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FEC approves Action Plan 2022-2026 on Human Rights

Published

12 months ago

April 26, 2023

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved Action Plan 2022-2026 for the promotion and protection of human rights in Nigeria.

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, disclosed this while briefing State House correspondents at the weekly meeting of the council chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari, on Wednesday in Abuja.

The plan was formulated by the stakeholders in Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government.

He said the approval followed the Buhari administration’s compliance with National Human Rights Commission, (NHRC), judgement and payment of N135 million compensation to victims and family members of the Sept. 18, 2013 Apo six killings.

Malami also said the report of the committee for the protection of journalists, equally adjudging Nigeria as the only African country that has been in full compliance in terms of the protection of the rights of the journalists.

The minister said: ”This is taking into consideration that not a single incidence of death of a journalist has been recorded in Nigeria arising from infractions, relating thereto.”

According to Malami, the policy is intended and targeted at consolidating and upscaling the Nigerian observance of the Human Rights posture in view of the successes and achievements of Nigeria as it relates to human rights under the current administration.

He said: “As you will recall, the administration of Buhari has established a record of being the first and only administration in the history of Nigeria that has indeed tolerated, accommodated and enforced the decision of the Human Rights Commission.

”And in this respect, talking of the Apo six, taking into consideration, the commission adjudged the government as being in breach of the human rights of certain individuals popularly referred to as Apo six, which unfortunate incidents predates the government of Buhari .

”The Human Rights Commission adjudged the government liable to pay about N135 million to the family of the victims of the alleged infractions.”

Malami said the Buhari’s administration took steps to ensure payment of the N135 million to the Apo Six in compliance with the recommendations of the National Human Rights Commission/

The minister said: ”Thereby giving teeth to the Human Rights Commission in terms of compliance with the recommendation,” he added.

“Now with those local and international successes in mind, the need has now arisen for Nigeria to indeed consolidate on the gains.

”This is with the view to upscaling its provision from a local observance of the protection of the human right to international standard by way of ensuring compliance with the best practices.”

According to him, the new action plan will help prove that Nigeria is working in tandem with International best practices with regards to the protection of human riights.

“So, the essence of the presentation of the council memo today is to deliberate on the action plan, review it and seek approval for its conservation or presentation before the International Human Rights committee for the purpose of establishing the following:

”That Nigeria is no longer operating at a local scale in terms of the observance and promotion of human rights, but indeed upscaling its international observance to international best practices as far as the human rights, promotion and protection of human rights is concerned.

“I am happy to report that the council deliberated and the council approved the action plan presentation before the International Committee on Human Rights,” he said.

The Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, who also spoke on the outcome of the council meeting again assured that the indigenous airline- Nigeria Air, would take off on or before May 29.

According to the minister, the infrastructure and staffers are ready and only await the final approval by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

He also assured the workers in the aviation sector that all issues relating to their agitations on minimum wage would be taken care of by relevant government agencies and ministries.

The minister further disclosed that the council approved N9billion for the procurement, installation, and inauguration of voice and data recorders in nine airports across the country.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed also disclosed that the 137kms Kano to Zaria and 73 kms Zaria to Kaduna expressways, as well as the second Niger bridge projects would be handed over to the Federal Government on May 15 for inauguration.

According to him, the 116kms Lagos to Ibadan will also be handed over to the government on April 30, while the Loko-Oweto bridge linking Nasarawa and Benue States and the Utor bridge in Delta had been completed.

Related Topics:Abubakar Malami FEC human rights

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Adeduntan retires as First Bank MD

Published

1 hour ago

April 20, 2024

NewsDirect

In a sudden move that has sent shockwaves in Nigeria’s financial services industry, the Managing Director of First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Adesola Adeduntan.

Adedutan resigned his appointment from the company after nine years of holding the top executive position even though he was billed to retire in December when his tenure would have been fully completed.

“I have however decided to proceed on retirement with effect from 20 April 2024 to pursue other interests,” he said in a copy of his resignation letter.

First Bank is the flagship subsidiary of FBN Holdings, Nigeria’s foremost financial institution, which abruptly announced the cancellation of an extraordinary general meeting on Saturday morning after Mr Adeduntan resigned.

The meeting had been earlier “scheduled to be held virtually on Tuesday, April 30, 2024, at 10 am for the consideration and authorisation of the company to undertake a capital raise of up to N300,000,000,000,” FBN Holdings said in its notification to the Nigerian Exchange.

