Daybreak, Politics, Entertainment, Sport

Tag: CSOs

Saraki, CSOs Urge Govts to Make Insurance of Markets Mandatory
Former President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have called on governments at all levels to make insurance of market places mandatory in order to mitigate huge losses and disruptions associated with incessant market fires across the country.
The Africa Politeia Institute (TAPI), presided over by Saraki and the Adopt a Goal for Development Initiative (AAGI), led by Dare Atoye, made the call during the second series webinar of “The Grow Nigeria Conversation (GNC)”.
The webinar came on the heels of disturbing spate of market fires and its tolls on the ordinary people and the deepening poverty level.
The groups noted that market fires occur due to carelessness, poor market planning or set up, electrical faults etc.
According to them, most markets in Nigeria serve as accommodation spaces for a lot of people, which is a direct reflection of the poor economic situation of the country.
They appealed to government to ensure that aside security personnel who guard marketplaces, other people should not be allowed to stay in markets.
The groups said, ”Experts at the event noted that proper planning, central electricity generation and distribution system as well as the use of renewable energy sources like Solar can help solve this problem. Most markets are not insured and so when there’s an outbreak, huge losses are recorded and livelihoods affected. It was observed that rather than donate millions of naira to rebuilding markets after an outbreak, such funds should be channelled towards preventing these fires and insuring the markets.
”Also, there should be laws and policies that make insurance of marketplaces mandatory. The need for advocacy and sensitization of market leaders and traders is key towards mitigating fire incidences in our markets. Local governments, which should be the first responders during a fire outbreak, are incapacitated. Poor funding has remained a major problem of the LGAs.
As such, the authorities look to the markets for revenue. Overtime, the market design does not matter to them so long as there are more people coming in who pay taxes.”
May 28, 2021
CSOs investigation knocks out religious extremism allegation against Pantami
An interim report of a committee set up by the Joint Council on Civil Society and Religious Affairs in Nigeria, has cleared the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Pantami, of religious extremism allegations levelled against in recent media reports.
The group gave Pantami a clean bill of health at a press conference addressed by its Chairman, Bishop John Okafor, in Abuja.
According to Okafor, “we made our independent findings and found the allegations against Dr Isa Pantami as not only untrue but afundamental plot to dampen the image of our dear country before the world.”
He premised the investigations on the fact that “if as the conscience of the nation, we fail to correct this misconceptions, then we have fundamentally failed in our obligations both to the people and government.”
The Chairman stated among other things noted “that Dr Pantami as a Sheikh preaches the convictions as laid in the holy islamic literature same we do to according to the Bible.
“The council also found out that the allegations had been a target on both the person of the Minister and the image of the country.
“The council also found out that Dr Pantami at no time had any personal link with any extremist both as a Sheikh and public official,” Okafor told reporters at the press conference.
He pointed out that handiwork of “interested stakeholders who are affected by the novel reforms in the telecommunication sector under the supervision of Dr Pantami.”
In this vein, the Joint Council on Civil Society and Religious Affairs in Nigeria based on “this findings has unanimously recommended a vote of confidence on the person of Dr Pantami and appeal for moral support to public officials so to have a basis to hold them accountable.”
April 19, 2021
CSOs, NGOs Raise Voice to end Gender Based Violence as Part of 2020 16 days of Activism in Adamawa
By Musa Isa Ahmed
The rally team leader Mary Igbazua, co-founder of the NEHIH Speaking at Adamawa State House of Assembly appreciated the speaker for the warm reception and speak of the reason for the March
As the Humanitarian Innovation Foundation (HIF) continues to commemorate the 16 days of activism in partnership with the British Council and EU under the MCN project, Various CSO’s and GBV advocates joined the HIF in a Walk for peace from the Adamawa State Secretariat to the Adamawa State House of Assembly.
The March team was received by the Honourable Speaker of the Adamawa State House of Assembly Honorable Aminu Iya Abbas, The deputy Speaker Honourable Makondo Pwamakeno and other members of the House adorned in the orange face caps.

Response on behalf of the rally team Mary Igbazua, advocated for the passage of the VAAP act in Adamawa State. stating that only 13 states so far have domesticated the VAPP Act five years after the Act was signed into law.
The honourable speaker Hon. Iya Abbas. thanked the March team for the peace walk and stated the house’s full support against GBV.
December 9, 2020
NGO organizes training for Media, CSOs on human capital Development in Kaduna
By Gabriel Udeh, kaduna

AN NGO, ‘Lafiya-UK Support for Health’ in Nigeria, is in the concluding part of the three-days workshop organized for media executives and Civil Society Organizations ( CSOs) on Human Capital Development (HCD).
