Author: Lawal AbdulSalam Olawale

Gunmen have attacked the residence of the Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Lokoja, the Kogi state capital.

Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Mr Rotimi Oyekanmi disclosed this in a statement Friday in Abuja.

He said the REC, Dr Hale Longpet was hale and hearty as the security personnel attached to him were able to hold off the attackers before reinforcement.

“In the early hours of today, Friday 1st December 2023, around 3.30am, gunmen attacked the residence of our Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Lokoja, Kogi State.

 

“The armed men engaged the security personnel in a gun battle for over 30 minutes until reinforcement arrived.

 

While no lives were lost, property was destroyed in the ensuing gun battle. A team of combined security personnel have been deployed to protect the residence.This incident occurred a day after a mob besieged our state office.

 

“We call for a thorough investigation and enhanced security protection for our personnel and assets in Kogi State”, he stated.

 

Some protesters branded in Social Democratic Party SDP shirts had on Wednesday besieged the INEC office in Lokoja claiming that the commission was working with the state government to tamper with election materials.

 

One of them who identified himself as Danjuma, said they were sure the materials at the INEC Office had been compromised by the APC, vowing that those w

We have it on good authority that the APC and Yahaya Bello have tampered with the election materials. The materials they are taking to the tribunal have already been doctored. So we are calling on INEC to take the original material to INEC, or we will make Kogi State ungovernable.

Those who stole the mandate of Kogi East must not live to enjoy it. We are calling on the President and also the National Chairman of INEC to ensure the doctored materials are immediately replaced with the original ones before they are presented at the tribunal. Anything other than that will be resisted,” he had said.

Following the alleged plot by suspected arsonists to burn down the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Lokoja, Kogi State capital, security operatives have taken over the office premises.

gathered that men of the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Army and other security outfits were spotted with their armoured personnel carriers to stop any invasion of the INEC office.

 

It was further learnt that the ever-busy post office, where business activities boom on a daily basis, was deserted.

Vehicular movement was also restricted as motorists were forced to divert to other routes, especially those going to Abuja, Nataco and Felele axis.

 

DAILY POST recalls that one of the political parties had accused the other of allegedly sponsoring thugs to destroy election materials in the INEC office

President Bola Tinubu has confirmed the appointment of Wura-Ola Adepoju as the substantive Comptroller General (CG) of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS).

 

Ms Adepoju disclosed the development to staff of the NIS during the Comptroller General’s parade on Wednesday, adding that the date for decoration would soon be announced.

 

“You may also wish to know, that through the grace of God and by the benevolence of the present government, I have been confirmed as a substantive Comptroller General of Immigration,” a statement by the Public Relations Unit of the Service quoted her as saying.

 

As the most senior Deputy Comptroller General (DCG), Ms Adepoju was appointed the acting CG when the former acting CG, Isah Jere’s tenure expired on 29 May.

Addressing members of the service on Wednesday, the new CG also said some members of the top management team who took part in a promotion exam have been elevated to the ranks of Deputy Comptrollers General.

 

She said the date of their decoration will also be announced soon.

 

The CG also called on officers to observe a minute of silence in honour of members of the service who died some weeks ago in the line of duty, praying that the Almighty God rest their souls.

 

“The CGI announced that the parade was dedicated to the memory of our fallen colleagues and assured that NIS will continue to support the bereaved families.

 

She said an Endowment Fund is being created by the Service for the upkeep of the families of the deceased.

 

“Donations have been received from members of the NIS management team, Command Comptrollers and stakeholders. The widows left behind are being considered for employment into the Service provided they have the required qualifications,” the statement said.

She encouraged all personnel not to despair, but recognise the fact that our colleagues did not die in vain and that their families are not alone.

 

The CGI appreciated all officers and men for the support given to the NIS leadership. She particularly thanked the top management team, Zonal Coordinators, State Comptrollers and Passport Officers both at home and in the diaspora.”

 

Passport Issuance

The CG also enjoined all Nigerian Passport holders to ensure their Passports are renewed six months before expiration, to avoid desperation and undue pressure on both the applicants and NIS personnel.

She also advised Nigerians to stop patronising touts and deal with the Service directly.

 

She added that passport applications would soon be paperless and applicants would be able to apply for their passports in the comfort of their homes without having to come and fill hard copies of forms at Immigration offices.

 

 

The statement added: “As we approach the festive period, we expect many Nigerians from the diaspora to be coming home. The CGI will work with the DCG Passport and other Travel Documents as well as the DCG Border Management to ensure that we are able to assist those coming with expired Passports. We will have dedicated service points to help them. We will also encourage the adults to apply for the 64 page 10 years validity Passport to save them from frequent renewal.

Under the leadership of our current Minister, Olubunmi Tuni-Ojo, arrangements are underway to expand our service points abroad to ease the pressure on the existing few as a result of the japa syndrome.

The DCG in charge of Passport and other Travel Documents was specially recognised for her assiduousness in ensuring we are able to meet our mandate in the area of Passport administration

Panic gripped residents of Osogbo, the capital of Osun State, on Wednesday when a refurbished government bus conveying workers and students crashed after experiencing brake failure. The incident occurred around 2:35 PM along the Capital/Estate/Dele-Yes-Sir road in Osogbo. Eyewitnesses told our reporter that the bus, christened ‘Imole De Bus,’ was traveling from Oke-Fia towards Estate when the brakes failed. The bus lost control, veered off the road, and collided with the median strip before hitting a streetlight pole

Fortunately, no casualties were reported, but the incident caused panic among bystanders and nearby hawkers.

The bus was coming from Oke-Fia end, going towards Estate when it had brake failure,” an eyewitness, Tomi, told our correspondent. “The crash scared many of us at the scene; it nearly crushed some hawkers in the area. The bus ran over road bumps, it lost control, and collided with the road median strip and eventually hit the streetlight pole.”

