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Engage mercenaries to tackle insecurity — HURIWA

Published

2 years ago

August 9, 2022

…Asks FG to give arms license to Amotekun, Ebubeagu, Benue Guards

By Ogaga Ariemu

Civil rights advocacy group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), on Monday, has asked the Federal Government led by the President General Muhammadu Buhari, to engage mercenaries to complement the military’s fight against terrorists’ onslaught.

HURIWA’s National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, in a statement, described as worrisome and unprecedented the rate at which terrorists of the Boko Haram and Islamic State – West Africa Province kill soldiers in the last two years.

The group said the killing of over 750 soldiers in the last two years by insurgents is alarming and signals that fatigue has invaded the military which has been responsible for the high rate of casualty suffered by the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Air Force and the Nigerian Navy in recent times.

Recall that in an August 7, 2022 report, it was disclosed that terrorists on rampage across the country have attacked about 16 military bases in the last 18 months, and killed about 750 soldiers in different parts of the country.

In 2022, there were six major attacks on military bases, witnessed in Borno, Katsina, Kaduna, Taraba and Niger states. These were independent of other attacks on the military, including ambushes, attacks on their convoys and the most recent attack on soldiers was at the Zuma Rock checkpoint on July 28. A soldier was killed in the attack.

Terrorists attacked a military base in Sarkin Pawa Town in the Munya Local Government Area of Niger State on July 18, 2022. On May 10, suspected ISWAP members attacked the perimeter of the 6th Brigade military base in Jalingo, Taraba State. Also, on April 4, suspected Ansaru terrorists attacked a military base at Polewire on the Kaduna-Birnin Road in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State, during which about 11 soldiers were feared killed, while 19 soldiers were reportedly injured by the terrorists.

ISWAP fighters attacked the multinational military base in Doron Baga, Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State on March 19.

Also, reports on January 21 noted that terrorists stormed the military base located within Government Day Secondary School, Shinfada, in the Jibia Local Government of Katsina State.

In 2021, reports said there were attacks on at least 11 military bases in the North. Some of the attacks were foiled by soldiers.

The President on Friday, in Abuja at the graduation of Course 30 of the National Defence College, where he was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, said, “Government is deeply concerned about the activities of bandits and criminals who have reared their ugly heads in some parts of the country. This is because the number of violent unprovoked attacks on citizens appears to be on the increase. This is unacceptable.”

HURIWA’s Onwubiko said beyond condemning terrorists’ onslaught against the military, the President must be decisive and take quick solutions.

Onwubiko said, “The President as the Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces must strategise the anti-terrorism war because apparently the troops are losing with hundreds having had to pay the supreme price in the last two years.

“A compilation by SUNDAY PUNCH of August 7, 2022 is alarming. The report put the figure of soldiers fell by terrorists at 750 soldiers between the third quarter of 2020 and July 2022. This is unacceptable.

“The President must with immediate effect reshuffle the security architecture and sack the service chiefs whose lack of effective leadership have cost over 750 families their beloved brothers, sisters, and breadwinners.

“The President must ensure that the morale of the soldiers still alive are boosted through the timely payment of salaries, acquisition of modern-day superior weapons as soldiers in leaked videos have decried the absence of superior firepower to their adversaries, payment of entitlement to families of fallen heroes, amongst others.

“Also, the engagement of foreign mercenaries cannot be overstressed. As buttressed by the Chairman of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Defence, Babajimi Benson, the Armed Forces are overstretched as they are now engaged in internal security operations which should have been led by the Nigeria Police Force. The deployment of foreign mercenaries is exigent to avoid the further loss of military personnel. Any resistance to this is suicidal.

“Similarly, the Minister of Police Affairs, Muhammad Dingyadi, had on December 15, 2021 said that the Federal Government approved a 20 per cent increase in salaries for personnel of the Nigeria Police Force, effective January 2022 but police officers have been crying out that the raise had yet to take effect even eight months after. The President must ensure policemen get the necessary morale booster to fight internal security for soldiers to face Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters.

“Also, the Federal Government must with immediate effect give licence to regional security outfits in the South-East, the South-West and Benue State for these vigilante men to bear arms to consolidate the operations of the military and the police as the Army and the police are overstretched with many attached to Very Important Personalities and politicians instead of security the country against internal and external threats.”

News

Shettima returns to Nigeria, meets US Secretary, Campbell

Published

55 mins ago

May 1, 2024

NewsDirect

Vice-President Kashim Shettima on Tuesday returned to Nigeria after representing President Bola Tinubu at the just concluded International Development Association (IDA21) Summit, held in Nairobi, Kenya.

