National

By Ibrahim Mukhtar

The Governing Council of Federal University, Birnin Kebbi, at its 25th meeting held from Monday, 21st to Thursday, 24th November, 2022, has approved the appointment of Prof. Muhammad Zaiyan Umar as the new Vice Chancellor of the University.

In a press statement sent by Alhaji Jamilu M. Magaji, the
Public Relations Officer,
Federal University Birnin Kebbi, he noted that the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Prof. Funmi Togonu-Bickersteth announced the development at a Press Briefing held on Thursday, November 24, 2022 at the Council Chamber, Senate Building, University Main Campus.

The statement received by The Daily Reality states that “the Pro-Chancellor who revealed that the appointment of the new Vice Chancellor was sequel to the advertisement in the Daily Trust and The Punch Newspapers of Saturday, 2nd July, 2022 and subsequent interview by the Governing Council, added that the tenure of the outgoing Vice Chancellor ends on December 3, 2022.

Until his appointment, the new Vice Chancellor was the immediate past Deputy Vice Chancellor, Sokoto State University.

Muhammad Zaiyan Umar, a Professor of Political Science at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS), comes with over three (3) decades of professional and administrative experience. He started his professional career at the UDUS as a Graduate Assistant in 1989 and became a Professor in 2009.

The immediate past Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), Sokoto State University, Sokoto, Prof. MZ Umar also served as the University’s Ag. Director, TETFund’s Research and Development Centre of Excellence. He is currently the Chairman of the Board of Centre for Open and Distance Education (CODE) at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto. Prof. Umar was, at various times, the Ag. Head of Department of Political Science, Deputy Dean and Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, as well as the Dean of Postgraduate School at UDUS.

The new Vice Chancellor served as Resource Person to several organizations including the Institute of Security Studies, Abuja; National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPPS), Kuru, Jos; The Electoral Institute of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the House Committee on Marine Transport, National Assembly, Abuja.

A Fulbright Fellow, Prof. Umar served at the University of Washington, Seattle, USA between 1988 and 1999. He served as an External Examiner and Assessor for promotion to Reader and Professor for various State and Federal Universities in Nigeria as well as the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA), in Dakar Senegal. He is a member of the Fulbright Alumni Association of Nigeria, Nigerian Political Science Association (NPSA) and Social Science Academy of Nigeria (SSAN).

Prof. Umar was born on June 12, 1963. He is married with children.”

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

President Muhammadu Buhari has unveiled the redesigned naira notes in Abuja.

The President unveiled the new naira notes on Wednesday morning at the meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC ) at the state house, Abuja.

The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele was also in attendance during the unveiling ceremony.

While addressing the FEC members after the unveiling ceremony, the CBN governor debunked the rumours that the early unveiling of new notes is a means to target any Nigerian.

He therefore appealed to the public to refrain from perpetuating such rumours.

He added that the CBN will intensify the monitoring process and interrogate the process of withdrawals.

He stated that there will be strict restriction on the volume of cash that people can withdraw over the counter, as it works with the EFCC to monitor the purpose of any heavy transactions.

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

The Nigerian media industry has adopted a new mechanism to address ethical and professional problems in the industry.

The decision was an aftermath of a media roundtable organized on Monday, 21st November, 2022.

The amalgam of the Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN), Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Broadcasting Association of Nigeria ( BON) and the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) came together to arrive at the resolution.

Media leaders and operators at the roundtable noted that the success of the co-regulation would be attainable via a workable enforcement mechanism.

According to them, co-regulation is attainable when the Nigeria Press Organization (NPO), comprising NPAN, NGE, NUJ and BON work together to make the co-regulation system effective. This will be done through the establishment of the ombudsman at local and central levels.

This is contained in a communique issued at the end of the media roundtable convened within the context of the imperative of a strategic response to the challenge of institutionalizing self-regulatory mechanisms by the media for the media.

The communique was jointly signed by the president, NPAN/NPO, Mal. Kabiru A. Yusuf, FNGE, president, NGE, Mustapha Isah, president, NUJ, Chief Chris Isiguzo, MFR, president, GOCOP, Maureen Chigbo and the executive secretary, BON, Dr. Yemisi Bamgbose

The communique noted that measures must be put in place to avoid the creation of bureaucratic structures that may have high-cost implications and hinders the efficient operation of the ombudsman.

The communique reads in part:

“That sanctions for the violation of ethical codes and professional standards shall be determined by the Ombudsman, guided by the regulation.

“That media professional bodies and associations shall partner with media organisations to give wide publicity to the decisions of the Ombudsman,” the communique stated.

On the revised Code of Ethics of Journalists in Nigeria, the communique noted that a bill of rights would be incorporated into the revised code to address concerns over some industry practices that tend to undermine the welfare and safety of journalists.

The communique also said: “That the revised code shall protect investigative journalism by making the public interest exception to instances where undercover methods may be used to obtain information.

