Category: General News

By Perpetua Onuegbu

Abuja:   Yiaga Africa, a civil society organisation has tasked political parties in the country to take responsibility and deploy party agents to polling units during elections to ensure credibility of results.

Samson Itodo, Executive Director, Yiaga Africa gave this charge on Wednesday in Abuja during the release of its Preliminary Report of the 2024 Ghana General Election held on Dec.7.

Recall that Yiaga Africa deployed a 12-man Election Study and Observation Mission (ESOM) from Dec.3 to Dec.10 to understudy the electoral governance architecture especially in election results management.

While responding to questions on lessons learnt from the elections, Itodo said the deployment of party agents was key to ensuring that no party was short changed.

“Our Nigerian parties must come to realise that participating in elections requires a lot of responsibility.

“You have to deploy party agents, you need eyes in all the polling units because for the parties in Ghana to perform the kind of responsibility they did was contingent on the fact that they had a spread of agents across all polling units.

“They were training people, in fact one of the parties recruited over 1,500 Ad-hoc officials, trained them for a period of one year and deployed them for the elections.

“So elections are a serious business especially if you want to provide oversight on the election management body.”

Speaking further on lessons learnt from Ghana on how to achieve a credible, transparent and controversy free election, Itodo said the electoral officers must inspire public trust and confidence.

He called on the appointing authorities to uphold the constitution in major appointments like that of the resident electoral officers.

According to him, there are two conditions: they must be individuals that are non-partisan and of unquestionable integrity.

“We have also been advocating that those conditions are not enough, you need competence, you need diversity of skill sets on INEC’s leadership.

“Also the level of due diligence must be performed when those appointments are made,” Itodo said.

Also speaking at the event, Sen. Abiodun Alli, Chairman, Nigerian Senate Committee on INEC and Electoral Matters, stressed that for the country to improve in its elections everyone must trust the system and play by the rules.

Alli responding on the issue of cross carpeting by politicians said this was not limited to Nigeria but that it is prevalent because of the lack of identifiable ideology of the political parties and the lack of internal democracy of the parties .

On his part, Mr Afam Osigwe, President, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), said the issue would not stop if Presiding Officers refused to carry out their duty because the constitution forbids it.

Osigwe charged the Presiding Officers in the National Assembly to carry out their constitutional duties when the stipulated conditions for changing parties are not met by declaring that persons seat vacant.

Dr Aisha Abdullahi, Chair, ESOM Delegation to Ghana, highlighted some findings that made Ghana experience a success one of which is transparency and responsiveness in election administration.

Other measures she added include proactive measures like cleaning the voter register, issuing copies to political parties, involving party representatives in ballot printing among others.

Abdullahi said ESOM therefore made the following recommendations:

“African election management bodies: Election management Bodies should review the format of ballot papers used in elections to include photographs and names of candidates to improve the quality of electoral preferences.

“Commit to greater transparency through proactive disclosure of election information, including integrating political party representatives, civil society, and media in election procurement processes.

“Leverage technology and adopt the ethical use of artificial intelligence to enhance the integrity of voter register, voter authentication, election results collation processes.”

To Political parties and candidates, they called on stakeholders to demonstrate a firm commitment to democracy by upholding national values such as patriotism, integrity and public interest in electoral politics.

ESOM urged the National Assembly to amend the necessary electoral legal frameworks to introduce prisoners’ voting and special voting for eligible voters performing essential election duties ensuring their constitutional right to vote is upheld.

They also recommended the establishment of a mechanism to routinely review elections in an open, consensus-driven manner upon completion, ensuring that actionable recommendations for reforms are identified and implemented. (NAN)

— By  Lawal Sale

FLOWERBUDNEWS:  Located on China’s southern coast, Macau returned to Chinese rule on Dec. 20, 1999, governed under the “one country, two systems” with Macao characteristics.

It is part of China as one of the two Special Administrative Regions (SAR)’s under the Chinese central government.

Today’s Macao Special Administrative Region used to be under the Portuguese control until December 20, 1999, when it was returned to the motherland (China).

The region is celebrating its 25th anniversary on Friday, with President Xi Jinping arriving on Wednesday to join the Macanese people in the celebration.

In his speech on arrival at the airport, President Xi described Macao as the “jewel of the motherland.”

“I have always been concerned about the development of this place and the well-being of all its residents,” he told the crowd, which included senior government officials and Macau’s current leader Ho Iat Seng.

Macao SAR has a population of about 700, 000, and it is one of the fastest growing economies in the world with a rapid rise in GDP and one of the highest in the world.

It has achieved all these stellar performances, vigorous economies, stable harmonious social relations, and improved livelihood for its people since after its return to China 25 years ago.

Macao is autonomous, and perhaps that is why it has its own currency, passport, legal system, flag, and even language.

Its original language was Maquista. Even though it has gone into extinction, majority Macanese today speak Cantonese, Mandarin, and Portuguese.

Macao region is a bursting gambling tourism destination to the extent that its gambling industry is seven times larger than that of Las Vegas in the U.S. Gambling profits in Macao generate more than 70% of its revenue. Its currency is Patacas or Macanese Pataca.

(– Sale is Abuja based Global Affairs Analyst basedinAbuja.)

Flowerbudnews

The Federal Government, on Tuesday, launched a programme tagged, Federal Complex Contracts Process and Administration (FCAS), to tackle financial risks in contract management.

Mrs Beatrice Jedy-Agba, the Solicitor-General of Nigeria and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice, said FCAS is designed to enhance operational efficiency in ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).

Jedy-Agba stated this at the 2023 Manual and Workshop Engagement with Legal Advisors and Key Stakeholders in Abuja.
The workshop was titled: “Strengthening Contract Management and Compliance in Federal Governance.”

She expressed concern over developmental challenges and lack of clarity arising from the contracts that government entered into despite having the Public Procurement Act, Fiscal Responsibility Act, among others.

The permanent secretary, who decried the ways and manners laws are being undermined in the country, said Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) are governed by law.

“You can not just do what you like. We expect that you have capacity, which should reflect in the quality of agreement you are bringing,” she said.

She added that legal advisors must do their best to avert failed contracts and also mitigate the effect.

According to her, collaboration is key to ensure effective implementation of projects we deliver on behalf of the government.

A Deputy Director in the ministry, Mr Augustine Kalu, said that the new move was to guide the ministry and various departments on how to navigate the FCAS platform and get results.

According to him, one of its fundamental objectives is to ensure that project not needed is not embarked upon.

On implementation plans, Kalu said about 40 MDAs had been unbundled.

He assured that the government was very much interested in the process, assuring that it would not jettison the programme but carry it to a logical conclusion.

“We will look at the feasibility studies, Public Private Partnership arrangement, funding arrangement, due diligence, so that projects are not abandoned,” Kalu said.

The Chief Consultant to the ministry on FCAS, Dr Mark Igiehon, expressed government’s readiness to take action through the justice ministry so as to avert what happened in the case of Process & Industrial Developments (P&ID) Ltd contract.

According to him, government by the new plan would be able to enter into projects and contracts in a sophisticated way using specialists not only to minimise possibility of project failure, but also to be able to processed and record contracts in the most proper way.
“Government is now ready to take action on such high level, high valued and high risk projects so that in the future, we will have fewer contracts failure and would not have to pay huge sum of money on failed contracts,” Igiehon said.

Flowerbudnews

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed international development expert, Aisha Garba, as the new Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission.

A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Tuesday, described Garba as a seasoned education specialist with over 24 years of experience in designing and implementing impactful education programmes across Nigeria and beyond.

The statement read in part, “With over 15 years of hands-on experience at the World Bank, Garba has consistently led end-to-end design and management of education programmes and reforms, from conceptualisation to completion and impact assessment.”

The statement noted that the new appointee graduated from Petra American University in Jordan, where she earned a combined degree in English and Computer Studies in 2000.

The statement further noted that Garba has consulted for the World Bank, the Department for International Development, BOND-UK, Regent Foundation, and the Muslim Aid Organization, among others.

Tinubu expressed confidence that Garba’s appointment would drive the administration’s vision of providing quality basic education and ensuring Nigerian children are equipped to compete on a global scale.

“With her extensive experience and a proven track record in education and human development, the President expects Aisha Garba to lead UBEC in delivering sustainable solutions that will enhance access to quality education for Nigerian children,” the statement added.

NEWS RELEASE

Death by Hanging for Stealing Fowl: Governor Adeleke Intervenes, Orders Action for Prerogative of Mercy

OSOGBO- 17/12/2024- Osunstate.gov.ng

Governor Ademola Adeleke has directed immediate investigation and pardoning action on the case of a young man reportedly sentenced to death by hanging in Osun state for stealing fowl.

In a statement on Tuesday evening, the Governor ordered the Attorney General to intervene in the matter and ensure the youngman is listed for prerogative of mercy before the end of the year.

“I have read about the case. I recognize separation of powers in our democracy. In this particular case,I have directed the Commissioner for Justice to initiate processes to grant prerogative of mercy to the young man.

“Osun is a land of justice and equity. We must ensure fairness and protection of the sanctity of lives.

“I assure the public that the matter is receiving my direct attention. A sense of urgency is also attached to our response to the matter as a responsible state government”, the Governor was quoted as saying.

Signed

Mallam Olawale Rasheed ,

Spokesperson to the State Governor.

By Flowerbudnews

The Enugu State Government has advocated optimal health of its residents to grow the state Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and economy from about $4 billion to $30 billion.

The state’s Commissioner for Health, Prof. Ikechukwu Obi, said this in Enugu on Tuesday during the launch of a health book, titled: “Long, Healthy and Happy Living: Key Lifestyle Paths”, written by Prof. Eddy Ndibuagu.

Obi said that the state government had been making massive investments in education and health to ensure an educated, healthy and productive population that would drive the vision of expanding the state’s economy.

“What we are doing here today is health education and promotion, which is necessary to equip our people with the necessary knowledge on how to live and maintain a healthy life-style beneficial to all.

“We have invested massively in health, by ongoing construction of 260 Type-2 Primary Healthcare Centres, international health facilities and expanding existing health facilities and programmes.

“The state government is pursuing a vision to make the state a healthcare hub and number one destination for health tourism attraction in Africa.

“All these investments and more are to ensure we have a healthy, energetic and productive population to drive a prosperous Enugu State of our dream,” he said.

Dr Martin Chukwunweike, the Chairman of the occasion and Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Enugu State, urged every household in the state to pick a copy of the book as a guide to pathway to healthy living.

The book reviewer, Dr Emeka Ogbuabor, said that the “book is a must read for younger and aging population as it X-rays best and beneficial healthy life-style tips that is workable for all.”

Ogbuabor, who is former Chairman, House Committee on Health, Enugu State House of Assembly, noted that the book, written in simple English, was well-researched, referenced and based on clinical facts.

“The book will push us to take a healthy life path and ensure we avoid some mistakes in our lifestyles,” Ogbuabor, who is also a former Head, Department of Health Administration and Management, University of Nigeria, said.

He noted that the 12 chapters and 206 pages book contained interesting chapters, which included: Overview of Key Lifestyle Paths; Good Nutrition, Adequate Physical Activities; Avoidance of Harmful Substances and Avoidance of Drug Misuse.

Others are: Scheduled health Status Checkup; Coping with Stress; Sufficient and Quality Sleep; Healthy Relationships and Social Connections; Deliberately Staying off Risky Habits, Behaviours and Practices; Safety in the Home and Safety at Workplace.

Elaborating, the Author of the book, Prof. Eddy Ndibuagu, a Professor of Public Health Medicine, said that he was motivated to write the book due to Gov. Peter Mbah’s vision to make healthcare a top priority in Enugu State.

“His Excellency the Governor was invited to the occasion in recognition of his landmark achievements in the health sector. The Governor was invited as the Chief Guest of Honour and Chief Health Promoter,” Ndibuagu said.

According to him, Gov. Mbah achievements in the health sector included the establishment of model Type-2 Primary Healthcare Centres in all the 260 political wards in Enugu State.

“This is a giant stride that will transform healthcare delivery in the state as well as bring promotive, preventive, curative and rehabilitative healthcare services to the doorsteps of all.

“There is massive infrastructural transformation of Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) Teaching Hospital, and recruitment of qualified health workers; thus, making the hospital an outstanding health institution in the area of tertiary healthcare delivery.

“Establishment of an international hospital in Enugu, designated for quaternary healthcare services. This will greatly reduce the number of Nigerians that seek healthcare outside the country; thus, conserving the much-needed foreign exchange,” he said.

Ndibuagu, who is serving with ESUT Teaching Hospital, Parklane, Enugu, noted that within his 37 years in medical practice he had observed that people die due to lack of information on healthy living.

“Many people engage in so many things that they do not know are injurious to their health and they adopt it as a lifestyle and it eventually kills them.

“Incidences of non communicable diseases, which emanate more from people’s personal life-style, are getting rampant among residents within developing and low income countries.

“We needed to educate our people on how best to live and get the best out of life and live longer and healthier,” Ndibuagu, who is also an online health life coach, said.

The author said that he was planning to have the book online on Amazon so that everyone in the world, especially developing countries should have it, read it and put into practice use it messages.

About Flowerbudnews

Established by Hon.  Biola Lawal, a former Acting Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), FLOWERBUDNEWS is a consortium of active veteran journalists, experienced Multimedia broadcast experts and image makers. We are drawn from both public and private sectors of Nigeria’s media Industry with a common  determination to enhance the practice of responsible journalism.

Lawal, on his part, is also a former Honourable Commissioner for Information,Youth, Sports and Culture of Osun state, his home state.

Biola Lawal had also successfully served two tenures as Press Secretary to the ECOMOG Force Commander in Liberia during the Liberian and Sierra Leone Civil wars. He was an outstanding NAN Defence and War Correspondent for many years.

The retired NAN Acting Boss holds the honour of being the only journalist that served two terms on the ECOMOG international assignment due to his high professionalism and decency.

He is a Co-Author of the book; ECOMOG, A BOLD ATTEMPT AT REGIONAL PEACEKEEPING! Edited Mrs Magaret Voght.  The book remains the most. factual, detailed and authentic book on the ECOWAS sponsored ECOMOG Military operation.