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Democracy Improving in Nigeria, Africa despite challenges – Report
Democracy Improving in Nigeria, Africa despite challenges – Report
By: Michael Mike
The Global State of Democracy (GSoD) 2023 Report has revealed that democracy is improving in Nigeria and other African countries despite major challenges.
The report noted that countries in Africa like The Gambia and Zambia have shown that democratic consolidation is also gaining ground despite waves of unrest and military coups across the continent, especially the Sahel region.
The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance International (IDEA), Africa and West Asia Regional Office; in partnership with the Embassy of Switzerland, presented the 2023 edition of the Global State of Democracy (GSoD) Report, titled “The New Checks and Balances.” on February 8, 2024, in Addis Ababa.
According to the press statement on Thursday by the Communications Officer, International IDEA Africa and West Asia Regional Office, Mr. Sami Ahmed, key report highlights show political participation is emerging as a regional strength, with nine African countries ranking among the top 50 globally in levels of Participation.
The statement with the theme: “Emerging Strengths and Challenges: Exploring Africa’s Democratic Landscape and Institutional Transformations”, stressed that experiences in countries like Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Mozambique, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone have shown that popular movements can play a vital role as countervailing institutions when other institutions have been unable to constrain governments.
The launching of the report in Ethiopia drew participation from an array of stakeholders, including International IDEA member states, the African Union, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), United Nations agencies, diplomatic representatives, civil society organizations, research institutions, think tanks, academic bodies, election management bodies, and government officials.
International IDEA’s annual Global State of Democracy Report provides an overview of the global and regional trends related to democracy and human rights, complemented by case studies as well as a set of actionable recommendations for policy makers, governments and civil society.
“The challenges are huge in Africa and what we have seen in the Sahel over the last few years highlights the risks to democracy in the continent,” said Roba Sharamo, Regional Director Africa and West Asia Office at International IDEA. “But there are also green shoots across the region, most notably the strengthening role of civic groups and popular political movements.
The report also shows that formal countervailing institutions have a mixed record. Co-opted and weak legislatures have contrasted with judiciaries and fourth-branch institutions that have demonstrated that they can be effective checks on executive power.
The role of the African Union and the Regional Economic Communities in establishing and upholding democratic norms in Africa is underscored in the report. However, inadequate compliance by member states (including on matters as serious as reinstating a head of state or making a swift transition back to civilian rule) has shown that there is no substitute for effective democratic institutions at the domestic level.
Democracy Improving in Nigeria, Africa despite challenges – Report
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Chairman Potiskum LG commended on providing a water point to herders
Chairman Potiskum LG commended on providing a water point to herders
By: Yahaya Wakili
The executive chairman of the Potiskum local government area of Yobe state, Hon. Salisu Muktari, has been commended for providing herders of the Potiskum local government area with a water point.
The commendation was made by the National President of the Kulen Allah Cattle Rearers Association of Nigeria (KACRAN), Hon. Khalil Mohammed Bello, when he and his entourage paid him a courtesy call in his office, in continuation of the association’s community-to-community peace sensitization campaign in the state.
In addition to his previous excellent performances with regards to providing his pastoralists with water points. The executive chairman also promised to provide more water points for Potiskum local government herders in the 2025 fiscal year.
The national president called on the pastoralists in the Potiskum local government area and its environs to continue to live in peace with one another by avoiding the destruction of anybody’s farmlands.
According to Khalil Bello, the sensitization is part of the proactive measures taken by the association to prevent herder and farmer conflicts in the state and the nation in general.
The national president reinstated the need for harders not to destroy farmlands during the ongoing harvesting period and noted that pastoralists and farmers are partners in progress.
Khalil Mohammed Bello acknowledges the government’s commitment under the able leadership of His Excellency, the Executive Governor Hon. Mai Mala Buni CON, towards ending the premium crises between farmers and cattle rearers in the state.
He appreciates the warm reception and the hospitality accorded to him and members of his entourage by the executive chairman of the council, Hon. Salisu Muktari, and the people of the Potiskum local government area.
Speaking earlier, the Executive Chairman of Potiskum local government area, Hon. Salisu Muktari, assured the readiness of the local government council towards supporting the association to achieve its desired objectives.
