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2023: INEC tasks council chairmen, other stakeholders on PVCs collection
2023: INEC tasks council chairmen, other stakeholders on PVCs collection
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has urged local government chairmen, leaders of political parties, traditional and religious rulers, to ensure that owners of uncollected Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) collect them before 2023 general elections.
Dr Mutiu Agboke, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Oyo State, made the plea in Saki, at a forum organised for all stakeholders in Oke-Ogun zone.
Agboke said it has become imperative for stakeholders in the nation’s electoral process to play active roles that would enhance the growth of democracy.
According to him, there is need for the stakeholders, especially local government chairmen, who are closer to the people at the grassroots, to sensitise their people on the importance of PVCs in electoral processes.
He said active participation of every eligible voters during general elections remains civic responsibility of everyone, adding, “voting is a weapon that every electorate has to elect good leaders or change bad leaders”.
Agboke assured the electorate that their votes would count in the forthcoming elections.
He said INEC would continue to ensure that no candidate without majority of electorate votes wins election.
The electoral commissioner urged political parties and electorate not to involve in votes buying and selling.
Hd warned that the new electoral law has stipulated two years imprisonment and additional fine of N500,000 against anyone caught engaging in votes buying/selling.
The REC, who decried low rate of PVCs collection in the state, said that 754, 704 PVCs still remained uncollected in the state, while owners of 111, 211 PVCs, of the total uncollected, reside in Oke-Ogun zone.
He urged the traditional rulers in the zone to use their respective positions, as fathers of all, and prevail on their subjects who were yet to collect the PVCs to do so.
Agboke said this would enable the affected electorate to vote for their favourite candidates during the 2023 general elections.
He, also called on leaders of political parties and religions in the zone to sensitise their members and congregations respectively on why they should have voter card before the next elections.
The electoral commissioner intimated the gatherings that INEC had introduced the use of Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) into the electoral process.
According to him, BVAS has replaced the Smart Card Reader and it does three major things on the election day.
“It is for verification of eligible voters, for authentication electronically of voters and loading of individual polling units’ results into the INEC Result Viewing Portal, called IReV.
“The use of BVAS will eventually guarantee the credibility of voters’ accreditation by preventing incident of multiple voting or use of stolen PVCs to vote and use of incident form is eliminated,” He said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
reports that Oke-Ogun zone is made up of 10 local government areas namely: Atisbo, Irepodun, Iseyin, Itesiwaju,Iwajowa, Kajola, Olorunsogo, Oorelope, Saki West and Saki East.
NAN reports that all the chairmen of the 10 local government areas were in attendance during the stakeholders forum.
In their seperate remarks, the chairmen promised to intensify efforts toward ensuring that owners of uncollected PVCs come out to collect them from the custody of INEC.
Mr Sarafadeen Omirinde, Mrs Ramat Adeniran and Mrs Julianah Akanni, the Chairman of Saki West, Saki East and Olorunsogo Local Government areas respectively, promised to organise the stakeholders’ meeting in their respective council areas to create awareness on the collection of PVCs .
Akanni said that she would make use of town criers in all the communities in Saki East to sensitise the people on the need to collect their PVCs before election time.
Earlier, Agboke paid courtesy visit to the palace of the Saki traditional ruler, Oba Khalid Olabisi, the Okere of Saki, where he solicited the support of the traditional ruler and other community heads on the activities of the commission.
Olabisi assured the REC that he would do everything possible to ensure that the commission succeed in all its activities in Saki and other neighboring towns.
Other stakeholders that attended the meeting were representatives of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Islamic Organisation, Youths Organisation, Civil Society Organisation, security agencies in OkeOgun, including Police, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps and Immigration Service.
2023: INEC tasks council chairmen, other stakeholders on PVCs collection
Nigeria@65: FG’s programmes improving welfare of Nigerians- NOA
The National Orientation Agency (NOA), on Wednesday said that the Federal Government’s programmes and policies under President Bola Tinubu-led administration were improving the welfare of Nigerians.
Mrs Adaline Patari, the State Director of NOA, Gombe State office, stated this shortly after a road show to mark Nigeria’s 65th Independence Day anniversary in Gombe.