The core essence of the HCD training programme is to sensitise the Media and CSOs, on the general concept of HCD, shared findings of HCD Political Economic Analysis (PEA) and develop an action plan and target advocacies to engage with HCD council and working groups.
In an introduction remarks, the Chairman knowledge Management and Communications sub-committee of the media component of Kaduna State Maternal Newborn and Child Accountability Mechanism (KADMAM), Garba Muhammad, deliberated on the essence of the workshop, highlighting that its training will cover the aspects of HCD and how the state’s HCD could be appropriately covered.
On the overview of the Lafiya UK programme, Lafiya Accountability, an expert, Dr. Ashiru Hamza, assured journalists that the training will expose media personnel on how to map out clear data for advocacies and communication.
Dr. Hamza further stated that journalists and CSOs will be identified, cultivated and equipped with knowledge, as change agents to help support government on HCD accountability, strengthen delivery mechanism in implementation of government resources and serve as transformational influence.
Meanwhile, the representative of the Special Adviser on HCD Council, Kaduna State, Lillian Shamaki, spelt out the key focus of HCD in the state, during the training which commenced from November 16th to 18th, 2020.
RELATED POSTS:
#ENDSARS: Account for your action – NGO tells FG
Oyo Govt. Appreciates NGO for Renovating School Buildings
Gender Violence: NGO embarks on house to house campaign in A’Ibom
November 17, 2020
All Northern CSOs, NGOs begins grassroots mass mobilization, sensitization ahead adjourned NLC, Govt meeting
..Pass no confidence vote on NLC, TUC, elected reps
..To form parallel body against NLC, govt impunity
By Ujah Simon, kaduna
All Northern Civil Society group, NGOs and other youth groups held a roundtable meeting in kaduna and resolved that a parallel body be formed to carry out future autonomous actions against impunity and government harsh policies compromised by NLC and TUC leadership.
The meeting also resolved that all the affiliating groups and Coalition of Northern Group, CNG, officials should commence mass grassroots mobilization and sensitization, while awaiting the outcome of the adjourned labour and government meeting in the next few days. End
The meeting convened under the auspices of Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG), passed vote of confidence on the leadership of NLC, TUC and all the elected representatives in country, describing them as incompetent sole negotiator with government on issues that negatively affect the general population.
The meeting, in a resolution signed by the spokesperson of CNG, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, yesterday, expressed serious regret and concern by the “apparent failure of elected representatives at all levels of governance to effectively administer and manage people and resources.
CNG also expressed concerned that “critical decisions are no longer undertaken by the right people in society, at the right time to deal with the multiple challenges facing the Nigerian masses particularly Northern Nigeria.
“These hardships were recently execrated by the introduction of a regime of harsh economic policies that include indiscriminate hikes in pump prices of fuel and electricity tariff by the federal government. “Typically, the leadership of the NLC and TUC entrusted with the management of a planned national action to force reversal of these policies inadvertently bungled the opportunity, compromised and entered into a warped agreement with government at the expense of general public.
“Against this background, the CNG in its usual resolve to confront and proffer strategic solutions to these challenges, convened an All Northern Nigerian Civil Society/NGOs roundtable that reviewed essentially the competence of the present set of leaders of workers unions and elected representatives to guarantee the wellbeing of the mass population.
“About 200 different northern Nigerian associations that cut across, gender, class, religion and ethnicity accepted to support CNG’s agenda setting in this regard and arrived at strategic recommendations”, it stated. The meeting observed among other things, that Northern Nigeria is now rendered virtually debased in view of its multidimensional problems, degeneration and loss of its values, created over the years by its own society and bad leadership. It also observed that the North is at present witnessing an exponential decline in its core value system, socio-economic and political capacity that hitherto bestowed it with its global relevance for multiple reasons. It noted that, “Whereas with its abundant human and natural resources such as agriculture, trade and human intellectual capacity”, bad governance appeared to be among the reasons bringing about myriads of challenges of insecurity, education, socio-economic and political, making the region vulnerable and near total collapse and degeneration, saying the Northern Nigeria has a great potential to excel as a region.
“It was observed that elected representatives at all levels and the leadership of NLC/TUC have failed the expectations of the general population thereby relieving themselves of further recognition. The meeting therefore resolved that It unanimously agreed to pass a vote of no confidence on the leaderships of the NLC/TUC and all elected representatives at all levels.
It declared NLC, TUC incompetent as sole negotiator with government issues that affect the general population. and resolved to communicate the findings of the roundtable in writing to the leadership of the labour union.
