Rerun: INEC Suspends Collation In Kano

There is uncertainty surrounding yesterday’s Kano State supplementary governorship election after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) suspended the collation of results following a disruption of the process by hoodlums.

Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Riskuwa Shehu, announced the suspension  of collation early this morning citing the invasion of Nasarawa  Local government collation centre by thugs.

Briefing journalists, observers and party representatives at the State INEC office, Shehu  said: “As we were waiting to reconvene with the intention to continue with the collation, we heard a disturbing report that just as they were about to conclude, results collation in Nasarawa local government were disrupted and the result sheet torn away and there was a lot of commotion and the police had to rescue some people.

“As it is now, we don’t have the result and even the E. O. (Electoral Officer) had to be rescued. Luckily, nothing happened to him. He was saved from the crisis

“But the intention of the commission is that we are going to refer to our primary and secondary data of results that were collated from the polling units as well as the ward level.

“When we get the results in the presence of all the representatives of political parties, we will regenerate the results and we will confirm those that are acceptable within our laws and guidelines and those that have to be cancelled because the card readers will have to be referred to as well.

“Based on that, we will have genuine results and we will complete the collation for the state governorship election,” he said.

Early results from the areas in which the re-run election was held in Kano State showed that Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of the APC and Abba Kabir-Yusuf of the PDP were running each other close.

NYSC: Buhari Assets The Bill Prohibiting Engineering Graduates From Being Posted To Schools

President Muhammadu Buhari Friday in Abuja assented to Engineers (Registration etc) Amendment Bill, 2019, which among others, bars the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) from henceforth, posting graduates of engineering to secondary schools to teach.

The bill which has now become the Act of the National Assembly seeks to promote technological development in Nigeria by ensuring that trained engineers are well positioned to deploy the knowledge acquired in their various fields to the development of technology in the country.

Briefing journalists in the State House, Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senator Ita Enang, said as against the tradition of posting a large number of engineering graduates to schools by NYSC, youth corps members who are graduates of engineering must henceforth be posted only to engineering firms and other institutions that are relevant to their professional fields.

Aside prohibiting such firms from rejecting engineering graduates posted to them, the Act mandates NYSC to immediately communicate the name of any institution where an engineering graduate is posted to, for his/her primary assignment, to the Council for Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN).

Enang cited Section 14 (i and ii) of the Act which provides that “The Directorate of the National Youth Service Corps shall ensure posting of graduate engineers and technologists to places of relevant professional engineering experience.

“Pursuant to the provision of subsection (i), the Directorate of National Youth Service Corps shall communicate the location of graduate engineers and engineering technologists to the Council.’’

Furthermore, the Act prohibits any foreign engineering firm from operating in Nigeria without being duly registered in the country by COREN.

It also mandates such a foreign firm to ensure the introduction of local content into the operations of the company by employing Nigerian engineers.

Enang added: “The Act broaden engineering ‘practitioners to include a registered engineer, engineering technologist, engineering technician and engineering craftsman.’ It emphasises more on engineering practitioners as against ‘engineer.’

“The Act has been remitted in accordance with standard legal procedures. The principal Act establishes the Council for Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria – COREN’ with power vested.

“The amendment now assented to by Mr. President broadens the powers of COREN with far-reaching powers of prosecution of infractions, regulating industrial training of engineers, capacity building of local content in Nigeria engineering industry.

“Specifically, the new law grants COREN powers of: ‘prosecuting any person or firm that contravenes the provisions of this Act in a court of competent jurisdiction; regulating industrial training schemes in engineering practitioners and students; ensuring capacity building and monitoring local content development in the Nigerian engineering industry through – mandatory attachment of Nigerians to expatriate engineers on major projects to understudy them from inception; ensuring that all foreign engineering firms establish their design offices in Nigeria.”

