PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JUNE 12, 2012
PAGE 11
INEC to introduce permanent voters card to check electoral frauds T
he Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has concluded arrangements for the introduction of permanent voters’ card to checkmate electoral malpractices in the country. Amb. Lawrence Nwuruku, the INEC Commissioner for South-East, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
in Abakaliki yesterday. Nwuruku listed the malpractices to include multiple registrations and multiple voting, among others. “These are some of the measures taken by INEC to stop electoral frauds. The permanent voters’ card is designed to capture the bio data of an eligible voter. “INEC is putting things in
order so that the vote of every eligible voter in Nigeria will count”, he said. “The Electoral Institutes are being revitalised to properly educate the voters. If the voters are not educated, we cannot get it right. “We are all voters from 18 years and above. If you are educated on your rights, you will
get it right,” Nwuruku added. He explained that the aim of introducing INEC clubs in schools was to help educate the pupils and students on the voting system and their rights. The commissioner said that when such students attain the age of 18, they would now be fully prepared to exercise their franchise, adding that the
commission would also introduce a system that would ensure continuous registration of voters. To achieve the objective, he said many members of staff of the commission would be posted, on a permanent basis, to local governments areas for the purpose. “You see the revision of voters’ list and registrations of new voters are, very important in our electoral system. All these are the modernisations that will help sustain the system,” Nwuruku said. (NAN)
FMC Abeokuta workers embark on another strike From Dimeji Kayode-Adedeji, Abeokuta
W
orkers of Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Idi-Aba, Abeokuta, yesterday embarked on another round of industrial action accusing the management of nonchalance to their welfare, as well as accusing the Medical Director of imposing a chairman on the medical advisory committee on the workforce. The Monday strike which is the third within six months was on the order of the Joint Health Workers Union of the hospital. But the management in a counter move issued a directive for the workers to ignore the union leadership. However, the union leaders rose to the challenge as they were seen within the premises to enforce the stay-at-home order, further alerting the workers to comply with the directive. In spite of the repeated announcement by the hospital management warning that whoever failed to report to work would face sanction as contained in the civil service rules and regulations, offices in the hospital remained locked. Policemen were however drafted in to keep order.
Ogun declares June 12 public holiday From Dimeji Kayode-Adedeji, Abeokuta
T
he Ogun state government has declared today, (Tuesday) as work free day to celebrate the annual June 12 anniversary. Barrister Taiwo Adeoluwa, Secretary to the State Government made this known in a statement issued in Abeokuta, the state capital. The press release made available to journalists in Abeokuta said that the holiday is declared in honour of the late icon of democracy, Bashorun Moshood Kasimawo Olawale Abiola, who won the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election. According to the scribe, the work-free-day will also be used to commemorate Democracy Day.
L-R: Chairman, Ijaw Youth Council, Ibani clan, Mr. Telema Pollyn, Leader, Bonny Youth Federation, Mr. Gift Furo, and Ijaw Youth Clan Leader, Mr. Ala Hart, during a press conference on the marginalisation of Bonny youth By NLNG, yesterday in Port Harcourt. Photo: NAN
Online registration of govt contractors to commence in 2013 By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem
T
he Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) yesterday presented the national database module for the registration, categorisation and classification of federal contractors, consultants and service providers to the general public. According to BPP Director General, Engr. Emeka Ezeh, the national database will contain the identities of all federal contractors, their owners, directors and capabilities and it will make it easier for BPP and other anti-graft agencies to fight crime in the system. In his welcome address at the presentation held at State House Auditorium, Abuja yesterday,
Engr. Ezeh said: "The centralised database and categorisation of contractors and service providers doing business with the Federal Government is anticipated to enhance efficiency, save cost in public procurement, improve budget implementation and increase professionalism, besides initiating transparency in public procurement business." He added that the new database system which is in practice in the USA, India, Wales and Tanzania, would help reduce the cost of doing business in Nigeria through the elimination of multiple registration and pre qualifications in the various MDAs. In an interaction with reporters after the opening ceremony, Engr.
Ezeh noted that: "Today's event is a milestone in the history of this country because we are bringing technology into procurement business wherein contractors have to click in online and fill in their data. This is to completely eliminate the chances of human contact and bribery and corruption in contract awards." "They will also be given an identification number with which they will continue to use in doing business with all government parastatals and agencies. We will verify their claims with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and other relevant agencies and stakeholders with regards to the claims made the
contractors. On when the online process will become fully operational, Engr Ezeh said the bureau was still in discussion with the Head of Service of the Federation, adding that all other processes will be completed before 2013 when the online registration will take full effect. The BPP boss decried the habit of contractors in misleading MDAs about the volume of jobs they can execute, adding that the new system will make it easier in discovering false claims. He also stated that any contractor found guilty of making false claims about his or her capacity will be banned from doing business with government for 10 years.
Muslim lawyers advise FG to dialogue with Boko Haram
T
he Muslim Lawyers Association of Nigeria (MULAN), yesterday, advised the Federal Government to dialogue with the Boko Haram sect, to curb the spate of violence in the country. MULAN made the call in a communique issued at the end of its 17th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Lagos,
which was made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). The communique was jointly signed by MULAN's President, Mr. Tajudeen Adewara and its Lagos state chapter chairman, Musoddiq Sanni. It reads: "The security situation in the country, whereby armed robbery, militancy, incessant bombings by identified and
unidentified groups, extra-judicial killings, wanton destruction of property, vandalism of oil pipelines and kidnappings are getting worse, require urgent solution. "MULAN urges government to in particular, heed the call of wellmeaning Nigerians to engage in dialogue with the Boko Haram sect toward an amicable solution to the problem".
The group urged President Goodluck Jonathan to reinstate Justice Isa Salami as the President of the Court of Appeal. It also opposed the increase in electricity tariff, arguing that the increment was done without due regard to the provisions of Section 76 of the National Electricity Act and Chapter II of the 1999 Constitution. (NAN)