The Nigerian Senate is set to amend the 2022 Electoral Act to allow for diaspora voting, at least for presidential elections, to enable citizens to vote, especially those on essential service abroad, such as military, paramilitary, and other security personnel abroad, Embassy staff, and other citizens.

This was contained in a communiqué issued by the senate at the end of its retreat in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa-Ibom State.

The new amendment will make electronic transmission of results mandatory, allow uploading of polling unit-level results and result sheets used at different levels of result collation and allow for diaspora voting, at least for presidential elections.

The Senate noted that it was necessary for the Independent National Electoral Commission to be unbundled to improve its efficiency and effectiveness in the preparation and conduct of elections.

The communiqué stated, “Relating to the use of technology in elections, remove the ambiguity evident in Section 64 of the EA22.

“Also, make electronic transmission of results mandatory from the next general elections in 2027, including the uploading of polling unit-level results and result sheets used at different levels of result collation.

“Introduce diaspora voting, at least for presidential elections, to enable citizens to vote, especially those on essential service abroad, such as military, paramilitary, and other security personnel abroad, Embassy staff, and other citizens.

“Relating to political parties; stipulate sanctions for failure to submit the register of party members not later than 30 days before the date of party primaries, congresses, or conventions in relation to Section 77(3) EA22, which the political parties have observed in the breach in the 2023 elections without penalty.”

The 10th Senate further noted that it was time to develop and enact a comprehensive national security strategy that outlines the nation’s security objectives, threats, and policy priorities.

The Red Chamber added that such a strategy could serve as a guiding framework for legislative action in the security sector.

The strategy it noted would, “Address the root causes of terrorism/banditry, which is often driven by poverty, inequality, and a lack of opportunity.

“Promote community policing and engagement to identify and prevent terrorist attacks. The government should also work with civil society organizations and local/ traditional communities to identify and address security concerns. “

The Senate added that it would, “ Establish independent oversight mechanisms for the security sector. These mechanisms can help to investigate allegations of abuse and corruption and to ensure that security forces are accountable to the law.”

The Senate further agreed that legislative engagement and oversight in Nigeria’s security sector can be significantly bolstered through comprehensive legislative reforms.

“These reforms are essential for ensuring that the legislative branch is equipped with the necessary tools and mechanisms to fulfill its critical role in security sector reform,” it explained.

The Senate concluded that “The periodic engagement of the National Assembly with the security chiefs for adequate briefing. There is a need for the Senate President and the Speaker, House of Representatives to be part of the weekly security briefing that goes to the President.”

In a bid to salvage the economic situation of the country, the Senate has proposed the enactment of an Emergency Economic Intervention Bill.

It explained that “This will address critical socio-economic issues concerning foreign exchange management, tackling inflation, stimulating economic growth, and creating more jobs.

“Enforce consequences for violations of any provisions of the law regarding monetary and fiscal matters.

“This will require amendments to the relevant laws to ensure effective oversight and enforcement of the consequences, as the case may be.”

Also agreed was the “need for legislation that clearly defines the taxing rights of the three levels of government.

Senior staff members of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) have demanded the sacking of Professor Mahmood Yakubu as the chairman of the commission.

They accused the chairman of neglecting the welfare of staff and prioritizing his own welfare through awards of contracts that allegedly benefit him.

In a letter addressed to Bola Tinubu by “Concerned Staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Nationwide,” they advised the president to immediately sack him as national chairman of INEC.

The letter, which was sent to THE WHISTLER by senior personnel of INEC who claimed to have attended some of the meetings where the staff debated the issues, called the attention of President Tinubu to 10 issues they’re aggrieved about.

They described Prof Yakubu as “a tyrant” who “sees staff as slaves” with no right to complain, and stressed that the system has become “rotten due to the leadership style of Prof. Yakubu Mahmood.”

The INEC chairman is also accused of refusing to implement the Review Duty Tour Allowance (DTA) and the 40% Peculiar Allowance to staff approved by former President Mohammad Buhari since September 2022.

The staff said they would also not benefit from the Federal government approved 35% for all federal workers to cushion the effect of subsidy removal, because “He will say there is no money.”

They claimed that the INEC chairman’s promise to increase Electoral Hazard Allowance at a meeting with staff in November 2022 was not fulfilled.

Part of the letter reads: “Prof Yakubu Mahmood has also turned the Commission into a one-man show, no Commissioner can approach him. He takes critical decisions alone without the input from other Commissioners thereby seeing himself as a god.

“Prof Yakubu Mahmood does not allow staff to air their grievances as there is no medium or mechanism to address them.

“There is serious financial misappropriation by Prof. Yakubu Mahmood as he concentrates mainly on contracts that will benefit him. Relevant authorities such as EFCC and ICPC can be invited to check INEC financial record for confirmation.”

The staff stated they could no longer wait for the end of his second tenure in November 2025 as many of their colleagues had died due to neglect of staff welfare matters.

In conclusion, the staff stated “We the entire staff of INEC are disappointed over the leadership style of Prof. Yakubu Mahmood and we hereby passed a “vote of no confidence” on him. “WE WANT HIM TO GO NOW SINCE STAFF WELFARE MATTERS IS CRITICAL TO ANY CREDIBLE ELECTION” We are tired of Prof. Yakubu Mahmood’s abuse of office.