Enang also said the new Act grants “compulsory attestation to all expatriate quota for engineering practitioners, including turnkey project, that there are no qualified and competent Nigerians for the job in question at the time of application and that granting of the expatriate quota shall be contingent on training of such number of persons as may be required for the execution of the job, and; ensuring that, before being allowed to practice in Nigeria, such foreign engineering practitioners granted work permit, register with the council and obtain such licenses as may be required from time to time; investigating engineering failures.’’

He further disclosed that the Act further authorises the admission of some engineering associations into COREN as the umbrella body of all engineers in the country.

Such associations as listed by Enang are: Nigerian Association of Technologists in Engineering, Nigerian Society of Engineering Technicians, and Nigerian Association of Engineering Craftsmen.

According to him, the Act further authorises one person to represent in COREN, the Association for Consulting Engineering in Nigeria, Federation of Construction Industry in Nigeria, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, and Armed Forces in rotation.

“The Council is now entitled to maintain a fund into which shall be paid money appropriated by the National Assembly, subventions, fees, charges for services rendered or publications made, donations, engineering development levy, among others,” Enang added.

ID

The National Population Commission has said the next census will cost well over N220bn.

The Director-General of the NPoPC, Dr. Ghaji Ismail, said this in Abuja on Tuesday at the commencement of fieldwork for the continuation of the Enumeration Area Demarcation.

He said the 2015 budget for the proposed 2016 census which eventually did not take place was put at N220bn.

Ismail said with currency devaluation and inflation rates, the commission would require much more than N220bn to conduct a census.

The DG said, “How much will it cost? At this point in time it is going to be very difficult because there have been changes. It is not something you can say off hand but if we deduce from our previous submission in 2015 hoping that it would take place in 2016, a lot has changed in terms of currency devaluation but if we are to use the 2015 submission, we are looking at a submission of over N220bn.”

Ismail said although the 2019 budget proposal had no provision for a census, a separate budget could be submitted for the exercise.

The DG said it was time to begin to speak about it since elections were already coming to an end.

He, therefore, pleaded with President Muhammadu Buhari to take the matter into consideration. 

PN

Dino Melaye to lead international human rights delegates in supplementary polls

Ahead of scheduled governorship and state Assembly supplementary polls this weekend, the Nigerian Central Office of the International Human Rights Commission has nominated Senator Dino Melaye to lead the delegation of observers.

In a letter addressed to the controversial lawmaker, which was signed by the Commission’s Diplomatic head to Nigeria and African Countries, Ambassador Friday Sani, and made available to our source on Monday, it stated that the delegation would observe elections in Rivers and Kano States.

The letter also stated that the International Human Rights Commission has also been accredited by Nigeria’s Electoral umpire, adding that the delegation would at the end of the elections, submit reports of their observation.

“On behalf of the World Secretary General of the International Human Rights Commission, Sir Rafal Marcin Wasik, you have been nominated as the leader of the Commission’s delegation to observe the upcoming scheduled supplementary polls especially in Rivers and Kano States,” it said.

It added that the delegation have been empowered to raise observation on practices that were inimical to the country’s electoral laws and make it public.

DT

Policeman Kills NSCDC Officer In Abuja In The Presence Of His Wife, Children

Tragedy struck in the early hours of Wednesday in Nyanya, Abuja, when a policeman allegedly beat up and killed one Ogar Jombo, a two-star officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), for violating traffic rules.

The incident happened near a branch of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) around Nyanya market, when the deceased was driving his two children and wife. His children were on their way to school. It was gathered that he made a U-turn at the wrong spot, but was flagged by the police officers on duty in the area.
Findings revealed that Ogar pleaded that he was rushing to drop the children in school. Ogar was in uniform and also identified himself as an officer.

However, all entreaties made by the deceased fell on deaf ears, as one of the police officers jumped on the bonnet of the vehicle, while the other one descended on him with a baton. At this point, his wife and children intervened and pleaded on his behalf. He was, however, allegedly beaten to a stupor and died in the process.
One of his children was quoted as saying: "Please, don't kill my father; leave my father alone".

