A new stabbing in Jerusalem wounded two Israelis on
Saturday in the latest in a wave of such attacks that
have spread fear among residents, police and medics
said.
Police said the attacker had been “neutralised” without
providing further details on whether the suspect had
been captured of killed. They referred to the attacker
as a “terrorist
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Saturday, October 10, 2015
Screening: Don’t be distracted by petitions against nominees – Group tells lawmakers
A Lagos-based advocacy group, the Law and
Good Governance Group, has called on the
national and states’ Houses of Assembly not to
be distracted by the petitions filled before
them against certain nominated persons.
The group said it was particularly concerned
about certain petitions that were purportedly
written in respect of certain retired civil
servants being considered for cabinet positions
in Lagos State.
The Executive Director, LGGG, Dr. Festus
Odunlami, said the lawmakers should not
forget that the law ought to guide them “in
determining the effect of a private petition on
the eligibility of a nominee for the office of
either a minister or commissioner.”
Cited one of the provisions for disqualification,
Odunlami said a nominee could be disqualified
if he “is under a sentence of death imposed on
him by a competent court of law or tribunal in
Nigeria or a sentence of imprisonment or fine
for an offence involving dishonesty by fraud
(by whatever name called) or any other
offences imposed on him by such court or
tribunal substituted by a competent authority
for any other sentence imposed on him by
such a court or tribunal.”
Also, it said a nominee could only be
disqualified if “he has been indicted for
embezzlement of fraud by a judicial
commission of inquiry or Administrative Panel
of Inquiry or an or a tribunal set up under the
tribunal of Inquiry Act, a tribunal of Inquiry
law or any other law by the Federal and State
Government which indictment has been
accepted by the Federal or State Government,
respectively.”
The group recalled that although the 1999
constitution envisaged a situation where a
nominee could be disqualified, it was evident
that the Constitution “is very clear in stating
that a person can only be disqualified if he has
been indicted or convicted by any of the
following: a court, a tribunal, a judicial
commission of inquiry, an administrative panel
of inquiry set up by Law or the Code of
Conduct Tribunal.”
The statement added, “We wish to state,
therefore, that the framers of these
constitutional provisions placed these strict
conditions to prevent third parties from
placing non-judicial decisions of questionable
validity as hurdles to the election of a
nominee.
“They (the lawmakers) should not be seen to
be departing from the same constitution that
created the laws
EFCC goes after former Benue Governor, Gabriel Suswam
Immediate past Benue State Governor,
Gabriel Suswam is expected to appear before
the EFCC for interrogation on Monday, October
12.
According to Premium Times, the anti-graft
agency had also invited Mr Omadachi Oklobia,
a former Commissioner of finance, who
served under Suswam to defend the
allegations of diversion of public funds, abuse
of office, embezzlement and fraud.
Mr. Oklobia arrived the EFFC office in Abuja at
about 10.00am, where his statement was
obtained under caution based on his alleged
complicity in the allegations.
Suswam has been highly criticized and accused
by the current government of throwing the
state into huge debt before leaving office.
Meanwhile, the ex-governor had approached a
federal high court sitting in Makurdi to stop his
predecessor, Samuel Ortom from probing his
government.
Revealed at last: Salary and allowances of NASS members
The controversy over the monthly salary of a
Nigerian lawmaker has finally been laid to rest
with a formal disclosure of what the legislators
earn. The National Institute of Legislative Studies,
NILS, apparently worried by growing public outcry
against the Nigerian lawmakers, on Friday
released a set of documents, showing what
constitutes the earnings of the 109 Senators and
360 members of the Nigerian House of
Representatives.
The documents, which were made available to
Vanguard in Abuja on Friday, indicated that the
Nigerian lawmakers earn perhaps one of the least
salaries among legislators in the world, as against
the notion that their pay was outrageous.
Apart from releasing global comparative figures
drawn from nine countries, the NILS also gave a
breakdown of what constitutes the monthly take-
home pay of each Nigerian lawmaker. The figure
shows that while a Nigerian Senator gets an annual
basic salary of N2,026,400,00 a member of the
Nigerian House of Representatives goes home
with N1,985,212, 50 per year.
But beyond that a Senator takes home a bouquet
of allowances which hike their salary to N12, 902,
360.00 while their House of Representatives
counterpart goes home with N9,525,985.50
annually.
Thus, for the four-year tenure which the lawmaker
stay in the NASS, the Nigerian government spends
a total of N1, 406,357,240.00 as basic salary on
the 109 Senators and N3,428,994,780.00 on the
360 members of the House of Representatives.
The breakdown of the allowances are on: Vehicle
fuelling/maintenance, Constituency, Domestic
Staff, Personal Assistant, Entertainment, Recess,
Utilities, Newspaper/Periodicals, Houses
Maintenance, Wardrobe, Estacode, Duty Tour,
which attract more money available to the
lawmakers than their basic salaries.
Beyond that, the lawmakers earn special amount
in every four-year period on Accommodation,
vehicle loan, furniture, and severance allowance,
which make every Senator to pocket
N24,090,000.00 and a House of Representatives
member to go home with N23,822,00.00 within
the same period.
Thus for every four year which a lawmaker stays in
the NASS, the Federal Government spends
N2,625, 810,000.00 on accommodation, vehicle
loans, furniture and severance gratuity on the 109
senators and N8,575,920,000.00 on the 360 House
of Representatives members.
