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Group task Nigeria’s first lady on women empowerment scheme
By Israel Bulus, Kaduna
Nigeria First Leadership Advocacy Initiative ( NFLAI) has called on Nigeria’s First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu to initiate a new sustainable National Women Empowerment Project which will be replicated across the 36 States and 774 Local Government Areas of Nigeria.
Speaking during a two day Media and Sensitization Advocacy Program which the group held in Abuja and Kafanchan, the leader of the group, Hon Jonah Bonet (Pomposiya) reiterates the group’s commitment towards women liberation and empowerment as key drivers to having a peaceful, prosperous and economic vibrant society.
According to him, women influence in the Nigerian society cannot be overstated, as mothers, they posses unique qualities that make them essential in shaping the future of any nation.
” Women, are emotionally sympathetic, kind, hospitable, caring, and accommodating, stressing with the necessary support and investment from the Government, they have the potential to bring about significant change in our society and contribute to raising responsible and God-fearing children.
” The family, which is the first and most important agent of social change, must be given the attention it deserves for our nation to experience peace, unity, and development.”
Bonet charged the First Lady as the mother of the nation to take up this challenge by initiating a new ‘ National Women Empowerment Project’ (NAWEP) by building Skills Acquisition Centers for women in all the 774 Local Government Areas of the nation.
He called on the First Lady to ensure that the project is pushed down to the grassroots through the offices of other First Ladies of the States and the Local Government Councils.
Bonet reemphasize the need for the National Assembly to swiftly initiate a bill that would officially and constitutionally acknowledge the office of the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as well as the First Ladies of each state and local government council.
“ As a group, we have spent a great deal of time thoroughly examining the various issues facing our country and identifying potential solutions, noting upon careful consideration, we are of the opinion that it is crucial for the National Assembly to introduce a bill that would officially acknowledge the office of the First Lady, as well as the First Ladies of each State and Local Government Areas/Councils.
” With the actualization of the Local Government Autonomy which received judicial backing by the Supreme Court in the most recent judgement of Attorney General of the Federation, Attorney General of Abia State & Ors., on 11th July 2024, the First Lady of Nigeria can be empowered alongside the wives of the state Governors and Local Government Chairmen to come up with distinctive and aggressive National Women Empowerment Project that will be carried out nationally and be replicated in all the 36 states of the federation and the Local Government Areas.”
The group appreciates the contribution of women to the growth and development of this country most especially those women who are doing well in their chosen careers and have equally extended a helping hand to other women who are less privileged.
Earlier, a founding member of the group, Comrd. Tunde Afolabi reiterated the group’s commitment in advocating for the emancipation of women in the society, stressing the need for women to champion a new agenda of reviving family values in the society.
” As concerned citizens, we urge every parent to take responsibility for raising their children with strong moral values and a sense of duty towards the nation, saying only then can we begin to pave a
brighter future for our country and leave a positive legacy for our children to inherit.” Afolabi stated.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared four individuals wanted over the alleged fraud perpetrated on crypto bridge exchange (CBEX), a trading platform.
The four suspects are Adefowora Olanipekun, Adefowora Oluwanisola, Emmanuel Uko, and Seyi Oloyede.
More to follow…
The Oodua Integrity Group, a Nigerian civil society organisation, has called on Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun to investigate and arrest an alleged gun runner, land grabber,popularly called then insert Lucky Blessings Abuah aka bullets of Achala Ibusa village operating in Asaba and Ibuzor, Delta State, accusing him of orchestrating criminal activities with the aid of rogue police officers.
Tosin Olaoluwa, the group’s South-South coordinator, made the appeal following intelligence gathered from concerned residents.
The suspect, identified as Achala Ibusa but popularly known as “Bullet,” is accused of running a network involving illegal arms trafficking, land grabbing, and cult-related activities.
Olaoluwa claimed Bullet operates with the protection of police officers from Rivers State, in violation of regulations prohibiting officers from working outside their command without approval.
According to the group, four AK-47 rifles were recently discovered hidden in a house in Ibuzor.