This is contained in a statement issued by Mr Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice-President.

Nkwocha said on arrival at the NnamdiAzikiwe International Airport, Abuja, Shettima met behind closed doors with the United States Deputy Secretary, Kurt Campbell, and his team.

“Among issues discussed at the meeting were security, bilateral relations, shared visions, technologicalcooperations, economic and mutual partnership.

“Both countries pledged to work more on deepening their bilateral relationships and their connectivity.”

Deputy Secretary Campbell has been in Nigeria where he was the co-chair of the sixth U.S.-Nigeria Binational Commission (BNC) with Foreign Minister, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar.

News

FG approves salary increase for civil servants

Published

1 hour ago

May 1, 2024

NewsDirect

The Federal Government has approved 25 percent and 35 percent of salary increase for civil servants on the remaining six Consolidated Salary Structures.

The Head of Press, National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC), Mr Emmanuel Njoku, said this on Tuesday in Abuja.

“The Federal Government has approved an increase of between 25 percent and 35 percent in salary increase for Civil Servants on the remaining six Consolidated Salary Structures.

“They include Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure (CONPSS), Consolidated Research and Allied Institutions Salary Structure (CONRAISS) and Consolidated Police Salary Structure (CONPOSS).

“Others are: Consolidated Para-military Salary Structure (CONPASS). Consolidated Intelligence Community Salary Structure (CONICCS) and Consolidated Armed Forces Salary Structure (CONAFSS).

“The increases will take effect from January 1,” he said.

According to Njoku, the Federal Government has also approved increases in pension of between 20 per cent and 28 per cent for pensioners on the Defined Benefits Scheme.

He said this was in respect of the above-mentioned six consolidated salary structures and would also take effect from January 1.

He said the move was in line with the provisions of Section 173(3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

The official recalled that those in the Tertiary Education and Health Sectors had already received their increases.

“This involves Consolidated University Academic Salary Structure (CONUASS) and Consolidated Tertiary Institutions Salary Structure (CONTISS) for universities.

“For Polytechnics and Colleges of Education, it involves the Consolidated Polytechnics and Colleges of Education Academic Staff Salary Structure (CONPCASS) and Consolidated Tertiary Educational Institutions Salary Structure (CONTEDISS).

“The Health Sector also benefitted through the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) and Consolidated Health Sector Salary Structure (CONHESS),” Njoku said.

News

LASG disburses N849.6m scholarships, bursaries for 10,066 tertiary students

Published

2 hours ago

May 1, 2024

NewsDirect

By Sodiq Adelakun

The Lagos State Government has demonstrated its commitment to providing affordable and quality education to its residents by approving and disbursing a total sum of N849,555,000 in scholarships and bursaries to 10,066 students in its tertiary institutions.

This was announced by the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Mr. Tolani Sule, on Tuesday at the 2024 Ministerial Briefing held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, Ikeja.

According to Sule, the Babajide Sanwo-Olu-led administration’s commitment to education is evident in its T.H.E.M.E.S plus Agenda, which prioritises effective and affordable education for all residents.

He noted that Lagos state-owned tertiary institutions did not participate in the recent workers’ strikes, demonstrating the government’s dedication to education development.

“Not going on strike when all other tertiary institutions were on strike is a feat that we pride ourselves on.

“This is to further show that our able governor does not pay lip service to the agenda.

“We know it will keep getting better, we are proud of all our institutions.

“Lagos State University is the oldest institution but new institutions are catching up,” he said.

Recall that the ministerial briefing began on April 24.

It will continue until May 29, with ministries giving accounts of their stewardships in the last one year of Gov. Sanwo-Olu’s second term in office.

“The sum of N335,600,000 was approved for 1,591 undergraduates and PhD recipients as 2022/2023 Scholarship Award as well as the 2022/2023 Governor’s Discretionary Awards.

“Also, N513,955,000 was approved for 6,884 in bursary award for undergraduates and law school students.

“A total of N849,555,000.00 was released in 2023 for 8,475, making a total of 10,066 as beneficiaries of the scholarship and bursary,” he said.

Sule mentioned that the state government is focusing on promoting extensive reading among students by rehabilitating and digitising 300 secondary schools and 40 public libraries.

“The reading culture isn’t what it used to be. This is why the administration deemed it necessary to ensure that students have access to these facilities.

“When we digitalised these libraries, we dedicated power generating sets. Monthly, there is N250,000 set aside and given to these secondary schools with digitalised libraries so they would run seamlessly.

“When policies are made, we consider how it will succeed; so, this was well planned out because we have a target,” he said.