When SaharaReporters visited the Asokoro General Hospital, the remains of the deceased had been deposited at the morgue, while his wife and some sympathisers were seen weeping profusely.
Efforts to get a word from his wife, identified as Ada, proved futile as she was very emotional.

According to passers-by, the Police had attempted to take the corpse away with a view to dumping him somewhere, but they intervened and followed them to the hospital where the corpse was deposited.
Bala Ciroma, the Commissioner of Police of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), who was at the General Hospital to console the family of the deceased, has ordered the arrest of the officers who committed the crime.

There is palpable tension in the area as youth and relatives of the deceased have vowed to burn down Nyanya Police Station if the officers involved in the act are not arrested and prosecuted.
The slain officer hails from Otukpo in Benue State and was recently promoted to Assistant Superintendent of Corps (ASC)

DEATH ROMP Colombian woman, 32, ‘dies after having five hours of non-stop drug-fuelled sex.

A COLOMBIAN woman died after having sex for five hours while taking drugs, according to reports.

The 32-year-old was said to have complained of feeling unwell before going into cardiac arrest in Cali, Colombia.

 The woman complained of feeling unwell before she went unconscious during the marathon sex session in Cali, Colombia.

The woman complained of feeling unwell before she went unconscious during the marathon sex session in Cali, Colombia (stock photo)
Known as "La Fiera" or "The Beast", the woman is believed to have lost consciousness and begun "convulsing", El Periodico reports.

The unusual nickname was said to have referred to her "very strong character" — her birth name remains unknown.

Her male partner reportedly called for help but emergency services were taking too long to arrive.

He decided to wrap her in a sheet and rush her to the University Hospital del Valle in a taxi, it is claimed.

But medics could not save her and she died shortly after arrival.

It was after learning that his lover had passed away that the victim's partner was said to have told detectives they had been having sex for five hours consecutively, and had consumed drugs to prolong the session. 

Reports say that the investigation into her death will seek to establish whether or not the unspecified drugs caused her heart to stop.

SUN.

Atiku’s 1.6m votes claim shows he’s suffering from ‘severe depression and post-defeat hallucination’- APC

The All Progressives Congress (APC) says the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Atiku Abubakar, its presidential candidate, are now battling “severe depression and post-defeat hallucination”.

The APC was reacting to the PDP’s claim that it won the presidential poll by 1.6 million votes based on data from the server of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The claim was part of the petition filed before the presidential election tribunal.

But reacting in a statement, Lanre Issa-Onilu, APC spokesman, said the claim is ridiculous.

“While the APC is not oblivious of the PDP’s antics to discredit the credible presidential electoral process, acknowledged by local and international observers, we sympathise with Atiku for the crushing defeat handed him by President Buhari through the votes of Nigerians,” Issa-Onilu said.

“Judging by Atiku and PDP’s recent utterances and actions, it is now clear that they have slipped into severe depression and post-defeat hallucination that have left many Nigerians questioning their current state of mind.

“After weeks of dilly-dallying, the PDP has woken up to the stark reality of its electoral defeat and decided to follow the constitutional path of filing a petition at the election tribunal.

“However, of all the prayers of Atiku before the election tribunal, which are at best hollow, the most ridiculous is his claim that the server of the INEC indicated he won the presidential election by 1.6 million votes.

“A few questions would suffice – is this phantom figure of 1.6 million votes Dubai-invented? Was the result sold to Atiku by his numerous marabouts, who we understand, had assured him that the last election was a done deal for him?”

Issa-Onilu said the PDP’s “consistent reference” to INEC server should be a cause for concern.

He said it is possible that the opposition party has plans to jeopardise INEC’s database, calling on security agencies to foil the “evil plan".

“Most importantly, we note Atiku’s consistent reference to the INEC server as if he is the custodian of that platform. Indeed, Atiku’s constant reference to the INEC server should raise concerns as it is becoming apparent that he and the PDP are up for some dastard activities that are targeted at jeopardising the INEC database and internal storage system,” he said.