It also resolved and agreed that a more viable, confident and unified platform should be formed to carry out future autonomous actions against this and further impunity by government, and set up a committee with the mandate of designing modalities for the creation and locating the new platform in the prevailing circumstance. The meeting also agreed that all the affiliating groups and CNG officials should commence mass grassroots mobilization and sensitization, while awaiting the outcome of the adjourned labour/government meeting in the next few days.
October 8, 2020
Bad politics fueling ethnic agitations for state creation in A’Ibom – CSO, others
By Samuel Ogenyi, Uyo
A Civil Society Organization (CSO), United Front for Good Governance (UFGG), has expressed worry over the resurgence of pockets of agitations for self determination by some aggrieved ethnic groups in Akwa Ibom.
The group in a statement made available to newsmen in Uyo yesterday said that “bad politics remains the major driving force fuelling the struggle”.
National Coordinator of the group, Comrade Effiong Abasinyang, explained that the gab of ethnic hatred and politics of exclusion have become widened, blaming it on “insensitivity and insincerity to the feelings and aspirations of the people.’
He pointed out that the riverine communities of Eastern Obolo, Oron and Ibeno at the peripheral bounds of the Atlantic Ocean, had long been fighting for Atlantic state, following years of marginalization and neglect.
In the same vein, a youth activist from Eastern Obolo, Comrade Ezekiel Harry lamented that the state government has adopted a policy of ethnic hatred against the Obolos and the Ijaws in Akwa Ibom, because they want us to go and be with our Andoni brothers in River state.
“The government has taken large swathe of our land to plant coconut that will feed the Coconut refinery the administration is building at Mkpat Enin, our next door neighbor and the land was seized without any consultation with leaders and stakeholders of Eastern Obolo.
“And now, the administration is planning to establish a major oil and gas project on the shores of Eastern Obolo to Oron and Ibeno so that the remaining land will go.
“The administration is pushing for ethnic extinction of the Obolos in Akwa Ibom; that is why it is trying to push us into the Atlantic ocean without considering the fact that we produce bulk of crude oil that contributed to the state being the number one revenue earner from the Federation Account.
“We reject that project because if such mega project is located in Eastern Obolo, a major crude oil producer in the state, it means we are completely doomed with gas flaring and other environmental pollutions everywhere.” Harry said.
Also speaking, former Commissioner for Housing, Iroigak Ikann, noted the people of Eastern Obolo are agitating for a separate because of marginalization and neglect by the state government.
‘’My community has been seriously marginalized , forgotten in the provision of amenities. We may be a very small co munity, but over 50 percent of the oil that sustains Akwa Ibom state comes there. It I oil money that sustains Akwa Ibom state, not palm oil money.’’ Ikann said.
It was learnt the memo for the creation of Obolo state had already been delivered to the National Assembly and would comprise of Eastern Obolo, Oron, Ibeno, Uruefong Oruko, Okobo, Mbo, Udung Uko Local Government Areas in Akwa Ibom and Andoni in River state.
The Annang speaking Local Government Areas in Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District, had also resurrected their campaign for the creation of Itai state.
The memo for Itai state creation was presented Thursday last week by stakeholders of the region led by Sir Emem Akpabio to the Senator representing Ikot Ekpene Senatorial, Obong Christopher Stephen Ekpenyong, for onward transmission to the leadership of the 9^th Senate.
October 5, 2020
CSOs, ECOWAS Honours NYCN President
Civil Societies for Good Governance and ECOWAS Youth Council have conferred on the President, National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Solomon Adodo an award for
of effective performance and recommendation for higher responsibility.
The groups while presenting the award in Abuja on Monday also asked Nigeria to prioritise efforts towards building the youth for national development.
Speaking on behalf of the CSOs at
a brief ceremony graced by their representatives and the ECOWAS Youth Council, President of Civil Societies for Good Governance, Come. Dominic Ogakwu, said the call became necessary following series of promises made by successive government officials and other youth stakeholders without making adequate commitment towards implementation.
Ogakwu maintained that time has come for the nation to make concise efforts in building the youth rather than paying lip service.
He expressed optimism that the new leadership of the National Youth Council of Nigeria was leading in the course to repositioning the youth towards productivity and national development.
“The new leadership of NYCN is unifying all youth groups and is focused to drive this initiative. This is the first time in the history of NYCN that it has a unifying figure at the helm of affairs that is setting agenda for inclusive youth emancipation.
“The current President is never resting in amplifying the needs of the youth in a selfless and patriotic manner. The NYCN has set agenda for productivity.
“We are here to hold his hand up and to assure him that the vision is achievable. We are here to close ranks, to form a think tank to help foster the laudable initiative of the youth towards becoming productive.
“We are confident with the processes that has been put in place by the President of NYCN to harnessing youth potentials for productivity. We are willing to commit resources towards this efforts”, Ogakwu noted.
