News
We work with ICPC to track Constituency projects of lawmakers – NOA DG

The Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) Dr Garba Abari said, Nigerian legislature is the least understood in all arms of government with it’s activities misunderstood as well.

The Director General stated this at an event to sign a partnership agreement with Hallowmace Foundation, a Non-governmental organisation to track Constituency projects of lawmakers across the country.

Represented by his Special Assistant, Mr David Akoji at the event in Abuja on Tuesday, Dr Abari revealed that the NOA has all these while been working with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) in tracking Constituency projects across the country.
He said the mandate of the National Orientation Agency which includes getting citizens to know and enlightened about government activities was broad enough, hence, the NOA was open to any willing partner that has the same bias with the agency.
He said: “The legislature is the least understood in all arms of government and as NOA, we owe responsibility to get citizens to understand what each arm of government is doing and how they are doing it and we have a liaison office at the National Assembly to track what is happening there.
“I have worked closely with the Hallowmace team and passionate about what they are doing. If you would understand why I and the Director General are passionate about it, then you will have to understand the mandate of the National Orientation Agency (NOA),
“The National Orientation Agency has a mandate to sensitize the public on government policies, programmes and activities which on this context refer to the three arms of government; the executive, the legislature and the judiciary.
“It also refer to the three levels of government, the Federal, the State and the Local Government. It is for this reason that the NOA is structured along that line in the 774 Local In the 36 States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and the headquarters here where we are seated at the moment.
“Our mandate is very broad and we are conscious of that fact and as a single agency of government, there is no way we can satisfactorily fulfill the mandate and we are always looking for value adding partnerships. Partnership that think the way we think; partnership that bring expertise to advance the work that we do at the National Orientation Agency. So it is not difficult for us to work together with Hallowmace.
“When the discussion started with Hallowmace and BudgiT that led to the partnership that we are about to sign the memorandum today, I was part of it and I discovered that it will indeed add value.
He further explained that the NOA in the course of tracking Constituency projects of lawmakers usually got the stakeholders in the community level involved to enable them take ownership of the projects.
“With regards to Constituency project tracking, the NOA had worked closely with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) especially on the issue of Constituency project tracking.
“This will leverage on our national footprint in all the Local Government and States of the Federation. This will leverage on our area of expertise in getting the people to be aware of Constituency project executed and we work closely with key stakeholders in the community and the whole idea is for community members to take ownership of Constituency projects and to appreciate what their representatives are doing through Constituency projects to protect the Constituency projects and to ensure value is delivered through those Constituency projects.
“So we have worked ICPC to develop jingles, visit the communities to talk to stakeholders.
“At the last National Legislative Conference, we got the Chairman of ICPC to present a keynote address which he honoured the invitation along other key Stakeholders.
“The foundation upon which we are doing all of these is properly strengthened and that it is not seen as Government working alone; and that there is a partnership; and that there is mutual understanding with a Non-governmental organisation and the legislature itself working towards the same goal.
We are excited than this is happening today. We know the background of BudgiT in the area of what we are doing today. Our involvement through Hallowmace in what BudgiT is doing will bring about mutual respect and understanding in all parties involved.
Responding, the founder of Hallowmace Foundation, Mr Anderson Osiebe thanked the Management of NOA for their understanding in what partnership was all about.
He lauded the virtues of Senator Biodun Olujimi and Hon. Ossai Ossai who were both present to witness the signing of partnership agreement.
He said there was need for the NOA and BudgiT to have accurate data of activities of parliamentarians, particularly their Constituency projects which the foundation would offer.
“Hallowmace started as Communication first as magazine and we felt, writing wasn’t enough, there was need to go into broadcasting by bringing lawmakers into the studio to tell the members of the public their own stories by themselves.
“After that we felt, it isn’t good enough for writing and broadcasting that there’s a need to have a forum even if it is once in a year to bring the parliamentarians and members of the public together to engage each other in form of question and answer which we are doing with the National Orientation Agency.
Again, we saw the need to up our game to have a foundation and whatever is this foundation all about? It about going into parliamentary advocacy, budget and Constituency project tracking and having looked around, our members of the board said the best people to go into partnership with is the National Orientation Agency.
“That they will have accurate record of what to work with and also the BudgiT and we are quite happy that when we invited them to the last Legislative Conference they came.”

News
Shehu Sani debunks Governor Uba Sani’s alleged diversion of LG funds, challenges El-Rufai to publicly tender evidence

Civil Rights Activist and former Senator representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District, Shehu Sani has debunked the former Governor, Malamn Nasir El-Rufai’s allegation that Governor Uba Sani has diverted the Local Government Councils allocation to buy properties abroad.

Shehu Sani said El-Rufai’s allegation is “falsely crafted to smear the name of of the Governor because of the N420 billion investigation hanging on him like the sword of damocles.”

