National News
NSCDC TAKES CAMPAIGN AGAINST GBV TO SCHOOLS, HARPS ON SECURITY CONSCIOUSNESS.
NSCDC TAKES CAMPAIGN AGAINST GBV TO SCHOOLS, HARPS ON SECURITY CONSCIOUSNESS.
By: Michael Mike
As part of activities to mark this year’s International Women’s Day, the Gender Unit of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has taken sensitization campaign to schools in the FCT and its environs to bring attention to issues such as Gender-based violence, Violence Against Women and Girls, Gender Equality, Reproductive Rights and Kidnapping of School Children who undoubtedly, are future leaders of this great nation.
Speaking at different venues of the campaign, Commandant General, Ahmed Abubakar Audi, PhD, mni, said the Corps as one of the lead agencies advocating and championing the cause of women inclusiveness in the various administrative position in the Corps, is joining others across the globe on international women’s day to commemorate the cultural, political and socio-economic achievements of Nigerian women. The campaign is also to bring attention to issues of prevention and response to Gender Based Violence (GBV) cases in Nigeria.
Audi posited that although, women and girls are increasingly being recognized as more vulnerable in the society, many of them have broken the barriers and shown the world to be effective and powerful leaders in different endeavors of life.
‘’We recognize the courage, resilience, leadership, as well as the contributions and significance of women in a sustainable tomorrow and this has led to the establishment of the Special Female Squad to forestall kidnapping of school children and prevent all forms of Gender Based Violence (GBV) especially against women and young girls’’ CG said.
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Represented by the Head of Gender Unit, CSC Alao Ajet Kemi, the Commandant General further stated that” as the world celebrate women in the month of March, we all have to deliberately fight against any form of bias and stereotypes and ensure a level playing ground for the girl child to harness her God given potentials,”.
The NSCDC boss charged women, teachers and students to be security conscious, maintain 24 hours vigilance and report any strange face(s) or suspicious movement in their environment to the nearest security outpost for prompt action.
He added that, although the commissioning of the female squad has brought relative calmness to schools by repelling a number of kidnappings by bandits and restoring peace and tranquility to our schools through 24 hours patrol, there is still need to imbibe the culture of vigilance at all time.
Responding on the presentation of note books by the CG to students, the Principal of Junior Secondary school Pasele, Kuje Area Council, Adelakun John Taiwo, extolled the efforts of the Corps and pledged total support in the war against gender violence and empowerment of the girl child.
Similarly, the Principal, Africa International college Lokogoma, Mrs Lydia Abaga, described the visit as a right step in the right direction, adding that it is impactful, full of security awakening and capable of catching them young to inculcate the spirit of inclusiveness.
NSCDC TAKES CAMPAIGN AGAINST GBV TO SCHOOLS, HARPS ON SECURITY CONSCIOUSNESS.
VP Shettima Attends AU Heads of State Plenary Session
By: Our Reporter
Vice President Kashim Shettima is attending the plenary of the 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The opening session has drawn leaders from across the continent and beyond, as delegates convene to address critical issues under this year’s theme: “Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063.”
The Vice President is representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the high-level gathering.
VP Shettima Attends AU Heads of State Plenary Session
National News
Experts Warn Senate Amendment to Electoral Act May Weaken Electronic Transmission Safeguards
Experts Warn Senate Amendment to Electoral Act May Weaken Electronic Transmission Safeguards
By: Michael Mike
A coalition of electoral reform advocates, legal experts and technology specialists has warned that the proposed amendment to Clause 60(3) of Nigeria’s Electoral Act could undermine recent gains in electoral transparency if not carefully revised.
They gave support to the position of the House of Representatives over that of the Senate, stating that the lower legislative arm position on the amendment of the electoral act was a lesser devil than that of the upper chamber.
The position emerged from an Expert Round Table convened in Abuja on Friday by ActionAid Nigeria, YIAGA Africa and the Movement for the Transformation of Nigeria. The meeting brought together academics, civil society leaders, lawyers, engineers, election administrators and governance specialists to examine the implications of the National Assembly’s amendment to Clause 60(3) of the Electoral Act 2022.
