NEWS
Salary Increment Not Solution to Nigeria Economic Hardship, Restore Fuel Subsidy – Lawyer Tells Tinubu
From Attah Ede, Makurdi
A Makurdi based legal practitioner and human rights activist, Barrister Emmanuel Ominyi, has called on president Bola Tinubu to restore fuel subsidy regime in order to stabilize the nation’s economy and make cost of living affordable for all Nigerians.
He equally advised the president to be thinking of making fuel affordable and available for all Nigerians rather than negotiating with labour unions for salary increment, stressing that increasing workers salary cannot put an end to the present hardship Nigerians are currently experiencing.
Barrister Ominyi who made the call while speaking with newsmen in Makurdi, said fuel subsidy remains the only commodity every average and common Nigerian enjoys in the country without stress, saying that the removal of the subsidy had done more harm than good.
He explained that, the benefit of any government is the utility given to the masses, adding that subsidy is like the life oxygen of a person, just like the petroleum is the oxygen of Nigeria’s economy.
“Fuel is so important in Nigeria that it can smoothly or roughly affect all sectors of the nation’s economy.
“Take for instance; the transport sector uses petrol so much that it determines the movement of goods and people. The high cost of fuel has affected rendering of services because people can no longer move.
“If you look at the power sector, most offices use fuel to run their businesses because the Electricity Distribution Company hardly gives light. So people depend on fuel to power their generators because most times, you need this light because it is more effective”, Omniyi stated.
He noted that before now, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) used to be a body that controls the actions of government and also speaks for the masses, but today, NLC has gone to sleep.
“If NLC is awake, we would not be where we are now, we would not be talking about the court, we would be talking about our leaders. NLC and TUC, Trade Union Congress, the two bodies are supposed to work together to ensure that everything is in order.
“For instance, any time ASUU members are called to Aso Rock for a meeting, you will see members come out without smiling. But when they call NLC and TUC, what happens, you will see them coming out smiling.
“They come out smiling. So, you can imagine it. Whether you like it or not, there’s need for sanity in the system, there’s need for integrity in the system.
People should do the work that they are voted for. The leaders were voted to speak for the masses. Now, when you come to the universities, you have a student union government or student union as called in some places. But those people when they go to the VC, they receive money and they don’t speak for the masses. Now, they increase students’ school fees up to the level that it is becoming so outrageous.
“When I was at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Benue State University was paying the least amount of tuition in all of Nigeria. But today, it has taken over in Nigeria now. Where is the trouble? Our leaders. When they give them one car, give them some money, they go and sell off the mandate of the people. The desires, the yearnings and aspirations of the people are thrown behind them. That is where the issue is.
“The president has to change the narrative, restore the fuel subsidy and apologize to the masses who have their mandate, because the law says he is the winner, he has been declared. So, we voted for the president; you voted for him, I voted for him. That is the law now.
“Let me tell you by saying that there are areas that are biting the lawyers more than even the average people in the society. The rules of court sometimes have provided for some things that are so bad.
“A punitive payment is a problem to lawyers now. A man maybe was sick, lost his father, lost his mother or so to say, they sued him over an issue, he came after, now in federal court, every day you are out of time is one thousand naira. By the time you have 366 days; you pay a default of three hundred and sixty six thousand naira.
“That is for the filing alone, that is number one. How much is the salary of such an ordinary person? Assuming you are not even a salary earner, if you work, how much are you earning in a year that would enable you to go to court apart from training your children? That is the first area that we need to address.
NEWS
Police Say at Criminal Responsibility Age, Individuals must be Answerable for Their Actions
The Nigeria Police Force says individuals who have attained the age of criminal responsibility must be answerable for their actions, regardless of biological age.
The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, in a statement on Saturday in Abuja said the provision was very clear under the Nigerian law.
He said the provision was in line with global practices, where accountability was upheld for young individuals who commit serious offenses.
Adejobi said the clarification followed public opinion over the arraignment of 76 alleged minors over terrorism, arson and treasonable felony by the Nigeria Police.
According to him, in managing the detention and arraignment of these suspects, the Nigeria Police has rigorously adhered to legal provisions to ensure fairness and accountability under the rule of law.
He said the suspects were initially presented in court, where they were formally charged, with a remand order issued by the court.