Patari said that programmes and policies of Tinubu-led administration had supported many Nigerians from the student’s loan to conditional cash transfer to support to small businesses amongst others.
She stated that the initiatives by the present administration had restored hope and put the country amongst serious countries pursuing better reforms to improve their economy while revamping infrastructure.
According to her, many undergraduates benefitting from the student’s loan scheme which has removed all financial hindrances impeding access to tertiary education now feel a sense of belonging.
She said that the programmes and policies of the Federal Government have benefitted many households and improved their welfare in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu.
“The reforms of the Federal Government are working and many persons are proud to be Nigerians and more persons are now trying to do the right things as Nigerians.
“People are beginning to see themselves as proud Nigerians and that confidence of being a Nigerian is being restored.
“Today, many Nigerians are benefitting from the programmes of the current administration, this means that the country is now working for them,” she said.
While acknowledging that there were still challenges that needed to be addressed, Patari said, at 65, we have made tremendous progress especially working together in peace and unity.
She urged Nigerians to continue to support Tinubu administration’s programmes towards building a better country that works for all Nigerians.
The state director said that with the necessary reforms being carried out and already yielding results in the economic, agriculture, security and other sectors, more Nigerians would be prouder to be Nigerians in the future.
“Today, the country is progressing and we are united; we are now prouder to be Nigerians and I can tell you that the labour of our heroes past, indeed is never in vain,” she added.
Commending the contributions of youths to national development, Patari urged them to have a positive mind-set towards Nigeria and to always express optimism of a better Nigeria for everyone.
Patari also lauded the renewed strength with which NOA under the Director General of the agency, Malam Lanre Issa-Onilu was being driven.
She said that government’s policies and programmes were getting more supports from Nigerians because of the constant engagements of Nigerians by the NOA nationwide.
The event also featured sensitisation of residents on Federal Government’s policies, programmes and the need for the people to support the current administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda
Nigeria@65: FG’s programmes improving welfare of Nigerians- NOA
Nigeria, European Union hold inaugural Trade and Investment Dialogue
By: Michael Mike
Senior Government officials of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the European Union (EU) have today met in Abuja to assess the vibrant economic partnership between the two parties and chart a way forward.
The inaugural Nigeria-EU Senior Officials Trade and investment Dialogue (TID) was anchored by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI), Ambassador Nura Abba Rimi, and Director of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Trade and Economic Security (DG TRADE), Ms Dora Correia,
The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investments, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, and the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot,, welcomed the launch of the Dialogue, which they said underscored the growing importance attached to trade and investment in the EU-Nigeria partnership.
This Senior Officials’ meeting marks an important step in strengthening the trade and investment partnership between the EU and Nigeria, and provided opportunity for the officials to exchange views on areas of mutual interest; address potential challenges and explore opportunities for further collaboration.
Discussions focused on a range of issues, including trade and investment policy, cooperation on market access barriers and requirements, preferential trade and investment arrangements, investment, collaboration within the World Trade Organization (WTO), regulatory measures that could impact trade and investment, and the identification of trade and investment-related development cooperation areas.
Both sides expressed their interest to continue the Dialogue, with the second TID billed to take place in Brussels, Belgium, in 2026, on a date to be jointly decided.
Nigeria, European Union hold inaugural Trade and Investment Dialogue
FG Declares Wednesday, Oct. 1 Public Holiday to Marks 65th Independence Anniversary
By: Michael Mike
The Federal Government has declared Wednesday, 1st of October as a public holiday to commemorate Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary.
The Honourable Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government, congratulated all Nigerians both at home and in the diaspora on this historic occasion.
Tunji-Ojo, in a statement by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, enjoined citizens to continue to uphold the patriotic spirit, unity, and resilience that have sustained the nation since independence in 1960.
He urged Nigerians to further keep faith in the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, which is anchored on national rebirth, economic transformation, and collective prosperity.
The Minister expressed confidence that, with the cooperation of all Nigerians, the country will continue to grow stronger in peace, progress, and development.
He wished Nigerians a happy and memorable 2025 Independence Day celebration.
FG Declares Wednesday, Oct. 1 Public Holiday to Marks 65th Independence Anniversary
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