“We recall the widespread reported cases of several programmed card readers that were retrieved from some PDP agents and their failed attempt to hack the INEC database in the leadup to the then postponed presidential election.

“We remind the Atiku and PDP that Nigerians saw through the devious schemes aimed at thwarting their will. Consequently, majority of the voters handed them a harsh verdict — that verdict remains sacrosanct".

RPL

REX WORLD NEWS: ISIS Would Be Defeated Tonight ~ Trump

REX WORLD NEWS: ISIS Would Be Defeated Tonight ~ Trump: US president Donald Trump says the last of the Islamic State's territory in Syria will be freed by U.S.-backed forces 'by tonight....

ISIS Would Be Defeated Tonight ~ Trump

US president Donald Trump says the last of the Islamic State's territory in Syria will be freed by U.S.-backed forces 'by tonight.'

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Trump spoke as he left the White House and displayed maps of IS-held territory in Iraq and Syria on the day he was elected and as of Wednesday morning.

The most recent map shows what Trump says is a 'tiny spot which will be gone by tonight.' He says when he was elected, Syria was 'a mess' and awash in IS fighters.

U.S.-backed fighters battling to retake the last IS outpost in eastern Syria seized most of the last pocket of land on Tuesday.

Trump has previously announced the defeat of the group, but sleeper cells of fighters remain in Syria.

Trump says the U.S. will keep 400 troops in Syria indefinitely.

Fighters in Syria were scouring the last few hundred square yards of ISIS territory for landmines, secret tunnels and any hiding jihadists after pushing the terror group into their last sliver of land. 

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), backed by the U.S., are clearing areas they captured yesterday as they reduced the ISIS 'caliphate' to a tiny patch of bombed-out scrapyard in eastern Syria.

An official with the fighters said there was calm and no clashes today as Syrian forces were seen singing, dancing and giving V-for-victory signs to celebrate 'victory' in Baghouz.

In one video released by Syrian forces a group of fighters are seen jigging in rhythm in the desert as they mark the 'end of the ISIS caliphate'.

SDF soldiers were today women and children into trailer trucks on the hilltop over Baghouz, in a sign evacuations were ongoing today, while black smoke could be seen rising from the village. 

The last diehard ISIS fighters continued clashing with the SDF on Tuesday night but the terror group is on the brink of defeat after holding a third of Syria and Iraq in 2014.

FG To Increase VAT, TAX by 50%

 are underway by the Federal Government to increase Value Added Tax, VAT, by up to 50 per cent (from current 5 per cent to 7.5 per cent), a move that would stoke-up inflationary pressure in the economy.

The move is coming as a measure to raise funds for the implementation of the new minimum wage about to be passed into law by the National Assembly. Also to be increased, according to the government officials, are Company Income Tax, CIT, and Petroleum Profit Tax, PPT. These were disclosed, yesterday, when Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udo Udoma,  and Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, Babatunde Fowler, appeared before the Senate Committee on Finance for an interactive session over 2019 to 2021 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper, MTEF/ FSP. From left: Head of Service, Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita; Chief of Staff, Alhaji Abba Kyari; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha;

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and President Muhammadu Buhari at the Federal Executive Council Meeting in Abuja  They hinted that the tax increases were inevitable, arguing that the new national minimum wage will further increase the size of the 2019 budget already in deficit Fowler particularly told the Senator John Enoh (APC, Cross River Central) led Committee on Finance that the  proposed payable VAT by Nigerians based on the increment would be between 35 per cent  (6.75 per cent) and 50 per cent (7.25 per cent). The FIRS boss, who noted that the set goal of the revenue generating agency was to achieve N8 trillion revenue target this year, of which N3 trillion is expected from VAT, just as he puts total tax revenue for 2018 at N5.3 trillion; N4.03 trillion in 2017; and N3.31 trillion in 2016. He stated: “By the end of this year, we should be ready for an increase in the VAT. A lot of Nigerians travel to Ghana and other West African countries and they can see that their’s is much higher. They pay when they go for those trips. We should be ready for an increase in VAT. “I can certainly see an increase in VAT of at least 35 per cent to 50 per cent this year based on our enforcement activities. There, certainly will be an increase in Company Income Tax and also on Petroleum Profit Tax.” FG sets up c’ttee on funding new minimum wage On his part, Udoma who disclosed that the Federal Government had concluded plans to set up a committee to look into ways of increasing revenue to fund the new national minimum wage, however, stressed that in view of this, government was considering to forward requests to reflect slight adjustments to the 2019 budget especially as regards sourcing revenue to foot the bill for the new national minimum wage.

