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National Assembly Fails To Provide Journalists with ID Cards After 10 Years
The National Assembly (NASS) has been unable to print Identity Cards (ID) for journalists covering the parliament, according to LEADERSHIP reports.
The last ID cards were issued during the tenure of Senator David Mark as Senate President and Salisu Maikasuwa as the clerk to the National Assembly.
During the leadership of Sen Abubakar Bukola Saraki as Senate President (2015-2019) and Mohammed Sani-Omolori as clerk to the national assembly, journalists were asked to undergo a capturing process after their ID cards expired, following the necessary documents and screening.
“Only a few journalists were captured, while others either used their expired ID cards or papers signed by the Sergeant-at-Arms and the director of information to gain access to the national assembly,” a journalist familiar with the coverage of the national assembly said.
Many journalists faced harassment from some members of the Sergeant-at-Arms, who often demanded money before allowing entrance due to expired ID cards or outdated papers.
When Senate President Ahmad Lawan assumed the Chairmanship of the National Assembly in 2019-2023, accompanied by Olatunde Ojo as the clerk to the national assembly, journalists and media houses covering the National Assembly were required to undergo a fresh accreditation process.
This process included providing a certificate of incorporation and a copy of the organization’s income tax return for the last two years.
Furthermore, newspaper houses were required to demonstrate evidence of circulating at least 40,000 copies daily.
Other requirements included proof of incorporation, membership in professional bodies, a code of certification from the National Library, and proof of membership in the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) with a registration number, despite conflicting with the constitutional provision of the right of association.
Despite the stringent accreditation requirements, media houses and journalists submitted the necessary documents to the information department of the National Assembly. However, no printed ID cards were given, only papers signed by the Sergeant-at-Arms and the director of information with a lifespan of either six or nine months.
Under the leadership of Senate President Godswill Akpabio as the Chairman of the national assembly and Magaji Tambawal as the clerk to the National Assembly, journalists were called for a fresh accreditation process.
However, no ID cards were issued, only papers signed by the Sergeant-at-Arms and the Director of information were given to some journalists.
Even though some journalists passed the accreditation process and had their files cleared at the director of information office, they have not yet received the necessary papers for access to the national assembly complex.
A journalist who has covered the national assembly for over 15 years expressed frustration, stating, “That’s what we’ve been facing. Year-in-year-out we keep supplying data at the information department for fresh accreditation, but only papers are given to us. Other people, including national assembly staff, lawmakers, legislative aides, and commercial center workers, always receive ID cards while journalists are left at the mercy of overzealous Sergeant-at-Arms at the gate. The national assembly management needs to provide printed identity cards to journalists who have provided every document for accreditation and have had a file opened for them. They should be called for capturing and not given papers that can easily get lost or damaged.”
While the national assembly bureaucracy has not provided a reason for the delay in issuing ID cards to journalists after 10 years, concerns have been raised regarding the utilization of funds allocated for ID cards for workers fulfilling their legitimate duties in the national assembly.
Birma Shuaibu Maina, the Secretary of Human Resources and Staff Development at the National Assembly, has urged all staff to display their ID cards for easy identification.
Maina, writing on behalf of the Clerk to the National Assembly, Magaji Tambawal, stated that all staff members should always display their ID cards following an incident involving Dr. John Nnnaji – Clerk, Senate Committee on Petroleum (Upstream), Comrade M. C. Odo, and some DSS Personnel at the National Assembly Complex on Friday, 17th May, 2024.
Maina emphasized that the top management of the National Assembly is aware of the incident and has taken steps to address it.
He stated, “The Clerk to the National Assembly and the Top Management Team visited Comrade Odo at the National Assembly Clinic and immediately called for an emergency meeting between the Management, Security Personnel, and PASAN officials. During this meeting, the unfortunate incident was discussed and unanimously resolved. The resolutions included working in harmony with the Sergeant-At-Arms, ensuring civil behaviour by all security operatives within the National Assembly Complex, and requiring all staff members to display their ID cards for easy identification.”
Maina appealed to staff members to remain calm, peaceful, and law-abiding, assuring them that the situation is under control following the incident involving the brutalization of some National Assembly staff who were unable to show their ID cards to security agents last Friday.
The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has withdrawn the invitation extended to the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi.
The police chief, however, directed the Kano State command of the force to obtain the monarch’s statement in the State regarding the incident.
Egbetokun, who gave the directive through the spokesman of the police, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said the withdrawal became imperative following the intervention of some stakeholders in the country.
The top cop also said his resolve was in line with the police’s commitment to ensuring that policing actions are not politicized or misinterpreted.
The Inspire Her Conference & Awards 2025, set to take place in Abuja on 17th April, promises to be a celebration of female leadership, resilience, and achievement across Africa.
The event will be led by the Honourable Minister for Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, and the Honourable Minister for State FCT, Dr. Mariya Mahmud, alongside other influential women leaders.
The conference and awards, organised by the Inspiring Youths Africa Initiative & Magazine and Rest Logic Nigeria, will honour a diverse group of exceptional women for their contributions to society and leadership.
Among the distinguished recipients of the Inspire Her Award are Halima Buba, Chief Executive Officer of Sun Trust Bank; Hajiya Umma Getso, the 2019 Vice Presidential Candidate of the Young Progressive Party (YPP); Hon. Stella Okotete, Executive Director of NEXIM Bank; and Engr. Fatima Umar Farouk, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Women Affairs.
