National
Compels Ajero to Step Down over Integrity—Group Urges NLC Leadership
The Democracy Watch Initiative (DWI) has called on the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to compel its president, Joe Ajaero, to step down over partisanship and a lack of integrity.
The group’s National Coordinator, Muhammed Sanusi, in a statement shared with journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, said NLC leadership should compel Ajero to step down immediately and allow for a thorough and impartial investigation into allegations of corruption and bias.
“We believe that only through the removal of individuals who have lost the trust and confidence of their constituents can the NLC begin to rebuild its credibility and effectively represent the interests of Nigerian workers.
“We call on the NLC to address these serious allegations and take immediate steps to restore the trust and confidence of Nigerian workers in the organization.
“The DWI stands ready to work with the NLC in addressing the root causes of economic hardship and advocating for the rights of all workers, regardless of region or ethnicity.
The Civil Society Coalitions stand in solidarity with Nigerian workers and support their right to fair and just labor practices.
Speaking further, he said DWI cannot sit idly by while the very organization supposedly established to protect the rights of workers is failing in its mandate due to corrupt and biased leadership.
He said, “The President of the NLC has been accused of engaging in corrupt practices that have undermined the credibility of the organization and compromised its ability to advocate for workers’ rights.
“The partisan bias displayed by the President further exacerbates the division within the organization and hinders its ability to effectively represent all Nigerian workers.”
A total of 92 visually impaired candidates participated in the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME) conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) at the Kano centre.
Prof. Muhammad Yahuza-Bello, JAMB Coordinator for the Kano centre, made the announcement while monitoring the exercise on Monday.
The examination took place at the School of Continuing Education, Bayero University Kano (BUK), under the JAMB Equal Opportunity Group (JEOG) initiative for candidates with special needs.
Yahuza-Bello, a former vice-chancellor of BUK, explained that the 92 candidates were drawn from Kano, Jigawa, Katsina, Zamfara, and Kaduna States.
He added that among the candidates, two had Down syndrome, while two others had autism.
The candidates, both male and female, were provided with specialized gadgets such as typewriters, braille machines, slates, styluses, and paper to facilitate their participation in the exams.
The coordinator also said over 500 candidates with special needs-ranging from visual impairments and albinism to Down syndrome and autism-had registered to take the exam at 11 centres across the country.
He said, unlike regular Computer-Based Testing (CBT) centres where candidates interact with screens and keyboards, special needs candidates benefit from adaptive materials to eliminate barriers to education.
Since its introduction in 2017, JEOG has seen positive results, with an increasing number of special needs candidates gaining admission into tertiary institutions.
Yahuza-Bello pointed out that while approximately 25% of regular candidates gain admission, over 33% of special needs candidates are successful in securing placements.
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National
Court Approves Federal Government’s Request to Protect Witness Identities in Nnamdi Kanu Trial
A federal high court in Abuja has authorized the federal government’s request to keep the identities of witnesses in the trial of Nnamdi Kanu confidential.
Kanu, who leads the banned Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has been held by the Department of State Services (DSS) since 2021 on charges of terrorism and treasonable felony.
On Tuesday, prosecution attorney Adegboyega Awomolo informed the court that he had submitted an ex parte application on April 10 to safeguard the identities of the witnesses. He requested that the court provide screens and masks to ensure their anonymity.
“The purpose of this request is to ensure the safety and security of state officers who will serve as witnesses,” he stated.
Kanu Agabi, the defendant’s counsel, did not contest the application.
The trial is underway, with the first witness, a DSS operative, already called to testify.
Kanu was re-arraigned on March 21 before Judge James Omotosho of the federal high court in Abuja.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested Aisha Achimugu.
The managing director and chief executive officer (CEO) of Felak Concept Group was arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
Achimugu was taken in around 5am on Tuesday after arriving in Nigeria from London.
More to follow…