lawan said in Abuja, that the Electoral Act (2010) was good enough for the conduct of the 2019 general elections.

He said the President’s decision should not be misinterpreted, adding that it was done in the interest of the country.

“That the President declined assent to the bill was no big deal.

“We can still use the Electoral Act, 2010, that was used in 2015 general elections.

“This is to allay the fears of the citizens, who might think that the 2019 elections would not be well conducted without the amendment.

“What we need to do is to look at the few lapses, especially in terms of administration which does not need any legal backing.

“INEC conducted a very good election in 2015 with the existing act.

“So, I believe that we can use that and nobody should start thinking that the elections will not be free and fair.

“The 2015 elections were free, fair and transparent. All over the world, we were commended for conducting such a credible election.

“It is not like the current act is so defective that we cannot use it, ” he said.

The leader said the bill could be worked on, to be used in elections beyond 2019.

He pointed out that: “If we cannot use the current amendments in 2019, who says we cannot use it in the 2023 elections and elections in between 2019 and 2023.

“So, national interest is of utmost importance and not the noise been made by some people. So, there is no reason for worry or agitation.”

Lawan said the President, as an elder statesman, had the interest of the country at heart and his action should not be misconstrued to mean selfishness.

According to him, the President cares for the masses, the progress, stability and development of the country and would not take any decision that would impact on the nation negatively.

Electoral Amendment Bill 2018: 3 Political parties ask court to stop presidential assent

“The President believes in due process and as such he will do anything possible to ensure that our election processes are transparent.

“For me, Mr President took his time with his advisers to study the bill before coming up with the decision.

“We are all working in the interest of the nation and as such nobody should claim to be more patriotic than the President.

“The President has his track records. This is a President that his whole life has been devoted to public good.

“He has never shown selfishness or done anything to enhance his personal status.

“All he does is for Nigeria to be better. So, I want to say that he cannot be forced to sign something as important as the electoral bill,” Lawan said. (NAN)

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Subsidy debts: FG to pay oil marketers N236bn next Friday

Subsidy debts: FG to pay oil marketers N236bn next Friday

The Federal Government, Saturday, said it would pay oil marketers N236 billion next Friday, being first tranche of the outstanding N348 billion subsidy claims owed members of the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria, MOMAN, and the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association, DAPPMA. Speaking after a meeting with officials of petroleum product marketers in Abuja, Chief Operating Officer, Downstream of the NNPC, Mr. Henry Ikem-Obih, disclosed that the remaining portion of the claims would be paid in 2019, after a meeting between the oil marketers and the Federal Ministry of Finance, that would be scheduled sometimes in 2019. Cross section of officials during the meeting between the Federal Government and oil marketers at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja. Photo by Abayomi Adeshida He said, “We agreed that after the first tranche is paid, the marketers would form a committee to work on details of how the next tranche will be paid in 2019 and the last tranche in 2020. Government is fully committed to pay the first tranche as promised and will be paid through promissory note that would be issued by the Debt Management Office, DMO.” He declared that the Federal Government had insisted on making the payments through promissory notes, which was equivalent to cash and can be liquidated almost immediately. Ikem-Obih said the decision to pay through promissory notes was based on the need to manage cash injection into the economy, noting that injecting cash of that magnitude into the economy might affect the country negatively. The NNPC downstream boss said the mode of settlement had been agreed between the Federal Government and the oil marketers since 2017, adding that the decision was not new. He noted that the Federal Government had decided to pay the money to the oil marketers in full and had directed that there would be no deductions from the marketers’ account to settle debts owed government. Ikem-Obih said, “Some oil marketing companies, DAPPMA and MOMAN members are indebted to Federal Government agencies, like the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, but the government had directed that the debts should not be deducted from the payments. This is because if we do, most of the marketers would be left without a dime.” Explaining the disparity between the N800 billion claimed by the oil marketers and the N348 billion approved by the National Assembly, the downstream chief executive said the debt position of all the marketers to the government where considered and agreed upon as at June 30, 2018 and presented to the National Assembly for approval, which after consideration of the debts, approved the sum of N348 billion. He assured Nigerians that the NNPC was fully ready to ensure stable supply of petroleum products during the Yuletide period and beyond, stating that presently, the corporation has over 2.8 billion litres of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, also known as petrol, which would last the country for 55 days while 90,000 metric tonnes of diesel, imported by the Petroleum Products Marketing Company, PPMC, and NNPC Retail, would arrive the country in the next couple of days. Ikem-Obih declared that all MOMAN, DAPPMA and IPMAN had assured the Federal Government that their facilities would be available throughout the festive period, while all the NNPC depots across the country and its 618 retail outlets would also be dispensing the products. He also disclosed that in addition to the imported fuel stock, the countries refineries would also be contributing to fuel supply, adding that Warri Refinery had returned to production last Thursday, while Port Harcourt refineries are about to resume production. Also speaking, Chief Executive Officer of A.A. Rano Limited, Alhaji Aliyu Sa’id dissociated the company from the planned shutdown by DAPPMA and MOMAN, stating that the timing was wrong. He said oil marketers should not be seen to be sabotaging the efforts of government in ensuring stable fuel supply during the Yuletide season and beyond. Speaking in the same vein, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of A.Y.M. Shafa, Mr. Ahmad Abdullahi, declared that at this time that the country is going through series of challenges, security and financial, any attempt to worsen the plight of Nigerians would be seen as an attempt to put the country in chaos. He urged other oil marketers to support the Federal Government and trust the decisions of the government as it concerns settlement of the outstanding claims. On his part, Group Managing Director of Obat Oil and Gas, Prince Akinfemiwa Akinruntun, said the company is ready to support the government by loading the products on a 24 hours basis, noting that the NNPC had been supportive of oil marketers over the years. He noted that national interest supersedes his personal interest, hence, he would urge Nigerians to avoid panic buying, as efforts would be geared towards ensuring stability in petroleum products supply.