“Throughout this process, the police have worked to balance justice with compassion, ensuring that each suspect’s basic rights and privileges are respected, including access to medical care and other necessary provisions.
“An unexpected incident in court saw six of the suspects suddenly rush out and faint on Oct. 1, drawing media attention in a deliberate and scripted manner to draw negative attention.
“Medical aid was promptly provided to these individuals, demonstrating the Police Force’s commitment to the welfare of those in its custody, irrespective of the allegations they face.
“While committed to upholding justice, the Nigeria Police Force remains sensitive to the rights of all individuals, including young persons,” he said.
According to him, as seen in other jurisdictions, including the United Kingdom, age does not exempt individuals from facing legal consequences.
He said the Nigeria Police was aware of public interest in the case and assured that its officers would maintain professionalism throughout the legal process.
Adejobi enjoined the public to view the case without undue bias, adding that the force remains focused on a transparent pursuit of justice.
He said the force would remain committed to aligning with best practices, upholding both the rule of law and respect for human dignity. (NAN)
Education
Bells Varsity Honours 91 Students with First Class at 16th Convocation
Bells University of Technology, Ota, Ogun, on Saturday awarded 91 students of the institution First Class (Honours) at its 16th Convocation Ceremonies.
The convocation ceremonies are for the 2023/2024 academic session.
Ojediran said that a total of 969 students graduated in the academic session.
He said that they comprised the 91 students who made First Class grade, 505 who secured Second Class (Upper Division), 313 with Second Class (Lower Division) and 60 graduating with Third Class.
The vice-chancellor said that 220 students were graduating in the post-graduate category.
Mr Sally Farouk from the university’s Department of Architecture emerged the overall best student with a Cumulative Grade Point Average of 4.
94, according to Ojediran.He said that the institution set out to proffer best solutions from collective knowledge, shared experiences and resources, recognising that education was a lifelong activity.
The vice-chancellor lauded the staff of the university for cooperation and dedication to giving the students quality education.
“You have joined hands with the management of the institution to work on this fertile ground,” he said.
The Pro-Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Bart Nnaji, said that university was the first private university of technology in Nigeria, noting that it was established in 2005.
Nnaji said that the institution had made remarkable achievements in teaching and research as part of its vision to contribute to the growth and development of Nigeria.
“Let me also congratulate the graduating students who have distinguished themselves through their hard work and discipline and are being rewarded today.” he said.
In his remarks, the Chancellor of the institution, Dr Ibrahim Dankwambo, commended former President Olusegun Obasanjo for contributions to education development in the country.
Dankwambo also congratulated a former Executive Secretary of National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Peter Okebukola, and the Executive Director of Sahara Group, Mr Temitope Shonubi, for honorary doctoral degree given them by the university.
Report says that Okebukola and Shonubi were conferred with the degree for their outstanding pedigrees and services to humanity. (NAN)
NEWS
Endbadgovernance protest: Suspects not in Custody of NCoS, -Says Spokesman
The Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) has said that suspects arrested during the #Endbadgovernance protest in August 2024 were not remanded in any of its adult custodial centres in Abuja.
The Service Public Relations Officer (SPRO) Abubakar Umar confirmed this in a statement on Saturday in Abuja.
our correspondent gathered that the suspects arrested for treason during the #Endbadgovernance protest that held in August 2024, were on Friday, arraigned before Justice Obiora Egwuatu at the Federal High Court, Abuja Division.
Umar said that there were misleading reports making the rounds in some sections of the media purporting that the suspects were remanded in one of the adult custodial centres in Abuja.
According to the NCoS spokesman, the said report has no iota of truth.
”The service operates under the best correctional and global practices.
“To set records straight, the NCoS Act 2019 has empowered the Controllers of Corrections as well as Superintendents-in-charge of Custodial Centres not to admit juveniles in facilities meant for adults.
“The Act also mandates the service to reject more intake of inmates where it is apparent that the custodial facility in question is filled to capacity.
“The service wishes to inform the public that the said suspects were rejected and none of them were remanded in adult custodial facilities as insinuated by the said report.
“The service assures the public that NCoS will continue to emphasise professionalism as well as respect for human rights in line with the United Nations Minimum Standard Rules for the Treatment of Juvenile offenders.
“Furthermore, the general public is enjoined to disregard the said report because it is not the true position of things,”he said.(NAN)