This payment brings the total expenditure of the
government to N33, 992, 360 for the senators and
N33,347, 985, 50 on the members of the HoR. The
figures are lower when compared to what their
counterparts in eight other countries earn.
But the monies Nigerian lawmakers earn from
their oversight functions and other sources make
them big earners.
A global comparison released by the NILS shows
that lawmakers in the Philippines earn the highest
annual basic salary of $4, 497,957, followed by
their counterparts in the United States of America
where a Senator goes home with $3,409,422 while
a member of the US House of Representatives
takes $1,429,909 home annually.
This is followed by lawmakers in Kenya who earn
$968,013 per annum followed by their
counterparts in Australia who take home $646,230
while those in the United Kingdom go home with
£494,285.43.
The list is followed by lawmakers from India, who
earn $474,484, Singapore with $253,469, and
Tanzania with $230,961.
It will be recalled that the Nigerian government
has been spending a total of N150 billion per year
on the NASS but has been forced to step it down
to N120 billion this year following rising outcry
that the lawmakers are taking too much from the
Federation Account leaving little for other sectors.
Spain, Switzerland storm into Euro 2016 finals
- Spain and Switzerland racked up 11 goals
between them to qualify for Euro 2016 on Friday as
England maintained their 100 percent record.
Champions in 2008 and 2012, Spain beat
Luxembourg 4-0 in Group C thanks to a brace each
from Arsenal playmaker Santi Cazorla and Valencia
striker Paco Alcacer.
The result saw Spain win the group outright after
rivals Slovakia, who had been breathing down their
necks, went down 1-0 at home to Belarus and drop
to third.
Vicente del Bosque's men are five points clear of
Slovakia and Ukraine, who won 2-0 at Macedonia.
Ukraine host Spain in their final qualifier in Kiev on
Monday.
On the down side, Spain suffered a double injury
blow losing David Silva to a twisted ankle before
Alvaro Morata was stretchered off with a calf injury.
Cazorla opened the scoring five minutes before
half-time as he swept home a rebound after
Jonathan Joubert had made a smart save from
Pedro Rodriguez.
Also Read: Bale ready to fire Wales into Euro
2016 finals
Alcacer slotted home a neat through ball from Cesc
Fabregas on his 99th international appearance 23
minutes from time.
Jordi Alba's cut-back was then tapped into an empty
net by Alcacer for his sixth international goal in
nine appearances.
And Cazorla rounded off the scoring with the best
goal of the night when he thundered in a shot from
the edge of the box to seal Spain's ticket to France
in style.
"We've managed to qualify at last. We knew we
couldn't be complacent, we played very well and
managed to get the win," Cazorla told Television
Espanola.
"The coach showed his faith in me and it went well
with the two goals."
The Swiss stormed to a 7-0 win over San Marino
converting three spot-kicks on the way to join
England as the two direct qualifiers from Group E.
Having co-hosted the 2008 Euros with Austria,
Switzerland missed the 2012 edition.
On Friday, seven different players got the goals to
ensure they did not miss out this time.
Defender Michael Lang got the opener on 17
minutes with Gokhan Inler, Admir Mehmedi, Johan
Djourou, Pajtim Kasami, Breel Embolo and Eren
Derdiyok completing the rout after the break.
Roy Hodgson's England maintained their 100
percent record in the qualifiers with a ninth straight
win, 2-0 over Estonia at Wembley, with Theo
Walcott and Raheem Sterling delivering the goals
late in each half.
With record goal-scorer Wayne Rooney injured,
Harry Kane led the line for England, but it was
Walcott who opened the scoring in a drab game
before Sterling struck a second goal late on.
"We had to work hard, we attacked a lot, we had a
lot of the ball and had a lot of chances. I thought we
were good value for our 2-0 win," said Hodgson.
In Group G, Russia, Sweden and Montenegro had
been locked in a desperate battle for qualification
behind runaway leaders Austria.
Austria won again, coming from behind to win 3-2
in Montenegro and have 25 points from nine
games.
But Russia's 2-1 win in Moldova leaves them
needing only a win at home over Montenegro on
Monday to qualify in second place after full back
Sergei Ignashevich and forward Arten Dzyuba got
Friday's goals.
Russia coach Leonid Slutsky, who took over from
the sacked Fabio Capello in August, has won three
games since taking the hot seat for the 2018 World
Cup hosts.
Sweden can still overhaul Russia after Zlatan
Ibrahimovic made up for missing a penalty by
scoring the second goal in his side's 2-0 win in
Liechtenstein.
The Paris Saint Germain striker thereby stretched
his national goalscoring record to 58.
Spain and Switzerland join already qualified Austria,
Czech Republic, England, France (as hosts), Iceland,
Northern Ireland, and Portugal in the 24-team
finals next year.
- AFP
Tribunal upholds Gbajabiamila’s election
- The National Assembly Election Petitions
Tribunal sitting in Ikeja on Friday upheld the victory
of the Majority Leader of the House of
Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila.
The tribunal held that Gbajabiamila of the All
Progressives Congress (APC) validly won the March
28 election for Surulere Federal Constituency I in
Lagos State.
The three-man tribunal led by Justice C.U. Anwuka
resolved all issues raised in favour of the
respondent.
The tribunal consequently dismissed the petition
filed by the Peoples Democratic Party candidate,
Tony Ashikodi, for failing to prove the allegations of
electoral fraud.
Also read: Plot to endorse Gbajabiamila as
Speaker foiled
Ashikodi had petitioned the tribunal challenging the
outcome of the election.