Mr Adeduntan joined First Bank in 2014, first as a chief financial officer and as an executive director.

Former managing director of First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Adesola Adeduntan. Prior to his stint at FirstBank, Adeduntan served at the Africa Finance Corporation as the pioneer chief financial officer/business manager and as a director as well. His range of expertise covers investment finance, commercial and investment banking, consulting and audit.

He was once a senior manager at the auditing and professional services firm KPMG and held the role of Senior vice president & chief financial officer at Citibank Nigeria Limited.

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FG agency blames multiple taxes, others for high cost of goods

Published

4 hours ago

April 20, 2024

NewsDirect

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has released findings from a comprehensive investigation into the factors contributing to the relentless increase in consumer costs.

The Director of Surveillance and Investigation Mrs B. A. Adeyinka, said this while briefing journalists during a market surveillance to enforce prices today in Masaka Markets, Nasarawa State.

Adeyinka explained, “We’ve conducted extensive interviews with marketing executives and sellers across various sectors. Despite government efforts to stabilise the currency, prices remain high.

“Our findings point to a complex web of factors, including multiple layers of taxation and transportation costs, driving prices up. The cost of transportation is a significant burden on the sellers, and this cost is inevitably passed on to the consumer.

“For instance, a product that once cost N15,000 now sells for N50,000. This drastic increase is largely due to higher transportation expenses, the rising cost of pesticides, and security concerns in certain areas.

“Our first step is to compile a report on the multiple taxes affecting the market and advise the government on potential solutions. We aim to unlock the market by reducing these taxes, thereby easing the financial burden on both sellers and consumers.”

The FCCPC as part of its campaign for compliance sealed 4U Supermarket Wuse 2 on Thursday for breaching price and quality standards.

Speaking on Thursday, the acting Chief Executive Officer of FCCPC, Adamu Abdullahi, stated that the commission would continue the price enforcement in other states.

On his part, the executive chairman of the market, Gimbal Salasi said the market executives were working to ensure hitch-free market operations and price regulations in the market.

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Cameroon restates commitment to partner Nigeria on forestry, wildlife conservation

Published

4 hours ago

April 20, 2024

NewsDirect

The government of Cameroon has restated its commitment to work closely with Nigeria to ensure effective implementation of policy framework for sustainable management of transboundary ecosystems conservation between both countries.

Mr Jules Ndongo, Cameroon’s Minister of Forestry and Wildlife, made this known in his keynote address at the official signing ceremony of the cooperation framework agreement between the two countries in Abuja.

The agreement also focused on management of forestry and wildlife resources.

According to Ndongo, the historical and fraternal ties between Cameroon and Nigeria have great deal of strength, therefore, the need to deepen such ties to promote shared prosperity.

He said, “This is most common among our people living at the transboundary regions between the two countries.

“Some of their transaction involves the exportation and marketing of Timber, other forest products and bush meats.

“It should be underscored that we cannot ascertain all these activities are carried out legally. The exportation of forestry resources and Cross-border poaching are serious offenses.

“The context of cooperation and cross-border management of our forestry and wildlife resources through this agreement is aimed at implementing cross-border policies and programmes among other things.

“The government of Cameroon will do anything possible at its level to work closely with Nigeria toward implementing the agreement.”

In another keynote address, the Nigeria Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, assured Ndongo and the Cameroonian delegation of the Federal Government’s determination to achieve targets through the partnership.

Lawal said, “Nigeria and Cameroon do not just share common borders, but also have shared vision on the best approach towards protection of the resources between the two countries.

“This is for the overall wellbeing of our people, irrespective of the social, economic, environmental and cultural development of the two countries.”

He commended supports by the governments of Germany, the U.S., United Nations, European Union and other partners to have contributed towards the success so far recorded in the preservation of forestry and wildlife resources.

In his remark, Danter Renna, Environment, Science, Technology and Health Officer of the U.S., Embassy in Abuja, commended the milestone reached between Nigeria and Cameroon in terms of forestry and wildlife conservation.

According to him, the U.S., will support the agreement between Nigeria and Cameroon in the forestry and wildlife conservation, and preservation, particularly how such ideas promote cooperation among them.

“The U.S., is proud to be a partner between Nigeria and Cameroon, as well as in their work to preserve the natural ecosystem both share at transboundary levels,”he said.

Highpoint of the event was goodwill messages from the Embassy of Germany in Nigeria, UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) by Ndongo and Lawal respectively.