Author: Lawal AbdulSalam Olawale

The federal government has announced that the next stage of recruitment exercise into the services under the ministry of interior would commence by August.

The Services under the Ministry are the Nigeria Immigration Service, (NIS) the Nigeria Correctional Service, (NCoS), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, (NSCDC) and the Federal Fire Service, (FFS).

The Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board made the announcement in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday, July 14.

The statement was signed by the secretary of the board, Ja’afaru Ahmed.

Ahmed said the Board “will commence the next stage of the recruitment exercise in August and will conclude the exercise before the end of September, 2024.”

He expressed apology over the board’s inability to complete the process by 15th June, 2024, as earlier intended.

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Ahmed said it was due to a “nationwide manpower audit exercise carried out in the Nigerian Correctional Service, Nigeria Immigration Service, Federal Fire Service and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, which was just recently concluded”.

“All shortlisted candidates will be duly notified of the next stage of the recruitment exercise through the phone numbers and email addresses they provided”, Ahmed who was the immediate past Comptroller General of Corrections said.

The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered Alhaji Lai Mohammed, a former Minister of Information and Culture and the ministry of information to disclose the details of the agreement between the Federal Government and X, formerly Twitter, to assess whether the agreement complies with the exercise of Nigerians’ human rights online.

 

 

The judgment was delivered in May 2024 by Hon. Justice Nnamdi Okwy Dimgba following a Freedom of Information suit number: FHC/L/CS/238/2022

 

The suit was instituted by brought by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP). The certified true copy of the judgment was obtained last Friday.

his judgment, Justice Dimgba held that, “The former minister and the Ministry of Information are directed and compelled to provide a copy of the agreement between the Nigerian Government and Twitter to SERAP solely to ascertain its impact on the protection of fundamental human rights of Nigerians.”

Justice Dimgba stated that, “Disclosing the details of the agreement between the Nigerian Government and Twitter is in the public interest and does not affect Twitter’s business interest as a third party. It is also not prejudicial to Nigeria’s sovereignty and national security.”

Justice Dimgba also stated that, “The agreement between the Nigerian Government and Twitter must still be disclosed irrespective of the harm to Twitter if it would be in the public interest to make sure disclosure.”

Justice Dimgba dismissed the objections raised by the minister’s counsel and upheld SERAP’s arguments. Consequently, the court entered judgment in favour of SERAP against the minister.

Justice Dimgba further said, “The minister has failed to prove that the President has followed due process of law to designate Twitter as a Critical National Information Infrastructure upon the National Security Adviser’s recommendation and issued an Order in the Federal Gazette in that regard.”

“However, this defence is hypothetical and does not point to the specific business or contractual interests of Twitter that could be affected.”

“It is my view that the disclosure of the details of the agreement as requested by SERAP will not interfere with the commercial interests and trade secrets of Twitter or lead to financial losses to it, as the former minister has failed to prove the same.”

“Besides, Section 15(4) of the Freedom of Information Act envisages only real and not hypothetical financial loss or gain to or prejudice to, the competitive position of or interference with contractual or other negotiation of a third party like Twitter which could be affected by the disclosure.”

“No evidence was placed before this Court pointing to the fact that Twitter has an agreement with another country as a precondition for its operation in such jurisdiction as obtainable in Nigeria.

“I am of the view that SERAP has a legitimate reason to wish to be availed of the agreement, which is to understand how the agreement affects them and other Nigerians as far as the protection of the human rights of Nigerians are concerned.

“Another point of controversy is whether the need to disclose the agreement for public interest is subject to the need to protect national sovereignty, as argued by the minister. National sovereignty depending on context is synonymous with national security.”

In most cases, the need for national security outweighs public interest, including protection of fundamental human rights. In this case, however, I am of the view that the reason for the refusal by the minister to disclose the agreement does not come within the need to protect national security and sovereignty.