Ashikodi had alleged that he observed some
irregularities during the election which contravened
the provisions of the Independent National
Electoral Commission’s approved guidelines.
He urged the court to void the election and order a
fresh election to be conducted by INEC.
The petitioner had alleged that “the final figures in
Form EC 8 C (i) were cancelled and altered with a
view to declaring Gbajabiamila the winner of the
election.”
He claimed that the 14 351 received by the APC
candidate was “whimsically changed’’ to 21 715
while 16 079 earlier recorded for petitioner was
changed to 14 550.
However in the judgment, the tribunal said
Ashikodi failed to substantiate his allegations that
ballot boxes were snatched and result sheets
falsified by INEC.
The judges noted that the petitioner failed to call a
single witness to substantiate his claims.
They said Ashikodi, in his evidence-in-chief,
admitted that he was not present at the collation
centre and did not tender any document to back his
allegations of multiple irregularities.
The tribunal also faulted the claim of the
petitioner’s counsel, Kalu Onuah, that the election
did not comply with Section 139 of the Electoral Act
and therefore dismissed the petition.
- NAN
- NAN
Accountant General to prioritise armed forces on TSA
Abuja - The Accountant General, Alhaji Ahmed
Idris, has pledged his organisation will give special
attention to security institutions during the
implementation of the Treasury Single
Account (TSA).
He said such assistance to institutions like the Police
and the Armed Forces would ensure they continued
to successfully deliver on their mandates.
Idris gave this assurance today in Abuja whilst
receiving in audience the Inspector General of
Police, Mr. Solomon Arase.
He said that his office is aware of the enormous
responsibility facing the Security Agencies in
contending with armed robbery, insurgency,
kidnapping and other vices and will ensure that the
release of monies required for the execution of all
special operations aimed at overcoming these
evils are not in any way affected by the
implementation of the TSA.
Also Read: Australian mosque leader tells
violent Muslims to leave country
According to the Accountant General of the
Federation, the Treasury Single Account is not
meant to hamper to activities of MDAs, but to
entrench a more transparent, efficient and robust
management of public funds that will ensure the
speedy realization of Government plans and
programmes.
The Accountant General commended the Police for
complying with the directive on the TSA and urged
them to embrace more scientific and electronic
means for transacting their businesses. He
explained that the era of carrying money in Ghana-
Must – go bags to payment points are gone, adding
that the TSA will compliment the already existing
electronic platforms.
Earlier, the Inspector General of Police, Solomon
Arase commended the Office of the Accountant
General for their support to the MDAs particularly
the Nigerian Police in the implementation of the
Treasury Single Account.
He solicited the support of the Accountant General
of the Federation in the sustaining their special
operations on counter-terrorism and other crimes
as well as early settlement of staff salaries.
- CAJ News
Nigerian court voids election of politician wanted in US
Lagos - A Nigerian court Friday nullified the election
of a prominent politician wanted in the United
States on drug trafficking charges.
An election tribunal in the southwestern city of
Abeokuta declared the victory of Senator Buruji
Kashamu void because of apparent irregularities in
more than 100 polling units.
"The election is nullified in line with Section 140 (2)
and 140 (3) (of the electoral act)... We hereby order
fresh elections in the affected polling units,"
tribunal judge Tobi Ebimowei ruled.
Kashamu, elected in March to represent Ogun state
in the upper chamber of parliament, was placed
under house arrest in May before a planned
extradition hearing.
But the Federal High Court in Lagos later ordered
agents of the National Drug Law Enforcement
Agency (NDLEA) to leave the property and
suspended extradition hearings.
Also read: Two Nigerians get 55 years jail time
for drug trafficking
Kashamu was indicted in an Illinois court in 1998
over conspiracy to distribute heroin.
He was arrested in Britain that December but
ultimately convinced British authorities that the
drug trafficking evidence in fact related to his
brother and that US investigators had confused the
two men.
A British court approved his release in 2003 and
Kashamu returned to Nigeria, where he became a
major funder of the then-ruling Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP).
The United States has sought Kashamu's extradition
for two decades and it was not clear if Nigeria's
decision to act was linked to political shifts.
The PDP under president Goodluck Jonathan was
defeated nationally by Muhammadu Buhari's All
Progressives Congress (APC). Buhari has since
embarked on a drive against corruption.
Kashamu has repeatedly denied any involvement in
drug smuggling, consistently throwing blame on his
deceased brother, whom he reportedly resembles.
- AFP
Osinbanjo to inaugurate Nigeria's Consular building in South Africa
The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo
(SAN) on Friday left Abuja for Pretoria, South Africa,
to inaugurate the Consular building of Nigeria High
Commission among other engagements.
A press statement from his spokesman, Mr Laolu
Akande, said Osinbajo would attend programmes at
the House of Revival Church in Brakpan and pay
courtesy visit to his South African counterpart, Mr
Cyril Rhamaphosa.
Also read: Russia denies visas for sex workers
claims
The statement said that the Vice President would
also hold an interactive session with the Nigerian
community in South Africa before returning to
Abuja on Sunday.
- NAN
NDLEA arrests Brazil-bound passenger with $34,000 in underwear
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency
has arrested a passenger for attempting to
smuggle out 23 wraps containing $34,000 to
Brazil.
This was contained in a statement by the Head,
Public Affairs of NDLEA, Mr Mitchell Ofoyeju,
on Friday in Lagos.