“We humbly request Presidential intervention in this matter so that the situation will not go out of hand as the INEC Staff may not want to go on mass protest over neglect of staff welfare matters occasioned by the abuse of office leader by Prof. Yakubu Mahmood, Hon. Chairman, INEC.”

Explaining why the staff chose to write a letter to the president on the issues, a deputy director in the commission said INEC has no labour union as it is not allowed.

“Those who tried to start one two years ago were transferred out of INEC headquarters to different states by the chairman,” he said in a chat with our Reporter

When our Reporter called Rotimi Oyekanmi, chief press secretary to the INEC chairman on Tuesday, he said he was at a meeting.

But while responding to a text message on the letter, he said, “I heard about it but I have not seen it.”

— NN media.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the partial waiver of the “No Work, No Pay” Order that was instituted against striking members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) following the commencement of their eight-month industrial action which began on February 14, 2022 and was terminated on October 17, 2022.

Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, announced this in a statement on Friday.

He said the president invoked the Principle of the Presidential Prerogative of Mercy.

The president directed the grant of the waiver with a mandatory requirement that the Federal Ministry of Education and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment must secure a Document of Understanding (DoU) establishing that this exceptional waiver granted by the President will be the last one to be granted to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and all other Educations Sector Unions.

“In view of his determination to mitigate the difficulties being felt during the implementation of key economic reforms in the country, as well as his recognition of the faithful implementation of terms which were agreed upon during the fruitful deliberations between ASUU and the Federal Government of Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu has directed the grant of an exceptional last waiver of the ‘No Work, No Pay’ Order on ASUU, which will allow for the previously striking members of ASUU to receive four (4) months of salary accruals out of the eight months of salary which was withheld during the eight-month industrial action undertaken by the union,” the statement titled ‘President Tinubu Approves Partial Waiver of the ‘No Work No Pay’ Order on ASUU Members, Orders Release of Four Months of Withheld Salary’ added.

Former militant leaders from the Niger Delta region have described as “provocative” the recent statements by Sheikh Ahmad Gumi against the Nigerian government, saying he failed to speak out against the kidnappings, maiming and killings in the country.

The former Niger Delta warlords asked “Gumi and his likes” where they were when former President, Muhammadu Buhari, “used Nigeria’s infrastructures and souls of Nigerians to borrow money.”

They also warned Sheik Gumi against actions that would provoke the people of the Niger Delta region.

The ex-militant leaders under the auspices of the Movement for the Sustainable Development of the Niger Delta (MSDND) in a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Chief Ayibatekena Olodin, expressed the suspicion that Sheik Gumi, like in the shameful days of Boko Haram killings, was allegedly representing groups of corrupt individuals who plunged the country into an abysmal state.

MSDND, in the statement, described Gumi’s utterance as disheartening, noting that some individuals still engaged in hate speech and divisive rhetoric, seeking to use religion to sow seeds of discord among Nigerians.

“We have resolved to point out to Gumi and his likes that the massive fraud in the FCT including a garnishment order to the tune of $800 million against the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) was perpetuated under a Northern Minister and a Northern President.”

“Minister Wike is only taking very hard decisions to restore the economy of the FCT.

“It is a sad reminder that Gumi could not speak out when his alleged sponsors were kidnapping, maiming and killings Northerners under the guise of Islamist fundamentalists. Where was he when former President Buhari used Nigeria’s infrastructures and souls of Nigerians to borrow Money? Suddenly, he has turned to an activist against FCT administration.”

“We challenge Sheik Gumi and his cohorts to mention a State Governor that has performed in their Northern states such as Nyesome Wike since advent of democratic rule. Wike is the Pride of the Niger Delta region.”

The MSDND strongly called on the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Hon. Dele Alake to ensure that the revenues from the Mining of precious minerals such as Gold are domicile in the nation’s treasury, warning that failure of the Northern States to allow collective revenue into the nation’s purse would force the youths from the Niger Delta to truncate crude oil exploration and deny Northern states from the benefits.

They argued that President Bola Tinubu and the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dele Alake should embark on an urgent review of mining policies and ensure revenue from mining activities are domicile in nation’s purse, “we stand ready to champion this cause to ensure that all revenue from our nation’s resources be brought into the national treasury.”

“We are ready to cut off the Northern states from crude oil exploration revenue if the monies from mining activities are not domicile with the Federal Government.”

The Supreme Court cannot at this stage admit the fresh evidence sought to be tendered by Atiku Abubakar in his appeal challenging the outcome of the February 25 poll, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has argued. He urged the highest court to reject the purported fresh evidence Atiku and his party claimed to have obtained from the Chiacago State University (CSU).

Tinubu contented that the Supreme Court could no longer assume trial jurisdiction in the case since the 180 days for the hearing of the election petition had since lapsed.

He added that not only is the new evidence strange to the proceedings having not been presented during the trial, but Atiku and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who were joint petitioners at the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC), did not challenge the poll outcome on the ground of forgery.

Also, Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, noted that Atiku and the PDP never pleaded before the PEPC any document or deposition from the CSU in support of their fourth ground on Tinubu’s alleged non-qualification.