The chairman pledged to construct more water points for pastoralists in the area and call on the leadership of the Kulen Allah Cattle Rearers Association of Nigeria (KACRAN) to identify the point where the water facilities will be constructed.
Chairman Potiskum LG commended on providing a water point to herders
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Governor Buni vows to complete all projects in Yobe
Governor Buni vows to complete all projects in Yobe
By: Yahaya Wakili
Governor Mai Mala Buni CON of Yobe state has vowed that the government would hasten the completion of all ongoing projects, initiate new ones, and ensure the timely completion of all, in fulfillment of our campaign promises.
The governor disclosed this today while signing the finance and appropriation bills into law at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Damaturu.
He assured the people of the state that this administration is committed to judicious use and investment of our resources in people-oriented programs and projects, especially education, healthcare delivery, agriculture, infrastructural development, wealth creation, and empowerment to stimulate economic growth.
“We have identified and mapped out some rich agricultural, livestock, and other natural potentials for international investment to generate employment opportunities and wealth creation, he said.
The governor drew the attention of supervising engineers attached to government projects, adding that your attachment to these projects is to protect government interests.
He revealed that the state government is implementing the #70,000 minimum wage salary structure; this means there is an increase in the wage bill and a decrease in our balance. In addition, the government employed 15 graduates from each of the 178 political wards, totaling 2,670, and provided cash support to flood victims and small- and medium-scale entrepreneurs to stimulate economic growth online with our policy of employment generation.
“This administration has instituted a strong policy of accountability and transparency in governance. Yobe state was scored as the best-performing state in transparency and accountability in Nigeria to clinch the prestigious World Bank-assisted State Fiscal Transparency, Accountability, and Sustainability (SIFTAS) award.
For the newly sworn-in Board Chairmen, the governor said you are appointed based on merit. You should, therefore, bring your wealth of experience to bear to add value in your respective organizations and the government of Yobe State in general.
The 500 beneficiaries who were trained in the production of soaps, detergents, charcoal, shoes, and disinfectants mark a significant milestone in our administration’s commitments to our recovery program by rebuilding livelihoods, strengthening economic resilience, and fostering stability for a brighter future for these communities.
He maintained that the participants equipped with skills to promote self-reliance and local entrepreneurship, and each beneficiary will receive a cash grant of #100,000 and a start-up kit to launch their business for sustainable income generation. This program empowers women and youth, who constitute 70% of beneficiaries, respectively.
Governor Buni urges the beneficiaries to make good use of this opportunity and to inspire others with your success.
Governor Buni vows to complete all projects in Yobe
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I Am Pained Over Loss of Lives in Maitama, Okija Stampedes, says Women Affairs Minister
I Am Pained Over Loss of Lives in Maitama, Okija Stampedes, says Women Affairs Minister
*says incidences avoidable
By: Michael Mike
Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has lamented the losses of lives in Maitama, Abuja and at Okija, in Anambra State during food distribution drives by private institutions aimed at supporting the people as they celebrate the festive season.
The minister expressed deep grief describing the gestures of the donors as laudable, but condemned the crowd management approaches adopted.
In a statement on Saturday by her media team, Sulaiman-Ibrahim stated that they were avoidable incidences, and prayed for the repose of their lives, and speedy recovery for those injured.
While condoling with with the FCT Minister, His Excellency Nyesom Wike and the Anambra State Governor, Professor Charles Soludo, the minister called for thorough investigations into the incidences in order to forestall future occurrences.
The minister emphasized the need for crowd assessment which involves estimating the number of recipients and planning accordingly as a pre-event measure.
She also admonished Nigerians who are planning similar distributions to choose spacious, open areas with minimal obstacles, adding that distributions should be scheduled at a time when the crowd is likely to be smaller.
The statement reads in parts : “I am deeply pained by the news of stampedes in Abuja and Okija in Anambra State today. As a mother, I understand the pain of loosing anyone in death under such horrible circumstances. I join the families and governments of the FCT and Anambra State in this distressing moments, and feels the pains of those directly affected.
“These incidences are avoidable if adequate safety measures are put in place. I hereby call on security agencies to investigate these cases in order to forestall future occurrences.
“By implementing the above measures, the risk of stampedes during food distribution would be minimized.
I Am Pained Over Loss of Lives in Maitama, Okija Stampedes, says Women Affairs Minister
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