The statement said the passenger, Ozoh
Ikenna, was arrested at the Murtala
Mohammed International Airport, Lagos,
during the screening of passengers boarding
Etihad Airways flight to Abu Dhabi.
It said the money was packed in wraps and
concealed in Ikenna’s boxer shorts.
According to the statement, the NDLEA airport
commander, Mr Ahmadu Garba, said the
arrest was facilitated with the aid of a scanning
machine.
“The wraps of dollars found on Ikenna were
detected with the aid of scanning machine.
“We also conducted a follow-up operation
where one Ogbo Emmanuel, who gave Ozoh
the $34,000 was arrested,” the commander is
quoted as saying.
The statement said investigation conducted by
the NDLEA’s Assets and Financial Investigation
Directorate revealed that the suspects were
involved in the laundering of substantial
amount of illicit drug proceeds.
“We were able to trace over N226m to one
bank account belonging to the second suspect,
Ogbo Emmanuel.
“The account name is Eternal God International
Limited,” the head of the directorate, Mrs
Victoria Egbase, is quoted as saying.
According to the statement, it was also
discovered that suspected drug proceeds were
regularly deposited in the said bank account by
members of an international drug cell that
smuggles cocaine from South America to West
Africa.
The statement quoted NDLEA’s Chairman, Mr
Ahmadu Giade, as saying that the Agency was
strategically targeting criminal wealth.
Babcock University Performs First Heart Surgery
BABCOCK University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State
recorded another milestone last Thursday, as the first
heart surgery was performed in the institution’s
Teaching Hospital, by its doctors. The operation lasted
six hours.
The first beneficiary of this feat in the history of the
university is a 34-year-old woman, who brimmed with
exceptional spirit as she calmly walked through the
door with gaiety into the theatre for a life saving
venture in the human hands of cardio thoracic
surgeons, Professor Kamar Adeleke, Dr. Michael
Sanusi, Dr. Mudashiru Lawal and Dr. Edward
Anderson, all resident doctors.
According to the institution, there are other 15 critical
care personnel in the operating theatre to provide
specific required services. They included
perfussionists, cardiac operations nurses, internists and
anesthesiologists.
Friday’s surgery was a milk valve replacement.
Yesterday, another set of patients’ hearts received care
from the surgeons’ hearts that care. Dozens of other
patients are on the roll call and will have their turn as
scheduled from now at the Babcock University
Teaching Hospital.
The senior vice president of the university, Professor
Iheanyichukwu Okoro, who is also a surgeon said,
“So, what is going on now at the Tristate Heart and
Vascular Centre of the University is not the last of
such operations until all afflicted hearts are rid of that
which prevents their effective functioning.”
Okoro and the institution’s Vice president,
development and strategy, Mr. Olukunle Iyanda, said
the medical feat couldn’t have happened at a better
time than this. “This is inspirational and praiseworthy;
another achievement by God through mortal men.”
Nigeria's former oil minister will fight graft claims - lawyer
Lagos - Nigeria's former oil minister Diezani
Alison-Madueke will strongly contest corruption
allegations against her once she has recovered
from breast cancer treatment, her family's
lawyer told AFP on Friday.
Oscar Onwudiwe said the 54-year-old's
immediate priority was her health. She had gone
through chemotherapy and had been preparing
for surgery when she was caught up in the
corruption probe, he said.
"Once she is feeling better she will come out and
say, 'bring the questions, bring them on'. She's
that confident," he added.
Onwudiwe, who said he has known Alison-
Madueke and her husband's families for more
than 30 years, earlier issued a statement on
their behalf, slamming what he called "media
hysteria" over the case.
"For the avoidance of doubt, the family would
like to state categorically that it has no issues
with any persons from the family being invited
anywhere in the world to answer questions about
their private or official conduct," the statement
said.
International corruption
"The Madueke family believes in law and order,
honour and due process. However, it is clear that
here is a deliberate and vicious campaign to
demonise members of the Madueke family with
all manner of frivolous allegations."
Onwudiwe added: "It is worth emphasising that
Mrs Alison-Madueke was never arrested or
detained and her passport was never seized. She
was merely invited and she honoured it
promptly."
Britain's National Crime Agency announced last
Friday it had arrested five people in London on
suspicion of international corruption, without
naming those detained.
The suspects were released on conditional bail.
The Nigerian government confirmed Alison-
Madueke's arrest on Monday and said law
enforcement agencies in Abuja were
collaborating with the British counterparts on the
matter.
Wider crackdown of corruption
A court official at Westminster Magistrates Court
in central London earlier said police had been
granted permission to retain 27 000 ($41 000) in
cash seized during her arrest.
Alison-Madueke - the first woman to be oil
minister in Nigeria and the first female
president of the global oil cartel OPEC - has been
dogged by allegations of corruption during her
tenure.
In February 2014, the former governor of
Nigeria's central bank claimed the state-run
Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)
had failed to remit $20bn in revenue.
Then-president Goodluck Jonathan removed the
governor, Lamido Sanusi, in a move many saw as
politically motivated.
Alison-Madueke, whose husband is a former
chief of naval staff in Nigeria, has repeatedly
denied any wrongdoing.
Nigeria's president Muhammadu Buhari has
begun a purge of the NNPC as part of a wider
crackdown on corruption, ordering a review of its
finances and sacking the entire board.
AFP
Campaigning For The Early Detection Of Cancer
THIS year is the seventh International Cancer Week in
Nigeria. It is a platform for people who are in the area of
cancer control to further spread the message on how to
detect cancer early.
According to Professor Ifeoma Okoye, founder of a non-
governmental organization (NGO) called Breast Without
Spot (BWS), these people include medical people, health
care providers and non-governmental organisations working
in the area of cancer control.
“We have survivors, relations of survivors, just about
anybody who has a passion to see how to fight cancer and
control it. And reduce the devastation on our population.
Over the past couple of years, a lot of people who are
working in the area of cancer control have raised awareness
in many ways on cancer, organising pink dinner and
congresses. But what we have noticed is that it appears that
it is all done for focus groups. The nation has never really
received a big bang impact on one particular effort.
“Whoever says no to late detection of cancer is a titan. We
have decided that we are going to call on all Nigerians to be
titans against cancer and to come out and be in pink on the
October 5. This event is not meant to be an event in itself. It
actually ought to be a mass movement. There is no need for
you to leave your work place,” Okoye said.
She urged as many centres as possible across the nation
which have the ability to offer any form of screening, or give
discounted screening prices or even offer free screening, to
do so to mark the event.
“We know that we have 80,000 people that die of cancer in
Nigeria annually, and 10 people die every day of the
disease. About eight people died of Ebola and the whole
country was in panic.”
Okoye said cancer is one of the non-communicable diseases
that share risk factors with other non- communicable
diseases. “We want to see how we can get people to detect
cancer early so that they don’t have to die from cancer,
especially when it is the non- aggressive form. Detect cancer
early, you can have cure for some of the cancer and extended
life, quality life.”
Okoye revealed that there are people with breast cancer that
are alive even 40 or 50 years after. “In Nigeria, why cancer
appears to be synonymous with death is because people are
coming late to present in the hospitals. We are asking people
that are well to make it a habit to go for screening. We are
using the opportunity of this awareness to tell them why
they have to go for screening. At what age should they go
for prostate cancer check? By the time we finish with this
mass campaign, we hope that we would be able to fully
optimally sensitize the entire country in this movement.
“People can mobilise as many of their families, colleagues in
work place, friends and persons within their sphere of
influence to put on pink ties, scarves and decorate their
surroundings with pink décor, including pink balloons and
ribbons.
“Whatever you have, whether it is an old clothing that is
pink, just utilize it. We don’t want people to go spend any
money. You are driving your car to work, you have a pink
balloon tied to it or you decorate it your with pink ribbon.
We want everybody going gaga with pink. Even you can use
pink flowers.
“You can also visit our website www.international
cancerweek.org. We would have information for you on
where it is possible for you to get screened. We are also
doing advocacy with those different places where you can
get screened or vaccinated for HPV vaccine for young girls
between the ages of nine and 14. We are trying to advocate
for them to either give this services free or discounted.”
Finally, she urged people to join in the three-day
programme they are organising for the International Cancer
Week congress which is taking place at the Sheraton in
Abuja from Oct. 6 to 8 from 9am to 5pm daily. “The opening
ceremony is on the 7th in order to accommodate some of our
VIPs that will be coming for the programme,” Okoye said.
She added that the International Cancer Week is being
organised in collaboration with Federal Ministry of Health.
“You can register for the programme on-line or get the
details on our website. You don’t need to be a medical
person to attend and benefit.”
Thursday, October 8, 2015
Adeola calls for activation of National Assembly Budget and Research Office
The senator representing Lagos West Senatorial
District, Senator Solomon Adeola has called on the
8th National Assembly to immediately seek the
activation and operation of the National Assembly
Budget and Research Office, NABRO to ensure that
the legislature fulfil its mandate for effective
legislation and representation.
Contributing to the debate on the Legislative
Agenda for the 8th Senate, the senator said
beyond making laws and oversight, a major
function of the legislature is the “power of the
purse” which is the power to appropriate funds
through budget adding that the executive will
always want the yearly budget to be passed
without scrutiny of the legislature, a situation he
foresees will end with the operation of NABRO,
which is the equivalent of USA Congressional
Budget Office.
“The operation of NABRO would greatly assist in
providing data for effective scrutiny of budget as
presented by the executive as relevant research
would have been done and provided for the
legislature to query assumptions of government
agencies. We need to ensure that NABRO which
has been passed into law since the 6th National
Assembly become fully operational to ensure we
do the job we were elected to do” he stated in
his contribution.
He said the Legislative arm of government cannot
afford to lose the power of the purse and NABRO
will assist in critical scrutiny of Appropriation Bills
as well as Medium Term Expenditure Framework,
MTEF as they cannot be taken as sacrosanct
without questioning adding that each committee
of the Senate should be supported in the interim
by qualified consultants in relevant fields.
Senator Adeola said the Legislative Agenda of the
8th Senate is a policy document to guide the
Senate and should serve as a roadmap for its
activities adding that its articulation shows the
sincerity and seriousness of the current National
Assembly.
The Senate president, Senator Bukola Saraki
adjourned the debate till next week after
contributions from Senator Remi Tinubu and
others on various sections of the agenda.
Israeli forces kill Palestinian youth in Jerusalem
Hundreds of Palestinians have been injured by live
ammunition and rubber-coated bullets since the
start of October [EPA]
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fogel
Every palestinian throwing rocks or
molotov c@cktails should get a bullet in
the head.
Jim Lawrence
Well key board warrior, why don't
you do it.. cowardly wimp
Be4rJew
@Jim
You are as much as a
keyboard warrior as him,
and you have spoken x
1000000
hell_isra
Intifada
Kill a Jewish terrorist a day and make the
evils of Judaism torah hate go away.
Delusional Hebrews stole a land based on
a mythical manmade scripture
Lectori Salutem
what are the muzzzies excuse for
all the lands they stole?
Jim Lawrence
What land ? Tell us ole
great one
bjosephmex
Too many issues to address in one blog.
As the snowball rolls downhill it presses
down and gains weight picking up more
snow until there is an avalanche.
¨Footage appeared to show undercover
Israeli soldiers dressed as protesters
attacking men.¨ So much for freedom of
the press. They will just tax us and use
the proceeds to produce misinformation!
Thank God for the Red Cross/Crescent. [I
can feel myself giving the Jewish
supremacists ideas. Oh oh, Rubita is
correct. We have to pay off or obliterate
these do gooders and impose our
disinformation on the world.]
Jim Lawrence
Could be an Israel false flag
operation in order to blame the
Palestinians
Miche Norman
Be truthful - they did not attack
Palestinians they arrested stone-
throwers - some of the stones that
they were throwing weighed about
7 Kilos - heavier than the ones the
Iranians use for stoning people to
death
Jim Lawrence
Hahaha-- What a fool-- 7
kilos---- You cannot throw a
7 kilo stone one meter..
Abu Kaysun
Yeah the Palestinian
olympic shot put team
were demonstrating.
The Gladiator
I heard Elvis was in the crowd...
2Truthreal
Heck anyone could say that I want his job
and salary! Probably some money going
under the table also.
Jim Lawrence
I'd rather have a good looking girl
under the table if you get my drift
:-)
Guerrillera
Like a cancer that needs to be removed
and treated so the body can live, zion will
be removed and wiped clean so we can all
live in peace.
FREE PALESTINE!!!
Christop
Gorilla: noun. A very large
typically black-colored anthropoi
ape with stock body and broad
shoulders
Guerrillera: 1. noun. Domestic
servant, usually Cuban
2. Pro'stitute, usually Cuban
bjosephmex
If Guerillera is a Cuban
pros T tute, I´m
interested. Cuban = good.
Woman = good. Sects =
good. Cuban + woman +
sects = really good. Every
day I have to listen to
Guerrillera ... as if it is
something bad. What do
you know that I don´t
know? How can I get in on
this action? What is your
problem? Racist? Prefer
blondes? G´ay? You nick?
Throw them my way when
you reject them. We need
to be friends.
Christopher
@joseph. Problem? None
that I can see. Prefer
brunettes, Straight, not
racist, open-minded to all
races. But I do not like this
Gorilla person, but that
should be obvious. Bad
idea to extrapolate to the
whole from a sample of
one. Hope this helps.
Cheers.
Christop
Oh, forgot to mention,. FREE
CUBA,!!!
Anton
The UN chief should shave a d!ck in his
mouth. Glory to the Palestinian Goy and
down with the synaguoge of Satan. Hang in
there, Palestine, the crusaders of the east
are coming back to liberate the holy land
from the nazis.
Plz note: the term nazi in the above
paragraph refers to the Nazis in the west
and their colonies in the middle east.
Max Barry
How hilarious from a Russian troll.
The Russians are going to liberate
the Palestinians. You mean like
they did in Chechnya, liberate the
Muslims?
Jim Lawrence
Hey Maxipad--- Where do
you live?
Jim Lawrence
Max, I caught your friend
matanb in a blatant lie he
told you.. I addressed him
proving him to be lying and
he disappeared... Now you
have been caught in some
blatant lies by Mike only
yesterday and you also
disappeared for a good
while-- What is going on?
bjosephmex
Well, yes. Russia returned
the Chechnyans to their
natural state of a society
with little crime.
FEATURED
Related
Palestinians targeted by 'surge' in settler
violence
Analysis: Netanyahu 'better not disturb the
status quo'
Stabbing linked to Israel's systematic violence
Analysis: Why Israel wants a religious war over
al-Aqsa
The controversial killing of Fadi Alloun
Hebron in turmoil as unrest engulfs West Bank
A Palestinian youth has been shot dead by Israeli
forces during a protest in Jerusalem, Palestinian
medical sources said.
Ahmad Bitawi, the director of Ramallah hospital in
the West Bank, said Wissam Jamal arrived at the
hospital with a bullet wound to the chest after
Thursday's clashes at Shuafat refugee camp in
Jerusalem.
Israeli police spokeswoman Luba Samri says Israeli
troops had gone to search the home of a Palestinian
involved in an earlier attack. She said they were
confronted by thousands of rioters who hurled
stones and firebombs at them.
Wissam Faraj (20Y/O)was shot in the heart with
Expanding bullet by #Israeli occupation forces
in Shufat #Jerusalem
pic.twitter.com/5Sdlk25oC4
— Voice from Jerusalem (@Pales601) October 8,
2015
UN calls for calm
Jamal's death came as the UN human rights chief,
Zeid Raad al-Hussein, called for calm in the West
Bank after a week of violence in the occupied
territory, as well as occupied-East Jerusalem, and
inside Israel.
Hussein warned that "more bloodshed will only
lead to more hatred on both sides," and that he is
deeply concerned about the increasing number of
attacks by both settlers and Palestinians.
The UN official voiced concern about the number of
Palestinians injured by live ammunition, which
stands at 134, and the hundreds more injured by
rubber bullets and tear gas.
"The high number of casualties, in particular those
resulting from the use of live ammunition by Israeli
security forces, raise concerns of excessive use of
force," Hussein said, according to the Associated
Press news agency.