At the centre of deliberations was the provision dealing with electronic transmission of election results. While the current law provides for electronic transmission, the Senate’s amendment affirms that manually signed polling unit results remain legally valid if electronic transmission fails. Participants argued that this caveat could reopen long-standing vulnerabilities in Nigeria’s electoral process.
Experts at the forum stressed that credible elections are the bedrock of democratic legitimacy and political stability. They noted that Nigeria’s democratic history has repeatedly been strained by allegations of manipulation, flawed collation processes and protracted post-election litigation. According to participants, strengthening transparency in result transmission is critical to rebuilding public confidence.
A major focus of the discussion was the role of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) in safeguarding results at polling units. Participants described electronic transmission not merely as a technological innovation but as a protective mechanism against manipulation during collation — historically considered the weakest link in Nigeria’s elections.
Technical experts at the meeting maintained that electronic transmission is largely feasible nationwide, citing data that shows approximately 98 per cent network coverage across polling units, with only about two per cent classified as connectivity blind spots. They recommended targeted infrastructure investment to address these gaps rather than reverting to manual safeguards that could compromise transparency.
Concerns were also raised about legal ambiguities in the proposed amendment. Participants observed that the Senate version does not explicitly mandate electronic transmission through BVAS, nor does it clearly outline procedures in the event of technical failure. This, they argued, could create loopholes and fuel conflicting interpretations between manual and electronically transmitted results.
Another issue highlighted was the legal status of regulations issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Many operational guidelines governing electronic transmission are contained in subsidiary regulations rather than entrenched in the Act itself, potentially weakening their enforceability in court.
The experts warned that ambiguity in the law could increase election petitions and deepen what they described as the “judicialization of politics,” where electoral outcomes are increasingly determined in courtrooms rather than at the ballot box.
Beyond the amendment, participants identified broader institutional challenges affecting electoral integrity, including perceived executive influence in appointments to INEC, vote buying, weak enforcement of electoral offences and political interference. They called for comprehensive reforms to strengthen the independence and technical capacity of the electoral body.
In their resolutions, the roundtable participants reached consensus that electronic transmission should be clearly established in law as the primary and legally binding method for transmitting election results. They expressed preference for the version passed by the House of Representatives, which does not prioritise manually signed results in cases of transmission failure, while recommending further refinements to ensure clarity.
They also urged lawmakers to incorporate key INEC regulations directly into the Electoral Act, reform judicial procedures governing election disputes for faster resolution, and invest in election technology infrastructure.
Looking ahead, the experts advocated a long-term reform agenda that could eventually include electronic voting, drawing from international best practices. They further called on the National Assembly to conduct a public hearing on the technical glitches recorded during the 2023 general elections to prevent recurrence and enhance accountability.
The meeting concluded that Nigeria’s democratic future depends on ensuring that electoral reforms strengthen — rather than dilute — safeguards designed to reflect the true will of voters. Participants pledged continued legislative engagement and public advocacy to protect the integrity of the country’s electoral framework.
Experts Warn Senate Amendment to Electoral Act May Weaken Electronic Transmission Safeguards
Wife of the Vice President of Nigeria in Ethiopia
By: Our Reporter
Wife of the Vice President of Nigeria Hajiya Nana Shettima arrived Addis Ababa With Her Husband, Senator Kashim Shettima to attend the 30th General Assembly of Organization of African First Ladies For Development (OAFLAD) while The Vice President will be attending the 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of African Union Heads of States and Government on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu
Mrs Shettima is Representing First Lady of Nigeria Senator Oluremi Tinubu CON.
The African First Ladies are expected to Focus on internal issues and advance OAFLAD’s strategic priorities.
The 30th General Assembly’s open session under the theme “Building Resilience for Women and Girls: Climate, Conflict, and Sustainable Futures will be held on the 15th of February.
Mrs Shettima who left Abuja this afternoon for Addis Ababa the Capital of Ethiopia will participate in various meetings with African First Ladies spanning for Three Days
Wife of the Vice President of Nigeria in Ethiopia
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