 

Another eyewitness, Patience, corroborated Tomi’s account and added that the crash caused heavy traffic congestion in the area before the bus was removed from the scene. The incident raised concerns about the safety of the refurbished buses, which were part of a government initiative to alleviate the hardship caused by the recent fuel subsidy removal. Watch The Video Below

No fewer than 25 lives were lost while 15 others were seriously injured in a petrol tanker fire on Tuesday in Kwara State.

 

The incident occurred due to an accident at Peke village along the Oko-Olowo area on the Ilorin/Bode-Saadu/Jebba express road.

 

The accident involved a petrol tanker with registration number JJN 17 XW, a heavy-duty truck, and an 18-seater bus.

 

Eye witness accounts revealed that the petrol tanker which was travelling from Niger State, was driving on the wrong side of the road which resulted in a head-on collision with a heavy-duty truck from Lagos State.

The collision, it was further gathered, ignited a fire that rapidly consumed both vehicles and also affected the 18-seater bus which was also coming from Lagos.

 

The Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps, Mr. Stephen Dawulung, confirmed the accident to our correspondent on Wednesday, adding that he would provide the details later.

The incident which was also confirmed by the Kwara State Director, Fire Service, Mr. John Falade, said that firemen responded to a fire at the village at about 3.18 p.m. on Tuesday.

 

“On November 28, 2023, around 15:18 hours, the Kwara State Fire Service responded to a fire at Peke village along Oko-Olowo Bode-Saadu Expressway in Moro Local Government Area, Kwara State.

 

“The firemen diligently worked to quench the inferno, but unfortunately, 25 lives were lost, and around 15 people were rescued with injuries,” he said.

 

.Falade expressed deep sorrow over the incident that claimed many lives and stressed the need for road users to prioritise safe driving practices.

 

He also warned drivers and other road users to adhere to safety measures consistently when driving on the roads.

The Supreme Court has ruled that both the old and the redesigned Naira banknotes remain valid legal tenders in the country beyond December 31.

 

The apex court, in a ruling by a seven-man panel led by Justice Inyang Okoro, on Wednesday, said the banknotes should remain in circulation, pending when the Federal Government, after due consultation with relevant stakeholders, takes a decision on the matter.

made the order after hearing an application that was moved on behalf of the federal government by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN.

 

It will be recalled that the court nullified on March 3 the ban on the use of the old N200, N500, and N1000 banknotes as valid legal tenders by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.

 

The court held that the old Naira notes should be used alongside the redesigned currencies until the end of the year.

 

In its lead judgement that was prepared and delivered by Justice Emmanuel Agim, the apex court slammed the FG for unilaterally introducing the demonitization policy through the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, without consulting the Council of States, the Federal Executive Council, the National Security Council, the National Economic Council, Civil Society Organizations and other relevant stakeholders.

 

It held that the FG failed to give valid notice to all the federating units before it decided to withdraw the old banknotes from circulation and introduce new ones.

 

The Supreme Court maintained that evidence before it established that a purported notice on the monetary policy was through “mere press remarks” by governor of the CBN, Mr. Godwin Emefiele.

 

It held that such remarks did not qualify as “reasonable notice” to the states as envisaged under section 20(3) of the CBN Act.

Besides, the court invalidated the directive President Buhari gave in the broadcast he made on February 16, which allowed only the old N200 note to remain a legal tender until April 10.

While accusing President Buhari of disobeying the interim order it made on February 8, which directed that the old banknotes should remain in use till the determination of the case before it, the apex court stressed that the President, by going ahead to ban the old banknotes, acted in a way that was inimical to democratic governance.

 

According to the court, having acted in disobedience to its order, FG lost its right to be granted an audience before it.

 

Following the end of the last administration, the President Bola Tinubu-led government re-applied to the Supreme Court for an indefinite extension of its December 31 deadline.

 

The Executive Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke has approved the payment of wage award to civil servants and pensioners in the state as a measure to mitigate the impact of subsidy removal.

 

The Governor stated that the action was in a continuation of his avowed commitment to workers’ welfare and a fulfillment of his pledge for the gradual rollout of palliative measures to cushion the effect of subsidy removal.

 

“On the first day of my second year in office, I unveil this wage award and reaffirm our five point agenda which has workers’ welfare as number one item”, Governor Adeleke noted.

 

Governor Adeleke’s approval was conveyed in a circular issued by the Ministry of Human Resources and Capacity Building, disclosing that workers in the service of the state will get a N15,000 wage award while pensioners will receive N10,000.

 

The circular which was signed by Sunday Olugbenga Fadele, a Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, noted that the wage award will run for six months, beginning from the month of December.

 

“Sequel to the negotiation meetings and interactions with labour movement in Osun state, including the representatives of Nigeria Union of Pensioners, the Governor of Osun State, His Excellency, Senator Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke, has approved the monthly payment of N15,000 to each active worker and N10,000 to each pensioners in Osun state as palliatives to assuage the pains being experienced as a result of removal of petroleum subsidy by the Federal Government of Nigeria. The payment, as approved, is to commence from the month of December, 2023 for a period of six (6) months,” the circular reads in part.

 

“While acknowledging and appreciating the understanding of Osun state workers and pensioners for their show of understanding regarding the efforts of the State Government in the last one year to improve tremendously on their welfare, being the first on the 5-point Action Plan, the present administration will continue to ensure its commitment to the welfare of workers are met at all times.

 

“It is expected that this gesture of government will spur workers in the State to be more diligent and committed to their duties.”

 

Signed:

Mallam Olawale Rasheed,

Spokesperson to the Osun State Governor