“That the revised code shall distinguish between paid content and editorial content to preserve editorial integrity; and a new clause would be inserted to obligate journalists to promote the right of the people to know, freedom of the press and responsibility.”

Ahmad Deedat Zakari

President Muhammadu Buhari said the Kolmani oil project has attracted over $3bn investment in the oil and gas sector at a time the world is unwilling to invest in fossil energy.

The President made the disclosure while flagging off the Kolmani Development Project in Bauchi on Tuesday. The president noted that his administration has done everything to de-risk the project and attract investors.

Buhari said:

“Considering the land locked location and the huge capital requirement, the economics of the project is a challenging proposition. Consequently, from the outset, I instructed NNPC Limited to utilize and leverage their vast asset portfolio across all corridors of its operations to de-risk the project to attract the much-needed investment.”

“It is therefore to the credit of this administration that at a time when there is near zero appetite for investment in fossil energy, coupled with the location challenges, we are able to attract investment of over USD 3 billion to this project.”

The President in his address also commended the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) for their effort in discovering oil in the northern part of the country after so many futile attempts. He noted that the discovery foreshadows economic prosperity for Nigeria.

“This is indeed significant considering that, efforts to find commercial oil and gas outside the established Niger Delta Basin was attempted for many years without the desired outcomes,” he stated.

The Daily Reality had reported that the Kolmani oil exploration is the first of its kind in Northern Nigeria.

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

President Muhammadu Buhari is all set to flag off the exploration of oil exploration in Gombe and Bauchi states. The historic event is the first of its kind in the northern part of the country.

Amidst very tight security, the president and his entourage arrived in Bauchi on Tuesday, 22nd November, 2022 for the ground- breaking ceremony and inauguration of the first oil drilling in Northern Nigeria.

The ceremony is set to take place at the OPLs 809 and 810 sites in Kolmani, a border community between Bauchi and Gombe State.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company, NNPC, had announced the discovery of oil in commercial volume in October 2019. Crude oil, gas were said to be discovered in the Kolmani River region at the community between Bauchi and Gombe State.

By Ibrahim Mukhtar

The members of Academic Staff Union of Universities, Kano State University of Science of Technology (KUST) Wudil have issued a strong warning to Nigerians that the current happenstance in the Nigeria’s educational sector may be a deliberate attempt to destroy the country’s higher education.

In a press statement signed by the duo of Comrade Muhammad Sani Gaya, the Chairperson ASUU KUST and Comrade Murtala Muhammad, Secretary ASUU KUST, they maintained that, despite such evil intents, Nigerian academics have powerful excellent records all over the world.

Part of the release says:

“Members of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) suspended its eight-month strike action in compliance with Court directives as a Union of intellectuals and law-abiding citizens. It is however, quite disheartening that the Federal Government under the present administration of Major General Muhammad Buhari (rtd) resolved to withhold seven months salaries of our members and payment of pro-rated salary for the month of October 2022. This decision is ill-informed and a clear demonstration of either government’s ignorance on the responsibilities of academic staff or a flagrant abuse of office. The duties are clearly spelt out in the laws establishing the universities, which are easily verifiable.

As at today, Nigeria ranked third (3rd) in Africa with highest number of documents in Scopus database as indicated in Scimago (https://www.scimagojr.com) due to volumes of research outputs. Equally, in other reputable international databases, the Nigerian academics are making the country proud despite the precarious working condition and deliberate underfunding.”

It was also reported in the release that members of ASUU KUST sensed that all these kind of ill-treatment that is meted upon the Nigerian academics is done in order to frustrate the lecturers to abandon their duties, as the current rulers of Nigeria have nothing to lose.

“The ill-intent of this administration to deprive teeming Nigerian youths from quality university education and destroy the public universities was clear from the ugly utterances of Ministers of Education and that of Labour and Employment. Furthermore, the act of withholding the seven (7) month salaries and payment of October salary on pro-rata basis is another testimony. The Federal Government may wish to be reminded that academics in the Nigeria Universities are not casual staff.

ASUU-KUST therefore condemned in strong terms, this singular action and call on Federal Government to immediately address the issues for industrial harmony to be sustained. Mischievously, the Federal Government deliberately refused to implement all the agreements freely/duly signed in 2017, 2019 and 2020. This is not unconnected with the fact that the wards of ruling elites are either schooling abroad or in private universities in Nigeria. For the records, we want the public to note that the union will never be distracted from salvaging Nigerian University system.” the statement further says.

By Muhammadu Sabiu

In order to allow customers to return old naira notes, the Central Bank of Nigeria has ordered commercial banks around the nation to open on Saturdays through January 31, 2023.

The N200, N500, and N1,000 banknotes will be redesigned by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and released by December 15, 2022.

