Reps Summon IGP Over Police Brutality, Extrajudicial Killings

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October 16, 2020

Governors from the Northern part of the country have rejected disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

According to them, the police unit has been useful in the fight against insecurity in the region.

The Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong, who is the Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum (NGF) made this known to reporters on Thursday after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja.

The Governor said though the government has approved the scrapping of the unit, States in the North are of the opinion that the baby should not be thrown away with the bathwater.

Lalong said he went to see the President to commend him for approving community policing, adding that training had commenced in the various zones of the country.

“When we see issues like this because most of the complaints vary from one state to the other; in one aspect, some people said they don’t want SARS, some said they want SARS but a reformed SARS.

“So, our opinion and conclusion at that stage were that let us not just say we are throwing away the baby with the bathwater.

“If there are good ones, you don’t chase them away. So, as SARS is banned, we are now looking forward to…because most of the states in the north said no. They want SARS because SARS helps them.

“Borno said without SARS, he would not have been surviving today. Niger also wants SARS. So, if you are addressing this issue of SARS, you need to know what is wrong in some places. Is it the process of recruitment?

“Is it the character of the people? You can’t say because somebody is wrong, everybody is wrong in the country. These are some of the issues we concluded yesterday.

“And it’s for the chairman to go and meet Mr. President to still look at this issue holistically and critically so that we understand where we are going.”

IGP Warns Police Officers Against Use Of Force On Peaceful Protesters

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October 16, 2020

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP M.A Adamu, has warned all Police Officers across the country against the use of force on peaceful protesters.

According to a communique by the police spokesman, DCP Frank Mba, the IGP noted that citizens have fundamental rights of freedom of expression, assembly, and movement which must always be upheld and protected by the police.

The boss on Thursday, however, appealed to protesters to continually conduct themselves peacefully and guide their ranks against infiltration by criminal elements.

He stressed that the Force leadership has clearly heard the voice of the people and is irrevocably committed to doing everything within its powers to address the observed ills, punish any offending officers and promote a people-friendly police force.

https://abntv.com.ng/2020/10/fg-agrees-to-release-n30-billion-to-asuu/

FG Agrees To Release N30 Billion To ASUU

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October 16, 2020

The Federal Government has agreed to release N30 billion earned academic allowance to the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU.

The Government will pay the money in tranches between May 2021 and January 2022.

As part of the concession to end the seven-month strike, the government also pledged to spend N20bn on the revitalisation of the education sector.

These agreements were reached during the meeting between the Federal Government and the academic staff union leadership on Thursday.

At the yesterday’s meeting, the body of lecturers insisted that the government should pay their outstanding salaries through GIFMIS before full implementation of University Transparency and Accountability Solution, UTAS, but the government insisted on the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System, IPPIS

ASUU, also yesterday, directed all its members across universities in Nigeria to reject IPPIS officials coming to various campuses on Monday for biometric data capturing of its members.

This was contained in an official letter, signed by Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, President of ASUU and sent to all zonal coordinators and all its members on Thursday.

The union vowed not to jeopardize the ongoing critical engagement with the federal government.

In the letter, ASUU said it has been informed that IPPIS officials from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, AGF, will be going around university campuses from Monday 19th October 2020.

“All ASUU members should have nothing to do with them. Fact-Check by ASUU with the figures from the OAGF has proven the claim that our members are trooping to enrol in the IPPIS in Abuja as false,” the letter said.

It further described the enrolled number as inconsequential.

ASUU said, “The leadership of our great Union is fully aware of the hardship the non-payment of salaries by the Accountant-General and other forms of intimidation by over-zealous Vice-Chancellors have unleashed on our membership and we are leaving no stone unturned to redress the situation.
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“Therefore, all members of ASUU should STAY AWAY from anything related to IPPIS, so as not to jeopardize the ongoing critical engagement with the Federal Government.”

Anonymous Hack NBC Website, Threaten To Expose Government Secrets

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October 16, 2020

The Twitter account of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has been hacked.

The hackers put up a message threatening to reveal secrets of Nigerian authorities.

“We #Anonymous are out to expose government’s secret and dirty files”, it read.

“Put an #ENDTOPOLICEBRUTALITY #Twitterdown #NBChacked”, the message added.

The website was also not opening as at 9:25 am.

NBC regulates the Nigerian broadcast industry.

The commission says it adopts scientific research methods to gather data, analyze trends in line with the dynamism of the industry and advise the government.

NBC receives, processes and considers applications for the establishment, ownership or operation of radio and television stations including cable television service, direct satellite broadcast and others.

Sit Back, See If Govt Will Fulfill Its Promises – Gbajabiamila Tells #ENDSWAT Protesters

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October 16, 2020

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has said it was time EndSARS protesters to sit back and see if the government would fulfil its promise to reform the police.

According to him, the EndSARS protests, going on in many parts of the country since last week, exposed the “stinking underbelly of our nation’s policing system.”

Gbajabiamila spoke on Thursday during the inauguration of the National Assembly’s Special Committee on Constitution Review.