Reacting to the allegation on Monday, Shehu Sani challenged the former Governor to release proofs of purchases of properties in South Africa, Seychelles and London by Uba Sani publicly.
He said, Kaduna people would not forget in a hurry how Nasir El-Rufai plundered the State in eight years as Governor of the State, stressing that he should stop pushing falsehood into the public space.
He said: “As Kaduna indigenes, we are all living witnesses to how El-Rufai plundered the State and now investigation has indicted him and he should face it rather than pushing falsehood into the public domain.
El-Rufai should be bold enough to show proofs linking governor Uba Sani in the purchase of properties in South Africa, Seychelles and London, then we will take him serious.
“But he should be ready answer for the whereabouts of N420 billion because that money is substantial enough to develop Kaduna State to an extent”, Shehu Sani maintained.

News
Bill to establish National Cashew Production and Research Institute in Kogi passes first reading in Senate

The Nigerian Senate has passed for first reading a Bill to establish the National Cashew Production and Research Institute to be sited at Idah in Kogi East Senatorial District after it was laid on Wednesday last week.

The Bill which was sponsored by Senator Jibrin Isah Echocho representing Kogi East Senatorial District said, the propsed research institute will be situated at Idah, headquarters of Igala kingdom and the institute will be charged with the responsibilities of cashew research, processing and boosting production for local and export consumption.

According to the documents of the proposed bill made available on Monday, it pointed out that the Federal Government could leverage on the abundant cashew production in Kogi East and by extension Kogi State and other parts of the country to ensure that the quality of cashew is processed in line with the global standards, notwithstanding that the current quality of cashew from Kogi State is sought all over the world.
He said the legal framework of the Research Institute will identify the value chain and processing, ensuring that at each level, there is job creation for the teaming youths and not just for the raw nuts to be exported, stating that the current handling of cashew nuts was unacceptable as it tended to bypass the needed revenue that would been generated into government coffers.
Senator Isah said: “This will not only improve the quality of cashew products but also provide support to farmers and cashew business owners in Kogi State, particularly in Kogi East, which is known for its high cashew production.
“The institute will also attract investment, create jobs, and ensure better pricing for cashew farmers, thereby strengthening the local economy in Kogi East, Kogi State and Nigeria at large.”
DAILY POST recalled that a fortnight ago, Kogi State government was urged by the State House of Assembly to safeguard cashew and other economic trees in the State by putting in place stringent measures against abuse.
The regulatory measures which the State parliament said will be put in place, urged the State government to enforce the laws with serious sanction for any erring persons and to also stop foreigners from accessing cashew farms in the State.
The resolution was the outcome of a motion sponsored by Hon. Oluwaseyi Bello representing Kabba Bunu State Constituency in the House of Assembly, adding that the State Ministry of Agriculture should properly monitor and regulate the activities of exploitative foreign businessmen in the interest of revenue for the State and security of the people.
Kogi continues to be the leading State in cashew production in Nigeria which the State government attributed to robust and sound agricultural policies.
The State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo once said: “Kogi State is the biggest producer of cashew in Nigeria because of our sound agricultural policies geared towards empowering farmers with improved seedlings, mechanization, agrochemicals as well as creating an enabling environment for the private sector to invest in cashew production.”

News
Report of attack on Wike’s Port Harcourt residence false, misleading – Police

The Rivers State Police Command has described reports on several news outlets that hoodlums have attacked the Port Harcourt residence of Nyesom Wike as false and misleading.

The police said nothing close to attack ever took place on Sunday on the residence of Wike who is currently the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory as mischievously reported in sections of the media.

On Sunday night, several online media platforms alleged that Wike’s residence was under siege and had been torched by unidentified individuals.
Reacting in a statement on Monday, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, described the reports as false and misleading, stating the the report was a connivance between some elements and the media to cause unrest and further create panic.
The statement read: “The attention of the Rivers State Police Command has been drawn to a misleading and malicious report circulating on various online media platforms, falsely claiming that riots have erupted in Rivers State, leading to the burning of the residence of the former Governor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, along with other acts of violence.”
She further stated that the state remains peaceful, and there has been no such attack on Wike’s residence or any other major security breach.
“The Command categorically states that this report is entirely false, baseless, and a deliberate attempt by mischief makers to incite unrest and spread fear among law-abiding residents. There is no record of any such incident, and normalcy prevails across the state,” she said.
The police spokesperson warned against spreading misinformation, emphasizing that those found guilty of fabricating such reports would face legal consequences.
According to the spokesperson, “The Police Command sternly warns those responsible for spreading such incendiary falsehoods to desist from engaging in activities capable of inciting public disorder. The full weight of the law will be brought to bear on individuals or groups found guilty of spreading misinformation or attempting to disrupt the peace in any form.”
She reassured residents of the police command’s commitment to maintaining security in Rivers State and urged the public to rely only on credible sources for information while reporting any suspicious activities to law enforcement agencies.

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