“The minister’s defence is predicated on the Cybercrimes (Prohibition and Prevention Act) 2015 but has failed to prove how the Act relates to the Twitter agreement other than mentioning the same.

“More than merely linking SERAP’s request for the agreement to ‘critical national information infrastructure’ in section 3 of the Cybercrime (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, nothing more is said about its relevance and how it supports non-disclosure of the Twitter agreement.

“As such, the Cybercrime Act cannot apply to this case, and the protection that would have availed the minister is exempted. The minister also failed to prove how SERAP’s request for the agreement between the Nigerian Government and Twitter came within the protection of the Official Secrets Act.

“SERAP’s lawsuit falls within the framework of Section 20 of the Freedom of Information Act.”

“The minister is directed and compelled to provide a copy of the agreement requested to SERAP to enable the organization to study the same and come to an assessment of whether the agreement incorporates the provisions of Chapter IV of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended] on fundamental human rights and Nigeria’s international human rights obligations.”

“It is clear that Twitter was from the beginning ostensibly suspended from operating in Nigeria’s cyberspace solely to protect the country’s corporate existence. The same ban was lifted after Twitter reached agreement with the Nigerian Government on some terms and conditions for its operation in Nigeria’s cyberspace and the former minister has not denied the existence of such an agreement.

“SERAP’s request does not involve disclosing personal information but relates to an agreement between the government and an international company that plays in the social media and public data space.

“By paragraph 13 of SERAP’s affidavit evidence, the organization requested a copy of the agreement to know whether it complies with Nigeria’s domestic fundamental human rights laws and international treaties to which the country is a state party.

a devastating event, the Nigeria Customs Service has again been thrown into mourning with the death of a young Officer Inspector of Customs (IC) Hamza Abdullahi Elenwo at 39, during a stop and search operation in Jigawa.

It was a real devastating turn of event as the Service is still in mourning mood of late DC Etop Essien, and also that of Customs Assistant Auwal Haruna who was brutally murdered three months ago by suspected smugglers at Gamjin Makaho checkpoint along the Katsina-Dankama road on April 17, 2024.

The Federal Operations Unit, Zone B of the Service announced the tragic demise of Inspector of Customs (IC) Hamza Abdullahi Elenwo in an unfortunate incident that occurred on Friday, 12 July 2024 at Achilafia along Daura-Kano Road in Jigawa State during a stop and search operation

high time the management of the Service deployed new strategies, tighten security not meant to be in public domain in all border areas because of this dastardly, inhuman and unpardonable act of these smugglers.

It is very disturbing hearing the news of the death of deserving, upcoming Officers, who have the qualities of strong sense of responsibilities, determination, courage among others and their vision to objectively serve their Nation- Nigeria, is cut short by miscreants who continue wallowing in deep warm baths.

In a statement signed by SC Isah Sulaiman, Public Relations Officer for the Unit on 13, July 2024, the ugly incident of IC Elenwo occurred when a vehicle suspected to be smuggled into the country hit the operative while trying to evade arrest. The late Operative was rushed to the General Hospital Kazaure and later transferred to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Katsina, where he was pronounced dead by the Doctor on duty. The deceased has been laid to rest in Katsina, according to Islamic rites.

The 39 year old Inspector Hamza, an indigene of Port Harcourt, Rivers State was born on 15 April 1985. He joined the Nigeria Customs Service as Customs Assistant III (CAIII) in the Transport and Logistics Unit on 17 October 2013 and was promoted to the rank of Inspector of Customs (IC) in the year 2022. He is survived by a wife and two Children.

Though, the Head of Federal Operations Unit Zone B, Comptroller Ahmadu Shuaibu, on behalf of the entire Officers and Men of the Unit, extends a heartfelt condolence to the deceased’s family and prays for his eternal rest; the Comptroller vowed to ensure justice is served as One (1) Suspect has been arrested and is in the Custody of the Nigeria Police Force, Gwiwa Division in Jigawa State.

Comptroller Shuaibu also asserted that the incident shows the level of desperation by smugglers operating without recourse to human lives, adding it is also one of the many instances where smugglers kill and maim Personnel of the service in an attempt to evade arrest.

He emphasized that the unit’s operatives would not be deterred and would remain unwavering in the fight against smuggling.

former Senate President and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, over 500 political leaders in Ebonyi State with their followers numbering over 50,000 have formally joined the All Progressives Congress.

The defectors were mainly from the Peoples Democratic Party, Labour Party and All Progressives Grand Alliance.

They were made up of former political office holders, various levels of aspirants and chieftains, including the Labour Party governorship candidate in the 2023 general election in the state, Edward Nkwegu.

The defectors were received by the National Chairman of APC, Alhaji Umar Ganduje, during the grand finale of the Ebonyi State local government election campaign rally.

The event was held on Saturday at the Ngele Oruta Township Stadium, Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital.

Speaking at the event, the APC National Chairman described the event as a commendable move towards the demarginalisation of the South East in national politics.

Ganduje appreciated the Governor of Ebonyi State, Francis Nwifuru, for his leadership sagacity, which he said has brought all political stakeholders together under one umbrella of peace, unity and development.

He also commended the Chairman, Progressive Governors Forum and Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, for his untiring efforts in promoting APC in the South East in particular and Nigeria in general.

He called on all political stakeholders and leaders in the South East to team up with the APC-led Federal Government in order to maximise the gains of leadership in the zone.

He commended Anyim, describing his decision to join the APC as germane for the interest of the South East.

Governor Uzodimma reminisced the past political prominence of Ndigbo in Nigeria’s national politics and encouraged South East political leaders to tow the path of recovery by aligning with the centre.

Governor Nwifuru, while welcoming the decampees, said the event marked a milestone in the annals of the history of the state.

He expressed pride in the characters of Anyim, Edon and other decampees, assuring them that all would be treated equally in the state.

The Federal Government has paid the severance benefits of 885 Nigeria Immigration Services (NIS) officers disengaged from service in 2006/2007, Dasuki Arabi, Director-General of the Bureau of Public Service (BPSR), has said.

Arabi disclosed this at a news conference on Friday in Abuja.

He said that the outstanding benefits were paid to all the 885 officers, who presented themselves for verification, out of the 1,330 disengaged from the service.

He explained that only 17 officers who were verified could not be paid because of inconsistencies in their account details, adding that their issue was being handled by the stakeholders’ committee

“The NIS is one of the over 250 federal parastatals that was affected by the severance policy of 2006/2007 reform programme of the Federal Government across the Public Service.

In the course of the severance exercise, a total of 1,330 NIS officers in various cadres and grade levels were disengaged.”

Arabi said that efforts to resolve the problem since 17 years ago became a hard nut to crack, following several complaints, agitations and petitions from several quarters by the disengaged officers.

He listed the agitations to include effecting the salary scale of CONPASS as against HAPSS to be used as it was used for sister agencies such as Nigerian custom Service and Nigerian Prisons Service, further created more agitations and complaints.

Arabi, however, said that with unrelenting efforts of BPSR and others stakeholders, the problem had been resolved.

He said that in an effort to resolve the problem, verification exercise was carried out from Nov. 27, 2023 across the six geo-political zones starting from the South West (Lagos Centre), which ended at the North Central in Abuja centre on Jan. 20, 2024.

“This achievement serves as a beacon of hope for other parastatals, and MDAs facing similar challenges. Let us continue to work together to address these issues and build a more just and equitable public service for all,” he said.

He explained that it had been difficult to get in touch with some of the affected officers or their next of kin because some of their submitted records were no longer valid as some had change their locations among other factors.

Arabi pledged that the commission was committed to ensure other disengaged officers or their next of kin yet to be paid, receive whatever was due to them in shortest time whenever they presented themselves for verification.

He advised the National Association of Retired Immigration Officers to continue to work with commission and other agencies of government to help to trace the outstanding beneficiaries and ensure that they get what was due to them.

Mr Ola Gbadamosi, the National Chairman, National Association of Retired Immigration Officers, commended the Federal Government and Arabi for the successful payment of the association members.

Gbadamosi said that they had gone to several places but no progress until they came to BPSR, adding that the payment came at a time when some of their members already lost hope.

He appealed to the commission to continue to assist those yet to their benefits paid, received it when they presented themselves

“I am appealing to the director general to please, we have a lingering 17 years , that is number one

“Number two, how to get to the Compass because up to now PTAD has not adjusted,

“So, we are appealing to BPSR to still continue to assist us so that this money for that 17 years will not go like that and then to make sure that the salary is harmonized alongside with our sister’s services like Prisons and Customs.

“The immigration money is different. Where an inspector in prison collects N76, 000 while my own inspector collects N29,000/ N30,000,” Gbadamosi said.

He said that he had some members, about 48 who said they were already in court, while some late officers with more than one wives had disagreement on who to be paid.

He said once those ones reach a compromise, their names would be forwarded for payment.

Also, spouses to two late disengaged officers yet to receive payment after the verification exercise, Mrs Ayodele Tolulope and Mr Promise Atuekwe, urged the commission to help fast track their payment.

With agency report.

Stranded Nigerian students in the United Kingdom (UK) get relief as an amicable payment solution have been agreed to get their tuition fees paid.

No fewer than 60 Nigerian students were reportedly stopped from lectures by Teesside University and reported to the Home Office, and ordered to leave the UK for non payment of tution fees.

The students subsequently blamed the devaluation of the naira for their breach of visa sponsorship requirements.

The Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, announced on Thursday at a press conference ahead of the 2024 National Diaspora Day Celebrations scheduled for  July 25, in Abuja, that an amicable payment solution has been agreed on between school and the affected students following the intervention of NIDCOM.

Dabiri-Erewa, responding to a question on the Teesside University in the UK issue,  said: “The university has come up with a more compassionate payment method. The students are going to pay their fees. It is not charity, but they have devised ways that can be a bit more convenient.

“For those who were almost done with payment and were told to leave, they agreed that they would pay their fees but would not receive their certificate until they complete their payment.”

The NiDCOM Boss also mentioned that Teesside University was not the only institution affected; many other universities have Nigerian students facing similar issues.

She said: “We are working closely with the student organisations in the UK and the Nigerian Mission to address these challenges.”

Speaking on the forthcoming 2024 Diaspora Day celebration, Dabiri-Erewa said emphasis would be on Japa and its consequences, explaining that Japa must be done in a way that would be profitable and not done blindly.

The NIDCOM, while acknowledging the push factor, like economic instability, security concerns, and living standards, said the country should be looking at how to make gains out of migration.

She stressed the need for proper migration, saying irregular migration is not encouraged because of its consequences.

She noted that the theme for this year’s National Diaspora Day, “Japa Phenomena and its Implications for National Development,” reflected growing concerns over the demographic most affected by this migration—Nigeria’s youth.

“Factors such as economic instability, security concerns, and inadequate standard of living are ranked high among reasons for the exodus of Nigerians abroad.

“The consequence of this phenomenon is the decline of strong human resources because most of the Nigerians relocating are the youths. This in turn, makes a downward turn on labour and productivity in the country.”

She noted that despite these challenges, Dabiri-Erewa called for a change in perspective, urging Nigerians to see the positive side of the situation.

She said: “We have to turn our lemons into lemonade. Today, we change the story by celebrating those vibrant Nigerians who are making positive impacts in the Diaspora and making the country very proud.

“Also, those who, while abroad, are contributing positively to national development.

The term ‘japa’, originating from the Yoruba words ‘ja’ and ‘pa’ meaning “to break free,” and has become Nigerian slang for relocating overseas in search of better opportunities