“In addition to whatever other changes that may be caused by these protests, they have exposed the stinking underbelly of our nation’s policing system.

“We now understand better why our federal police are often unable to effectively respond to the localised manifestations of insecurity across the different parts of our country.

“The simple truth is that we have a police that doesn’t have the trust of the people/a policing system that doesn’t make for productive partnerships between the police/ the communities they serve. However, for those of us who are out there, we must be careful not to lose the plot

“The Inspector-General of Police has heard you and he has spoken. The House has spoken, even before now, and continues to speak. The President has been unequivocal and spoke clearly. It is now time to sit back and see what happens.

“I believe the Hand of God is on this Nation. The point has been made, and the Government in all its layers has responded. Let us sit back and see if the Government does what it has committed to do. Which I have all assurances/as your Speaker I pass these assurances on to you,” the speaker said.

Earlier in his speech, Gbajabiamila tasked the Constitution Review Panel to listen to as many voices as possible in the course of its work.

He told the committee headed by the deputy speaker, Ahmed Wase to ensure the panel considered the expectations of different interest groups among Nigerians.

Gbajabiamila said, “Mr Chairman, Honourable Members of this Committee, I do not envy the enormous amount of work you have in front of you. However, I know you have an abundant capacity to execute this important assignment and deliver on our joint commitments to the Nigerian people.

“I encourage you during this assignment to seek out and listen to as many voices as possible. Engage with as many interest groups as possible, reject misinformation, document the stories of our people, consider their expectations.

”The House is commencing the constitutional review process at a time of great and ongoing upheaval in our country.

“This 9th @HouseNGR has since committed to the cause of reform. Our commitment must not wane on the matter of thoughtful & fair overhaul of our constitution.

“Electoral reforms are not a party-political issue, they are a matter of loyalty to an ideal that is greater than the party to which one belongs to, or the personal ambitions we may each hold.”

BREAKING: We’re Ready To Resume – ASUU

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October 16, 2020

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), on Thursday, gave an indication that the union will suspend its prolonged strike very soon, as its President, Prof Biodun Ogunyemi, declared that the varsity lecturers are ready to go back to school.

The ASUU President gave the hint even as the Federal Government, through the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, assured it would meet the union demands within the time frame it stipulated.

Prof Ogunyemi, who was speaking at a meeting between the Federal Government, led by the Labour Minister and ASUU leadership, led by the President, said their members are willing to resume because it is a matter of national interest.

He points out that their members also have their children at home, like all other parents who have their children at home due to the prolonged strike.

The ASUU president said: “Our members are ready and willing to go to class because it is a matter of national interest. Just like every other person’s child is at home, our member’s children are also at home.”

Prof Ogunyemi commended the Senate President and the Minister of Labour and Employment, the Accountant General of the Federation, among others for making it possible for them to discuss on the issues.

He pointed out that though, ASUU delegation came with an open mind to the meeting, its members out there expect much from the meeting.

SHOCKING!! Nigeria Only African Country Barred From 2022 US Visa Lottery

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ABN TV EDITOR

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October 16, 2020

Nigerians have been barred from participating in the United States’ visa lottery in 2022.

This was contained in a document obtained from the US’ website on Thursday.

The 19-page document is titled ‘Instructions for the 2022 diversity immigrant visa program (dv-2022)’.

“In Africa, natives of Nigeria are not eligible for this year’s Diversity Visa program,” the document stated.

However, natives from other African countries are eligible to apply, but “persons born in the areas administered prior to June 1967 by Israel, Jordan, Syria, and Egypt are chargeable,
respectively, to Israel, Jordan, Syria, and Egypt. Persons born in the Gaza Strip are chargeable to Egypt; persons born in the West Bank are chargeable to Jordan; persons born in the Golan Heights are chargeable to Syria.”

It stated that Nigeria was barred because more than 50,000 of its citizens immigrated to the United States in the previous five years.

Part of the document read, “Applicants who are selected in the program (selectees) must meet simple but strict eligibility requirements to qualify for a diversity visa. The Department of State determines selectees through a randomized computer drawing. The Department of State distributes diversity visas among six geographic regions, and no single country may receive more than seven percent of the available DVs in any one year.

“For DV-2022, persons born in the following countries are not eligible to apply, because more than 50,000 natives of these countries immigrated to the United States in the previous five years: Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China (including Hong Kong SAR), Colombia, Dominican
Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan,
Philippines, South Korea, United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland) and its dependent
territories, and Vietnam.

“Persons born in Macau SAR and Taiwan are eligible.”

INEC Announces Date For 2023 Presidential Election

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October 15, 2020

The 2023 presidential election will hold on February 18, 2023, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disclosed.

Chairman of the Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed this on Thursday.

In his goodwill message at the inauguration of the special ad-hoc committee on the review of the 1999 constitution, the INEC Chairman told members of the House of Representatives they are about 855 days left for the next general elections.

https://abntv.com.ng/2020/10/gregory-university-set-to-commence-film-production/

Twelve Serving NYSC Members Marry Themselves In Anambra

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ABN TV EDITOR

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October 15, 2020