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Why we suspended licensing of 26GHz, 38GHz, 42GHz frequency bands —NCC

Why we suspended licensing of 26GHz, 38GHz, 42GHz frequency bands —NCC 



Emmanuel Elebeke ABUJA—The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, Prof. Danbatta says the Commission took the decision to suspend the licensing of some of the potential frequency bands of 26GHz, 38GHz and 42Ghz to ensure that Nigeria is not caught napping when the frequency bands are eventually harmonised for 5G deployment in region 1 by standardization bodies. 

Prof Umar Garba Danbatta Danbatta made the revelation at  the stakeholders consultative forum organised by the NCC on 5G readiness and High Altitude Platform Station Technologies, HAPS  held  in Abuja. He explained that though, the 5G framework is still being defined by the ITU,  the Commission had to take the bull by the horn to ensure Nigeria’s readiness for the imminent 5G evolution by  putting in place necessary regulatory frameworks so as to flow in the wave of the trend. 

According to him, the Commission decided to organise the forum in order to gather relevant inputs to be considered in developing regulatory framework in preparation for 5G and HAPS technologies 

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Appeal Court dismisses Evans’ fundamental right enforcement suit

Appeal Court dismisses Evans’ fundamental right enforcement suit 

THE Court of Appeal, Lagos division, yesterday, trashed an appeal filed by suspected billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike also known as Evans, against the ruling of a Federal High Court, in Lagos which dismissed his Fundamental Right Enforcement suit for lack of merit. Evans               Justice A.U. Ogakwu, while dismissing Evans’ appeal, said: “The appeal lacks merit and is, hereby, dismissed with no order of cost.” Evans, during his arrest and detention, had approached a Federal High Court, sitting in Lagos, to challenge his arrest and detention beyond the time allowed by law, his continued detention without trial or being arraigned before a court of law within the time allowed by law and his subjection to media trial by the Police. 

Why Osun governorship tribunal was moved to Abuja – Appeal Court The police, represented by Mr. Emmanuel Eze, a Police Inspector from State Intelligence and Criminal Investigation Department, SICID,  Panti, Lagos, filed and argued the respondent’s counter affidavit and written address, while Mr. Olukoya Ogungbeje argued the plaintiff’s motion. Delivering judgment on Evans’ Fundamental Right Enforcement application at the lower court, the trial judge, Justice Abdulazeez Anka, had on January 16, 2018, dismissed the Fundamental Right Enforcement suit on the grounds that the suit lacked merit. Dissatisfied, with the ruling of Justice Anka, Onwuamadike, the appellant filed a notice of appeal before the Court of Appeal by virtue of a Notice of Appeal dated January 29, 2018 and filed at the court on the same date. The parties, in the suit, argued and adopted motion on October 25, 2018. Delivering judgment in an abridged judgment, yesterday, Justice A. U. Ogakwu, who read the lead judgment said: “The appeal lacks merit and is hereby dismissed with no order as to cost.”

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2019: Refrain From Inciting Campaigns, Abdulsalami Tells Politicians

2019: Refrain From Inciting Campaigns, Abdulsalami Tells Politicians 

Kaduna—Former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd), has called on politicians to work towards ensuring peaceful conduct of the 2019 elections by refraining from inciting campaigns. He made the appeal at the launch of  the book on the late governor of Kaduna State, Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa. The book is entitled, “Yakowa: A Dream Deferred,” written by Reuben Buhari, Yakowa’s spokesman. •Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar, retd Abdulsalami noted that politicians had a very critical role in the sustenance of peace in the country. He said:  “Politicians and their political parties hold the key to the creation of an environment that could foster free, fair and credible elections. “May I urge all of us, especially the politicians, to continue to jealously guard the peace of our dear country. I urge us to refrain from political campaigns laced with religious or ethnic peculiarities, rather concentrate on issue-based campaigns.” 

The former head of state, who noted that it was time for younger Nigerians to begin to serve the country, said:  “One of the essence of life is to mentor the young ones and see them grow and that is why in the wisdom of the National Assembly and the President, a bill was passed and signed into law, the Not Too Young to Run bill, to enable the young ones contest. BCO condemns peddlers of fake news on Buhari, Jibril “If I come back as President at 77, what can I do?  I can’t even work properly.” He eulogised the late governor of Kaduna State for his leadership qualities and urged the younger generations to learn from his virtues. “I thank you all who have taken time to come here. I pray that all the good things that have been said and would be said about our late brother will serve as an inspiration to our upcoming leaders.” 

Governor Nasir el-Rufai who claimed he was not invited by the author of the book but sent a senior counsellor, Samaila Yakawada, to represent him, said he was working hard to complete the infrastructure started by the late Yakowa. “His excellency, Mallam Nasir el-rufai was not invited by the organisers, but asked me to represent him here. He said he is working to complete infrastructures left behind by previous administrations”. Governor El-rufai announced a donation of N2 million tom launch the book.

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