 The minister also disclosed that the committee was expected to enter into negotiation with those who are already above the minimum wage bracket and lower the burden on government. Udoma who noted that the Technical Advisory Committee on the minimum wage would submit its report to President Muhammadu Buhari this week, said: “It will be recalled that as a result of agitations from the unions that the President set up a tripartite committee to look at the Minimum Wage. “Every five years, it is supposed to be reviewed. It has not been reviewed even though there is no doubt that for both the Federal Government and states; it is a tough time to review wages. But the N18,000 is really too low and it is difficult for people to live on N18,000.

The President supported a revision but it is important that as we are revising (the minimum wage), we make sure that it can be funded that is why we set up the Bismark Rewane Technical Committee. “So we will be coming to you. There may be some changes maybe in VAT and other things. But we will be coming to you in order to make sure that we can fund the minimum wage.” The MTEF, the document on which the 2019 budget is predicated, was sent to the National Assembly on November 7, 2018, although with slight differences on the expenditure. While the MTEF has an expenditure framework of N8.7 trillion, the budget shows a figure of N8.826. The Minister of Budget and National Planning however attributed the difference to recent upward review of the salaries of the police and  expressed concern that the New National Minimum Wage will further increase the size of a budget already in deficit.

How FG’ll implement 2019 budget Meanwhile, Udoma told the Senate Committee that some slight adjustments were effected on the 2019 MTEF/FSP between when it was approved by the Federal Executive Council and the finalization of the 2019 budget proposals. The minister, who was briefing the Committee on the 2019 Revenue and Expenditure Projections said the adjustment only affected the expenditure levels as it was done to reflect some unanticipated expenditure items and the consequences of those adjustments.

 Before giving an overview of the 2019 Expenditure Framework, the Minister briefed the Committee on the 2018 expenditure outcomes. He stated that of the total appropriation of N9.12 trillion, N7.24 trillion had been spent as at December 31, 2018; representing 79% performance. He indicated that Debt Service and the implementation of Non-debt Recurrent Expenditure, including payment of workers’ salaries and pensions, were on track.

VG

Gbenga Daniel Joins APC

Abeokuta – About 24 hours after he announced his retirement from partisan politics, the former governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel has agreed to lead his supporters to the All Progressives Congress, APC.

The former governor lof Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, popularly called OGD, in a letter addressed to the National Chairman of People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Uche Secondus but which was released to the media on Saturday, said his retirement from politics was personal.

While also blaming the unending crises in the Ogun State chapter of the party, Daniel said his retirement from active and partisan politics would afford him the opportunity to focus on this Gateway Front Foundation and non-partisan political academy.

But on Sunday, while addressing his supporters at his Asoludero residence in Sagamu on reasons why he was quitting politics, Daniel agreed to lead his supporters to the ruling APC in the State.

The supporters have roared in rejection of the planned retirement saying the former governor must lead them to the ruling party having worked for the victory of the governor-elect in the State, Dapo Abiodun.

After about two hours of drama, Daniel left the hall without responding to his supporters’ demands.

When approached by newsmen, Daniel said “my people have spoken.”

He said, “Basically, they (supporters) said I could resign from PDP. They said I must lead them to APC. And they also said I cannot retire from politics that is the summary of what I heard. Now we have to take a look at it. What else can I say? My people have spoken.

DI