The conference will also highlight the achievements of other accomplished female leaders, aiming to inspire women across the continent and encourage resilience, inclusion, and progress.
With the theme “Accelerate Action: Building Resilience,” the conference will address key issues such as gender equality, leadership inclusion, human capital development, work-life balance, and poverty eradication.
In addition to the award ceremony, the event will feature keynote speeches, panel discussions, workshops, and interactive sessions, creating a platform for dialogue on the challenges and opportunities facing African women today.
Attendees will have the chance to engage with top female leaders from both corporate and private sectors, share ideas, and explore potential solutions to enhance women’s roles in leadership and societal progress.
Amb. Jeremiah Agala, Executive Director of the Inspiring Youths Africa Initiative, and Co-Convener Dr. Joy Franklyn Ekemezie, emphasised that the conference would highlight the excellence, hard work, and resilience of African and Nigerian women.
“This year’s conference will feature the Inspire Her Fire Chat, a new addition designed to provide deeper insights into the journeys of our honourees and inspire the next generation of women leaders,” Agala said.
The event, which is expected to attract over 1,000 participants, will take place at the prestigious Nicon Luxury Hotels in Abuja, with a diverse audience that includes female youth leaders, students, women’s organisations, decision-makers, and the international community.
With a limited number of slots available, organisers are urging those interested to register early, as admission is strictly by registration.
The conference promises to be a powerful event, one that will not only celebrate the success of African women but also create pathways for future empowerment and leadership.
Early Sunday, a missile barrage targeted the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, injuring at least three individuals and igniting multiple fires, according to the city’s mayor. This attack occurred just two days after a Russian strike in President Volodymyr Zelensky’s hometown resulted in the deaths of 18 people.
Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported that emergency services were dispatched to two districts within Kyiv, while the Ukrainian air force confirmed that missiles had penetrated the northern Chernihiv region.
“Explosions have been reported in the capital, and air defense systems are currently engaged,” Klitschko stated on Telegram. He urged residents to seek shelter, warning, “The missile assault on Kyiv persists.”
So far, three injuries have been recorded, with fires erupting in non-residential structures and damage inflicted on eight vehicles.
This onslaught coincides with U.S. President Donald Trump advocating for a partial ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, over three years into Moscow’s extensive invasion, while also seeking to mend relations with the Kremlin.
Poland’s military announced that it, along with allied forces, had taken to the skies in response to Russian strikes near the western Ukrainian border, with ground-based air defense systems on high alert.
“Due to the heightened activity of long-range Russian aviation targeting locations within western Ukraine, Polish and allied aircraft operations in our airspace have commenced,” stated its operational command on X. “These measures are intended to ensure security in regions bordering the threatened zones.”
On Sunday, Russia’s defense ministry claimed that its air defense units had intercepted and destroyed 11 Ukrainian drones.
**Zelensky Critiques U.S. Response**
On Saturday, President Zelensky criticized the U.S. embassy for what he termed a “weak” statement that failed to hold Russia accountable for the recent deadly missile strike on his hometown of Kryvyi Rig.
The missile impacted a residential area near a children’s playground in central Ukraine, resulting in the tragic deaths of nine children, aged between three and 17. In a heartfelt social media post, Zelensky called out the U.S. embassy for its reluctance to name Russia as the aggressor.
“Regrettably, the American embassy’s response is surprisingly disappointing: such a powerful nation, yet such a feeble reaction,” Zelensky remarked. “They hesitate to even mention ‘Russian’ when discussing the missile that claimed the lives of children.”
Zelensky’s remarks followed a post by U.S. Ambassador Bridget Brink on X, expressing horror over the missile strike near a playground and restaurant. In his evening address, Zelensky emphasized, “It is both incorrect and perilous to remain silent about the fact that it is Russia perpetrating these crimes against children with ballistic missiles. This only emboldens the perpetrators in Moscow to continue their aggression and disregard diplomatic solutions.”
The president, who hails from Kryvyi Rig, where the pre-war population was approximately 600,000, conveyed his condolences and called for a three-day mourning period on April 7, 8, and 9.
“This is nothing short of a mass murder of civilians,” stated Oleksandr Vilkul, head of the Kryvyi Rig military administration.
Images shared by rescue services depicted several victims, with one body found near a playground swing. In response, Russia’s defense ministry claimed it executed a “precision strike” against a meeting of military commanders and Western instructors in the area. The Ukrainian army’s General Staff countered that Moscow was attempting to obscure its heinous actions and disseminating false information, labeling Russia’s actions as “war crimes.”
While Trump continues to encourage both sides to pursue a ceasefire, his administration has struggled to mediate a mutually acceptable agreement. Zelensky remarked that the missile attack underscored Russia’s lack of interest in halting its full-scale invasion.
The Ukrainian president reported “significant progress” following discussions with British and French military leaders in Kyiv on Friday. They explored plans for a “reassurance” force from London and Paris to be deployed to Ukraine if a resolution to the conflict is achieved.
Zelensky shared on social media that the meeting with British Chief of the Defence Staff Tony Radakin and French counterpart Thierry Burkhard yielded “the initial details on how the security contingent of partners can be deployed.” This initiative represents one of the latest efforts by European leaders to coordinate a response after Trump initiated direct negotiations with the Kremlin, sidelining them.