The present notes will continue to be legal money until January 31, 2023, when they will no longer be, according to CBN Director of Corporate Communications Osita Nwasinobi, who was speaking at the CBN exhibition on Thursday in Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State.

Represented by the acting Director of Corporate Communications, CBN, Akpama Uket, the director said, “They [the banks] have also been instructed to receive the existing banknotes beyond the threshold stipulated by the Cashless Policy without charges to customers.

“Consequently, you must return all the current N200, N500, and N1,000 banknotes to your bank before the expiration of the deadline.”

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

The Council of Legal Education, CLE, has released the 2022 Bar ll examination results.

The results of the Bar finals were released by the council in the early hours of Thursday. Students of the Nigerian Law School who spoke to The Daily Reality confirmed that they have checked their results.

The NigeriaLawyer reports that 119 students representing 2.05% bagged first class, 787 representing 13.56%, and 2460 representing 42.40% secured Second Class Upper and Lower divisions respectively. Also, 1323 students constituting 22.8% made a pass, while the conditional pass category had 185 students making 3.19%.

For a person to be qualified to practice as a legal practitioner in Nigeria, he is required to be enrolled at the Nigerian Law School and Pass the Bar Finals.

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

Nigerian Military has revealed the names and identities of terrorist commanders destabilizing the northern part of the country.

On Monday, the Defense Headquarters released the names of 19 men allegedly culpable for terrorism in the North. 

According to the Director of Defense Information, Maj-Gen. Jimmy Akpor, the names were released so that members of the public with genuine information about the insurgents would contact the military. 

The military also promised a cash reward of five million naira to persons with genuine information. They urged the public to contact 09135904467 to share the information.

The names released by the Defense Headquarters include the names of the following persons : 

SANI DANGOTE – ORIGIN: Dumbarum Village. Zurmi LGA of Zamfara States.

BELLO TURJI GUDDA – ORIGIN: FAKAI Village of Zamfara State.

LEKO – ORIGIN: MOZOJ VIllage, Mutazu LSA of Katsina State

DOGO NAHALI – ORIGIN: YAR TSAMIYAR JNO Village. Kankara LGA of Katsina State

HALILU SUBUBU – ORIGIN: SUBUBU Village in MARADUN LGA of Zamfara State.

NAGONA – ORIGIN: ANGWAN GALADIMA in ISA LOA of SOKOTO State.

NASANDA – ORIGIN: Kwashabawa, Village in Zurmi LGA of Zamara State.

ISIYA KWASHEN GARWA – ORIGIN: KAMFANIN Daudawa Village of Faskari, Katsina State.

ALI KACHALLA aka ALI KAWAJE – ORIGIN: KUYAMBARA VILLAGE in Danaadau MARU LGA of Zamfara State

ABU RADDE – ORIGIN: VARANDA Village in Batsari LGA Katsina State.

DAN-DA – ORIGIN: VARANDA Village in Batsari LGA of Katsina State

SANI GURGU – ORIGIN: VARANDA Village in Batsari LGA of Katsina State

UMARU DAN NIGERIA – ORIGIN: RAFI VIllage. MADA District in GUSAULGA of

NAGALA – ORIGIN: MARU LGA of Zamfara State

ALHAJI ADO ALIERO – ORIGIN: YANKUZO Village Tsafe LGA of Zamfara State

MONORE – ORIGIN: YANTUMAKI Village, Dan LGA of Katona Stata

GWASKA DANKARAMI – ORIGIN: SHAMUSHELE Village in Zuri LGA of Zamfara State

BALERI – ORIGIN: SHINKAFI LGA of Zamfera State

MAMUDU TAINANGE – ORIGIN VARANDA Village in Batsari LGA of Katsina State

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

Comrade Yasir Abubakar, a 400 level law student of Bayero University Kano, has been elected the National President of the Law Student Association of Nigeria, LAWSAN.

The LAWSAN Electoral Committee, LECOM , declared Abubakar winner after he polled 30 votes in the election of the national executives of the association held at Swiss Spirit Hotel, Porthacourt on Friday night

Abubakar polled 30 votes to defeat his closest rival, Ann Lyam Iverem of Bingham University, Nasarawa, who polled 26 votes.

All efforts to reach the president-elect of the association as at the time of writing this report were futile.
However, Abdullahi Farouk , BUK LAWSAN President happily confirmed the development to the Daily Reality on Saturday morning.

According to Farouk, the victory is well deserved and they are grateful to God and Law students all over the country for the confidence in Abubakar.

He said: “We are extremely elated, It is a well deserved victory, because Yasir Abubakar has done his best, over the years he has served the association in different capacities, he has travelled across the regions and he has acquired all the skills necessary to steer the association to a greater height. We are grateful to God and the entire LAWSAN for reposing confidence in Yasir Abubakar. We assure you that you won’t regret choosing us.I pray that Allah make it easy for him to discharge his shouldered responsibilities effectively and efficiently”