IN PICTURES: Unrest spreads in occupied West
Bank
Earlier, two Israelis were injured in separate attacks
in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.
In Jersualem, a Yeshiva student was stabbed and
critically wounded, while the Palestinian attacker
was detained by police.
In the Tel Aviv attack, a Palestinian stabbed a
female Israeli soldier with a screwdriver before
being shot dead.
Four Israelis have died in stabbing attacks, and
several others have been injured.
1600 Palestinians wounded
According to the Palestinian Red Crescent, at least
1,600 Palestinians have been injured since October
3.
Eighty-seven have been injured with live
ammunition, and 290 with rubber-coated steel
bullets.
On Monday, Abdel Rahman Abdullah, a 13-year-old
from the Aida refugee camp in Bethlehem, was
shot and killed by Israeli forces, prompting further
protests and unrest.
On Wednesday, two Palestinian protesters were
shot and critically wounded by Israeli soldiers
during a protest near the settlement of Beit El.
Footage appeared to show undercover Israeli
soldiers dressed as protesters attacking men.
Al-Aqsa tensions
The incidents are the latest in a series of attacks,
sparked by tensions over what Palestinians believe
is Israeli encroachment of their holiest site in
Jerusalem, the Al-Aqsa mosque.
On Wednesday evening, Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu issued an order banning his
ministers from visiting the sacred site.
READ MORE: Israel's right defies rabbinate over Al-
Aqsa
Jews are prohibited from visiting the site, they call
the Temple Mount, by Israel's rabbinate, but
hardliners have challenged the restriction.
Their visits to the Al-Aqsa compound happen under
heavy police protection, and are seen as
provocative by Palestinians.
Palestinian worshippers fear the visits are the first
stage in an eventual plan to partition the site.
TUC wants ministerial nominees to publicly declare assets
Lagos - The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC)
on Thursday urged the National Assembly to ensure
that all ministerial nominees declare their assets
publicly before confirmation.
In a statement jointly signed by its President, Boboi
Kaigama and General Secretary, Musa Lawal, the
TUC said that the declaration would be in the public
interest.
The labour union said that the public declaration of
assests was necessary following "worrisome''
allegations of fraud against some ex-ministers and
officials.
"There is need to verify the financial and material
status of each nominee before they are allowed to
assume such high offices.''
It said that time had come to allow only people with
proven integrity to head government ministries.
Also read: Don't divert bailout fund, TUC warns
Ondo govt
The TUC therefore urged the Senate to screen the
nominees based on their integrity and past records
irrespective of their status.
The congress noted that many youths in the country
have gotten into crime due to unemployment
caused by corrupt leaders in the past.
"It is sad how much shame politicians have brought
upon this country.
"There is rarely any month we do not hear news of
Nigerian youths being executed in other parts of
the world due to involvement in one crime or the
other.
"We will not be in this backward situation if the
economy is doing well, if we had steady power and
adequate infrastructure and if successive
governments were interested in creating jobs for
the army of unemployed youths,’’ it said.
- NAN
Terrorism: Army warns against cluster bombs
The Defence Authorities have alerted Nigerians of
the deployment of cluster bombs by the members of
the Boko Haram sect in the country.
The Acting Director, Defence Information, Col. Rabe
Abubakar, said in a statement on Thursday that some
catches of the cluster bombs were discovered by the
troops in Adamawa State.
Wikipedia defines a cluster bomb as ” a form of air-
dropped or ground-launched explosive weapon that
releases or ejects smaller submunitions.”
It was stated that the cluster bombs which ejects
smaller explosives are designed to kill and destroy
properties.
Abubakar said the Boko Haram insurgents had been
found to be using cluster bombs in pursuit of their
agenda in the North East.
He said the small bombs were used against large
areas like markets, places of worship, large
contraction of troops and others.
“The Defence Headquarters wishes to inform
Nigerians living in the North East and any other part
of the country to lookout for Cluster Bombs
sometimes called scatter bombs, as the Nigerian
Army Engineers serving in Adamawa State have
recovered some catches of these bombs in the
contested areas in recent time.
“The military high command has discovered that the
Boko Haram terrorists in these areas have used such
lethal instruments over time to push their callous
terrorist cause. For easy identification, it is important
to note that cluster bombs are bombs that house
submunitions, that is, smaller explosives contained in
individual cases.
“These bombs are used against large areas containing
many targets, such as columns of vehicles,
marketplaces, places of worship or large troop
concentration as the case may be.
“Some cluster bombs carry several hundred of very
small explosives wrapped in a metal container like a
pot while others carry larger submunitions that can
find specific targets such as tanks. Some of these
submunitions do not blow up immediately, but
remain behind and act as landmines.
“This can be an acceptable explanation for the
recovery of catches of these bombs by Nigerian Army
Engineers in the area.”
He urged the members of the public to be conscious
of such equipment that could be concealed in places
by the terrorists to destroy lives and property in the
society.
He advised the members of the public to report such
deadly materials if sighted to security agencies for
immediate action.
He said that the terrorists who had become
frustrated and desperate could use anything in the
pursuit of their mission
He appealed to the members of the public to
cooperate with the security agencies by volunteering
timely information.
“The general publics is hereby requested to be wary
of such concealed dangerous equipment now being
used by the terrorist elements to cause havoc to both
innocent lives and property.
“The public is also advised to report such objects/
materials if seen to security agencies for prompt
action. The terrorists are desperate and frustrated
and could use any cruel instrument to actualise their
evil intention.