Two mobile police officers guarding the property reportedly distanced themselves from the find, raising suspicions of their involvement with Bullet, who is allegedly a leader of the Viking cult.
The Oodua Integrity Group further alleged that an assistant commissioner of police is complicit in Bullet’s activities.
The group highlighted that up to 10 mobile police officers are attached to Bullet, despite IGP Egbetokun’s recent directive to withdraw such personnel from individuals not legally entitled to their services.
“We urge the IGP to take immediate action to arrest the culprit in the interest of the general public,” Olaoluwa said, describing Bullet as a miscreant exploiting government security agents to perpetrate crimes.
In a separate incident, the group claimed that security agents from an agency in Abuja, acting on intelligence, were prevented from arresting Bullet by his police escorts.
The officers, reportedly from Rivers State, allegedly used tear gas and fired shots to obstruct the operation.
The Oodua Integrity Group warned that Bullet’s activities, including stockpiling AK-47s and other weapons in Asaba and Ibuzor, pose a significant threat to public safety.
They called for a thorough investigation into the allegations and the immediate apprehension of those involved.
The Nigeria Police Force has yet to respond to the allegations. Efforts to reach a spokesperson for comment were unsuccessful at the time of reporting.
The competition and consumer protection tribunal has upheld the $220 million fine imposed on Meta Platforms Incorporated by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).
In a statement on Friday by Ondaje Ijagwu, the agency’s director for corporate affairs, FCCPC said the tribunal also awarded $35,000 to the commission as the cost of investigation.
On July 19, 2024, FCCPC imposed a fine of $220 million on Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram, for multiple data privacy violations.
However, Meta said it would appeal the fine.
The case stemmed from a 38-month joint investigation by the FCCPC and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) into the privacy practices and consumer data policies of WhatsApp and Meta.
Delivering judgment on Thursday in Abuja, the tribunal led by Thomas Okosun ruled that the FCCPC acted within its constitutional and statutory powers in investigating and sanctioning the companies for alleged anti-competitive and exploitative practices.
The tribunal dismissed the appeals filed by Meta and WhatsApp, which challenged the legal basis of the commission’s findings and orders.
Instead, it upheld the commission’s position on nearly all contested issues.
Gbolahan Elias (SAN) led WhatsApp and Meta’s legal teams, while Babatunde Irukera led the FCCPC’s legal team.
According to the statement, both teams had made their final arguments on behalf of their respective clients on January 28.
‘FCCPC ADHERED TO DUE PROCESS’
The tribunal, in its ruling, found that the FCCPC adhered to due process and acted within the law.
It resolved issues one to seven primarily in favour of the commission.
“The Tribunal resolved Issues 1 to 7 largely in favour of the FCCPC, dismissing the appellants’ objections to the Commission’s findings, orders, and legal competence,” the statement reads.
“One of the central issues (Issue 3), which alleged a breach of fair hearing, was decided in favour of the Commission, with the Tribunal affirming that the FCCPC fully discharged its quasi-judicial responsibilities by affording the appellants ample opportunity to respond.
“The Tribunal found no violation of constitutional due process.
“On Issue 4, which questioned the Commission’s powers in data protection and privacy, the Tribunal held that the FCCPC acted within its statutory mandate, reaffirming its authority under Section 104 of the FCCPA to regulate competition and consumer protection even in regulated industries.
“On Issue 5, which challenged the Commission’s findings regarding Meta’s privacy policies, the tribunal also resolved in the FCCPC’s favour.
“The Tribunal found no error in the Commission’s conclusions and held that the privacy policy in question did, in fact, offend Nigerian law.
“While issue 7 was largely resolved in favour of the commission, the tribunal set aside Order 7 of the commission’s final order, stating that it lacked sufficient legal basis.”
Commenting on the judgment, Tunji Bello, executive vice chairman (EVC) and chief executive officer (CEO) of the FCCPC, welcomed the ruling, describing it as a landmark judgment reinforcing the commission’s mandate to protect consumers and ensure fair market practices.
He commended the commission’s legal team for their diligence.
Bello reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to enforcing the provisions of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) in line with President Bola Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda.