🚨 Strikes and daylight lynching
Let’s get into it.
In this edition:
Emefiele has decided the CBN is his birthright
Nigeria’s new security tech
Strikes, strikes and more strikes
Daylight lynching in Sokoto
Best in tech
The Federal Government has officially launched the Nigeria Internal Security and Public Safety Alerts System (NISPSAS), a crime alert app that notifies security agencies of indiscretions.
The minister of interior, Rauf Aregbesola said at the app inauguration, ‘the ministry of interior has therefore developed an application … to send alerts to all security agencies in real time.’
No word yet on why the name is so long. 🤔
Uni Woes
Uni unions say NO to FG
While the FG once again pleads and begs for a suspension of the ongoing strikes, Nigerian university unions continue to ignore and prolong their protest strike.
The four university unions, ASUU, SSANU, NASU and NAAT had a meeting with the FG this week.
The meeting was supposed to be one where compromises were made and the strike came to an end. Instead, the unions rejected the pleas to resume work stating that nothing concrete was decided on the government’s side to warrant an end to the strikes.
ASUU extends strike
ASUU just extended their strike by 12 weeks.
The decision was reached during a meeting at the union’s Abuja secretariat in order to give the government more time to satisfactorily resolve the issues.
According to the ASUU president, Emmanuel Osodeke, the extension started effect on Monday, May 9th, 2022.
For similar reasons, ASUP (Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics) has decided to embark on a 2-week strike of their own.
Meanwhile, COEASU gives FG an ultimatum
The Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) has also decided to give the federal government a 21-day ultimatum to respond to their demands. The result of non-compliance from the government will be yet another strike.
The countdown of the ultimatum started on May 9th and if the government doesn’t respond, they will take the appropriate industrial action.
They are therefore urging Nigerians concerned with the educational system to join them in demanding better from the government.
Students protest in response
With more university unions going on strike, students of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife went on a ‘strike’ of their own in the form of protests.
On Thursday, students of the institution marched to the Ile-Ife-Ibadan expressway to protest the strikes by ASUU and other university unions.
The protesting students, under the slogan ‘End ASUU Strike Coalition’ said that the protests would continue if the unions and the government do not reach a compromise and reopen universities.
Politicians politicking
Emefiele says no to resigning
In contrast with President Buhari’s directive for all presidential candidates to resign from office pending the primary elections, CBN governor Godwin Emefiele has refused to do so.
President Buhari issued a directive ahead of the primaries set to hold this month. Under the umbrella are the likes of ministers such as Rotimi Amaechi, and Abubakar Malami. Also ambassadors, and heads of agencies such as Emefiele.
Emefiele took his disagreement to court. His lawyer, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), told the Court in Abuja that he can run for the post of President without vacating his position.
Emefiele argued he will suffer ‘irreparable damage’ if he is not allowed to run for president while serving as the central bank governor.
Meanwhile, the appeal court says it is illegal to demand their resignation ahead of primaries rather than the general elections.
INEC on Elections
1.4 million voters registration invalid
INEC revealed that 1,126,359 out of 2,523,458 voter card registrations done online between June and December 2021 are invalid. So, if you registered between this period, it wouldn’t hurt to try and check again...
This was disclosed by the resident electoral commissioner in charge of Zamfara state, Prof Sa’idu Babura as he spoke to journalists in his Gusau office on Thursday.
He said that the invalid registrations are a case of incomplete data and wrong or multiple registrations.
(Note: Double registration is a crime in Nigeria punishable by jail time or a hefty fine so be careful not to register twice).
The online PVC registration, which started in June 2021, has a deadline of June 30, 2022.
You still have over a month to get your PVC. Register to vote! To ensure that you do it right, follow these steps.
INEC considers dumping CBN
INEC disclosed that there is a possibility of exploring other alternatives for sorting out sensitive electoral materials other than the long-standing partner, CBN.
INEC chairman Mahmood Yakubu said this in response to a question concerned about the implications of Emefiele’s interest in presidential candidacy.
There have been concerns over Emefiele’s bid, including issues around the fact that sensitive election materials are usually kept in the CBN.
Former lawmaker, Shehu Sani then advised the commission to keep these sensitive materials with religious leaders instead. This would include pastors and Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).
INEC is yet to make any decisions pending a formal announcement from Emefiele.
Health news
Protests in Abia over 12-month salary arrears
Abia State Health Management Board workers are protesting not receiving their salaries for over 12 months.
The protests on Tuesday saw the workers blocking the Aba road by rolling on the ground and crying to God.
According to The Punch, The Chairperson of the Medical and Health Workers Union Nigeria, HMB branch, Mary Wokoma, said three weeks earlier when the protest started, the state government pleaded with the workers to resume work with the assurance to pay within two weeks.
Now, the workers are anxious that they will not receive their salaries before they leave office and their salaries would be used to fund their next electoral campaigns.
They have also threatened to drag the state Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, and the state government to court, and before a ‘dreaded shrine’ in Anambra State.
Lassa fever tallies
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NDCD) disclosed that 149 Nigerians have lost their lives to Lassa fever in 2022.
According to the report published by the NCDC on Wednesday, Edo and Ondo have reported the most number of deaths.
Read more here from The Punch.
Insecurity
Female university student killed and burnt over blasphemy
A mob killed Deborah Samuel, a student at Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, over allegations of blasphemous language.
Deborah was allegedly conversing with fellow students who asked how she did so well on the exam. She responded it was thanks to Jesus to which many students took offence and asked her to take it back.
She refused and was attacked leading to her death despite security intervention. Afterwards, her body was burnt on campus.
The school has since been closed down and the police command in Sokoto says two suspects have been arrested.
Earlier on Thursday, Muhammadu Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto, condemned the incident and urged security operatives to ensure that the perpetrators are apprehended - The Cable
Meanwhile, presidential aspirant Atiku Abubakar lives up to expectations as he deletes a Facebook post condemning Deborah’s death after receiving comments of lost votes from religious fundamentalists.
On the other hand, Imam of the National Mosque Abuja, Ibrahim Maqari, asks not to have her killers condemned as ‘Deborah crossed an Islamic red line’.
Fuel news
IPMAN warns Nigerians
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) warns Nigerians about the possibility of the worst case of fuel scarcity to fit the country.
This announcement was made by IPMAN chairman in Kano State, Bashir Danmalam, as he addressed newsmen on Monday.
He however claims that the scarcity can be averted if the Federal Government prevailed on the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to pay N500 billion bridging claims by its members - The Vanguard
But NNPC says there is enough fuel
The NNPC has announced to Nigerians not to engage in panic buying assuring them that there is enough fuel for the country.
This is a response to the panic caused by increasingly long fuel queues at petrol stations.
According to Premium Times, the corporation said the sudden appearance of fuel queues in parts of Abuja was due to low load outs at depots, which usually happen during long public holidays.
Other news
N63 million farm road in Benue funded twice by the government remains abandoned - Premium Times
Due to the topography of Ebute Meta East and West, Lagos state government stops approval for the building of 3 story buildings in the area - Premium Times
Bill to improve secondary school education passes second reading - The Punch
NCDC confirm 15 new cases of monkeypox in Nigeria with Lagos and Adamawa taking the lead - The Punch
Nigerian airlines accept pleas from FG to continue operations after threatening to shutdown - Premium Times
Jonathan submits APC forms - The Punch