“Members of the public are hereby urged to continue
to cooperate with the security agencies by giving
timely information to secure our great country.”
Falae: Yoruba Leaders Threaten Secession from Nigeria
The recent abduction of one of the foremost Yoruba
leaders and ex-Secretary to the Government of the
Federation, Chief Olu Falae, by suspected Fulani
herdsmen took a turn for the worse on Thursday as
prominent leaders threatened secession from the
entity called Nigeria.
Their grouse ranges from the abduction of Falae and
the wanton destruction of his farmland to the need
for a serious restructuring of Nigeria to reflect true
federalism.
“If we do not see any step in this direction within a
reasonable time, the Yoruba may reconsider their
place in a union that cannot protect them and would
not allow them to protect themselves and use all
legitimate and peaceful means to attain self-
determination,” part of the communiqué issued at
the end of the meetings said.
DETAILS LATER
Rupert Murdoch apologizes for 'real black President' tweet
New York - The founder of the global News Corp.
media empire, Rupert Murdoch, issued an apology
Thursday after he faced social media backlash
following his suggestion that President Barack
Obama isn't a "real black President."
Also read: Rihanna opens up to Vanity Fair
about Chris Brown
Murdoch was praising Republican presidential
candidate Ben Carson and his wife on Twitter on
Wednesday when he wrote: "Ben and Candy Carson
terrific. What about a real black President who can
properly address the racial divide?"
He also recommended a New York magazine article
asking whether Obama has done enough for the
African-American community.
Murdoch, who founded Fox News Channel,
apologized Thursday and tweeted that he
"personally find(s) both men charming."
The 84-year-old Murdoch has praised Carson on
Twitter before, calling him "irreproachable on
background, achievements, character, vision."
- AP
After Obama apology, medical charity presses probe request
Kabul - A day after President Barack Obama
apologized for a tragic U.S. airstrike that killed at
least 22 people at a hospital run by Doctors Without
Borders in northern Afghanistan, the medical
charity said Thursday it is continuing to press its
demand for an independent investigation of the
incident.
The Oct. 3 airstrike took place as Afghan forces
were fighting to retake the strategic northern city
of Kunduz, which was overrun and briefly held last
week by the Taliban. The insurgents, who have been
massing around the city for months, launched a
multi-pronged attack that took authorities by
surprise.
Also read: Islamic State kills three Assyrian
Christian captives - activists
Obama on Wednesday apologized to the
organization and said the U.S. would examine
military procedures to look for better ways to
prevent such incidents.
But scarce details on the erroneous strike have only
fueled growing condemnation by MSF, as the charity
is known under its French acronym, and other aid
groups. Along with a dozen hospital staffers, 10
patients were also killed in the strike, which is likely
to complicate delicate U.S. efforts in Afghanistan.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday in Kabul, MSF's
general director, Christopher Stokes, reiterated the
group's demand for the probe, saying it would be
important and a precedent for non-government
organizations working in conflict zones worldwide.
Stokes said MSF wanted the Swiss-based
International Humanitarian Fact-Finding
Commission which is made up of diplomats, legal
experts, doctors and some former military officials
from nine European countries, including Britain and
Russia "to get the facts of what happened, the
truth."
Created after the Gulf War in 1991, the IHFFC has
never deployed a fact-finding mission.
Stokes said MSF a Nobel Peace Prize-winning
organization that provides medical aid in conflict
zones is awaiting responses to letters sent Tuesday
to 76 countries that signed the additional protocol
to the Geneva Conventions, asking to mobilize the
15-member commission.
For the IHFFC to be mobilized, a single country
would have to call for the fact-finding mission, and
the U.S. and Afghanistan which are not signatories
must also give their consent.
"It would show a distinct lack of courage if none of
the 76 signatories come forward," Stokes said.
On the ground in Kunduz, the MSF hospital was no
longer operational, putting a severe burden on the
city. Of the 105 patients who were there at the
time of the airstrike, nine have yet to be accounted
for; and of a total of 461 staff, 24 are still missing,
said Guilhem Molinie, MSF's representative in
Afghanistan.
MSF believes there are still 24 bodies in the debris
of the building, he added. Three children among
the 10 patients who perished were members of the
same family, admitted the night before the
bombing after their car came under fire, Molinie
added.
Government forces continued to battle Thursday to
clear insurgents from Kunduz areas. Humanitarian
supplies were still not reaching the city in adequate
quantities, according to Sarwar Hussaini, a
provincial police spokesman. Police were helping
with some food distribution, he added.
House-to-house searches are continuing as securing
forces seek to eliminate remaining pockets of
insurgents hidden in the city, said provincial police
chief Mohammad Qasim Janghalbagh. He said
searches had led to the arrest on Thursday of 13
armed Taliban.
Some roads into Kunduz have reopened but the
Taliban have been hijacking trucks delivering food
and medicines, said civil society activist Zabihullah
Majidi. He said medicines purchased with money
raised by civil society groups have been destroyed
by Taliban on the road from Balkh province, while
150 cartons made it through.
The U.N.'s office in Kabul said Thursday that the
humanitarian situation in Kunduz is deteriorating,
with many residents lacking "access to food and
water." There were conflicting reports on whether
the airport, the scene of fierce battles when Taliban
overran the city, was open.
According to U.N. estimates, there were up to
150,000 people remaining in Kunduz, a city with a
population of 300,000.
- AP
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