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Presenters Port Hartcourt Sope
Presenters Port Hartcourt Sope
| INEC to Release Elections Timetable Next Week |
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Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, Maurice Iwu, says the comprehensive time-table for the forthcoming general elections will be out next Tuesday. He spoke at the National Assembly yesterday where he met with Senate President, David Mark, on preparation for the elections. He said voters’ registration would hold between June and July. According to Prof. Iwu, INEC had set-up strategic centres in Jigawa, Ogun and Abia states to serve as data base for the registration of voters across the country. In his response, Senator Mark assured that National Assembly would facilitate the Electoral Reform program in order to ensure credibility in the forthcoming general elections. He said reform had become imperative in view of the grey areas in the conduct of elections in the country in the past. The Senate President said the voters’ registration should be a continuous exercise instead of a periodic arrangement. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Meanwhile, Senate has passed a motion, excluding former military heads of states, including Ernest Shonekan as beneficiaries of a bill for remuneration of former Nigerian leaders. The Upper Chamber passed the bill for an Act to provide remuneration for former presidents, heads of federal legislative houses and chief justices of the federation. Announcing the passage of the bill, Senate President David Mark said the bill was exhaustively discussed. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Federal Government says it is committed to repositioning National Youth Service Corps for effective service delivery. Acting President Goodluck Jonathan said this yesterday at the swearing-in ceremony of the 2010 Batch `A’ corps members at the NYSC orientation camp in Kubwa, Abuja. Dr. Jonathan said the NYSC was serving as an effective vehicle for national integration and youth mobilization. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Meanwhile, 902 of the 1,202 corps members deployed to Plateau for the Batch `A’ 2010 service were yesterday sworn-in at the Jos Temporary Orientation Camp. Addressing the members, Governor Jonah Jang commended the rare patriotism expressed by them in view of recent happenings in the state. Represented by the Chairman, State NYSC Governing Board, James Bakfur, Governor Jang assured the corps members of maximum security and peaceful service during their stay. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: However, Federal Government has been urged to investigate allegation made by Governor Jang, that military authorities should be held responsible for the recent crisis in the state. Afenifere Group Secretary General, Yinka Odumakin, said the governor had claimed that he informed the army commander of imminent breach of peace, but nothing was done to stop it. Mr Odumakin told correspondent, Ijeoma Okoye that government should also make public reports of panels set up to investigate previous carnage. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: In a related development, General Officer Commanding, 3rd Armored Division, Saleh Maina, has denied allegations that officials of the State government contacted him before the crisis. Maj.-Gen. Maina said no government official called him prior to the killings the three villages, adding that his men only acted on the text messages received concerning the violence. However, he admitted receiving text messages that some people were about to strike. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: A Lagos lawyer, Tunde Kolawole has thrown his weight behind the People Democratic Party’s initiative, to build a permanent secretariat to enable it discharge its role. Barrister Kolawole told correspondent Arinola Isioye, that a dominant structure is a necessity for the continuous existence of any political party in the drive for democracy. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Governors elected on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party have agreed that the party must refuse pressure to throw open the party‘s presidential primary to the six geo-political zones. The governors said the party‘s flag bearer would come from either of the three zones in the North. Sources close to the meeting said the governors were also pushing for an early convention where the party‘s presidential candidate would emerge. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has dismissed a suit filed by the former Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nasir el-Rufai, The suit is seeking to quash the report of the Joint Senate Committee on FCT and Housing which indicted him of gross abuse of office as a minister. Justice Garba Umar held that the cause of action arose outside the statute period, adding that the applicant cannot invoke his rights. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Morocco says it will take a tough line on proselytism, seeking converts from another religion - two days after it expelled 20 Christian workers. Communications Minister Khalid Naciri warned that the government would be "severe with all those who play with religious values". Religious freedom is guaranteed under Moroccan law but proselytism is banned. Some Christian groups claim the authorities are deliberately trying to restrict their work in the country. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Sebastian Pinera has been sworn in as president of Chile, minutes after it was hit by the largest aftershock since last month's devastating earthquake. The 6.9-magnitude tremor was centered in O'Higgins Region, some 140km south of the city of Valparaiso, where the inauguration ceremony took place. Mr Pinera presidency ends two decades of left-wing rule in Chile. The tycoon not only faces the challenge of reconstruction, but takes over from the highly popular Michelle Bachelet, who was the country's first woman president. : : : BUSINESS : : : Acting President Goodluck Jonathan says LNG Japan Corporation’s decision to participate in the development of the Brass LNG project was a welcome development. Dr. Jonathan said the Brass project, expected to take off as soon as possible, would be a major source of income and employment generation for the country. He said the project will create direct and indirect employment, and take many more unemployed people off the streets. : : : ENTERTAINMENT : : : National Film and Video Censors Board has revoked 18 of the 61 licences it granted film distribution companies. NFVCB boss, Emeka Mba said the affected companies did not meet set criteria. However, Mr Mba said if they perfect their documentation, they will be re-licensed. He said people were free to make and distribute films, but that they must follow due process in the interest of national security. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Performing Musicians’ Employers’ Association of Nigeria has signed an agreement with NIPOST for the distribution of musical works in Nigeria. PMAN President, Dele Abiodun, expressed the hope that the development would reduce piracy and facilitate distribution of musical works. He said with the signing of the Joint Venture Agreement between PMAN and NIPOST, commercial works will leave no vacuum for illegal dealers to fill. : : : SPORTS : : : A former junior international Peter Ogaba is excited at the choice of Lars Lagerback as the new coach of the Super Eagles. He said the Swede will transform the squad ahead of the 2010 World Cup. The Canada ‘87 Golden Eaglets member however expressed fears for the coach‘s ability to perform well in South Africa just few months before the Mundial. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Ivory Coast and Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has been named African Footballer of the Year. Drogba scored five goals as Ivory Coast qualified for the 2010 World Cup and scored for Chelsea in the FA Cup final. Chelsea team-mate and Michael Essien and Cameroon forward Samuel Eto'o were also shortlisted for the award. |