Also speaking, the ECOWAS Youth Council Ambassador, Austin Peacemaker stressed that the new leadership of NYCN has within a short period help in salvaging the image of the nation.
“The leadership of the NYCN is on the verge of changing the narrative of Nigerian been recognised as failed state to a working state.
“The NYCN has for long been led by mediocre, the reason we had several factions in the council. Thankfully, the new leadership is not only focused but unifying the youth for productivity and national development”, Peacemaker added.
In his response, the President of NYCN, Solomon Adodo thanked the groups for finding him worthy of their recognition.
He explained that though Nigeria was inundated with challenges of hunger, insecurity amongst others, emphasising the challenges was not a viable path to follow but rather think of creative ways to make progress.
Adodo hinted that the several initiatives of the President Muhammad Buhari led Federal Government such as the Youth Investment Fund would witness industries and viable jobs spring up within a short period.
He assured that the NYCN will ensure that the Fund is judiciously applied for the benefit of the youths and the nation’s economy.
“If the youths are well and meaningfully engaged, the youths would not easily fall prey to insecurity and other vices. We are engaging the youths from all around the country, the mechanics, the bricklayers etc to make them useful to themselves and the nation”.
According to Adodo, criminals in our society take advantage of the youths that have been abandoned and not properly situated in the society to cause mayhem.
August 25, 2020
@RevolutionNow: CSOs condemn protests
……alleges protesters linked to terrorists
The Conference of Civil Society for Peace, Security and National Development has criticised the protests staged against President Muhammadu Buhari by the #RevolutionNow group in Abuja, Lagos, Ondo and Osun saying it is an insult on Nigeria’s democracy that should not be allowed to continue.
The CSOs in a statement signed by its conveners, Comr. Mike Msuaan and Mallam Adamu Kabir Matazu and made available to newsmen on Thursday in Abuja also alleged that the promoters of the movement were been sponsored by some foreign enemies and disgruntled elements in the political circle to discredit the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
While acknowledging that the country was facing challenges, the group noted that visible steps were been taken to surmount the challenges and urged the citizens to stand in solidarity with the government.
“Nigeria is a democratic state and as such all citizens must subject to the tenets of democracy. We must all rise up as a people to resist the antics of the likes of Omoyele Sowore, Deji Adeyanju and their cohorts who have suddenly found reasons to speak for the rest of us. It is saddening that at a time coronavirus is ravaging the world, the acclaimed activists took advantage of poorly informed citizens to march on the street without adherence to COVID-19 protocols for protest they know nothing about.
“We have classified information that most of those leading protests against the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari are persons with links to terrorist organisations. Most of these individuals were before now surviving on proceeds of corruption which the present administration is working tooth and nail to block. For this group of people who are used to lavish lifestyles survival is of essence and as such has found patronage in working to discredit the nation under the guise of activism”, the group alleged.
The group vowed to mobilise well meaning Nigerians to resist any further attempt by disgruntled elements to undermine the President Buhari led administration.
“We will march any agent of disunity and destabilisation masquerading under guise of protesters power for power, force for force. Those behind the so called protest should know that they don’t have the monopoly of madness and iresponsibility,” the group stressed.
Consequently, it urged Nigerians of goodwill to be alive to the gimmicks of a few individuals who have shown clearly there preference to personal survival at the expense of the Nigerian state.
Recall that #RevolutionNow group staged protests on Wednesday demanding the resignation of President Muhammadu Buhari for they described as systematic corruption and worsening insecurity in the country.
August 7, 2020
@RevolutionNow: CSOs condemn protests
The Conference of Civil Society for Peace, Security and National Development has criticised the protests staged against President Muhammadu Buhari by the #RevolutionNow group in Abuja, Lagos, Ondo and Osun saying it is an insult on Nigeria’s democracy that should not be allowed to continue.
The CSOs in a statement signed by its conveners, Comr. Mike Msuaan and Mallam Adamu Kabir Matazu and made available to newsmen on Thursday in Abuja also alleged that the promoters of the movement were been sponsored by some foreign enemies and disgruntled elements in the political circle to discredit the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
While acknowledging that the country was facing challenges, the group noted that visible steps were been taken to surmount the challenges and urged the citizens to stand in solidarity with the government.
“Nigeria is a democratic state and as such all citizens must subject to the tenets of democracy. We must all rise up as a people to resist the antics of the likes of Omoyele Sowore, Deji Adeyanju and their cohorts who have suddenly found reasons to speak for the rest of us. It is saddening that at a time coronavirus is ravaging the world, the acclaimed activists took advantage of poorly informed citizens to march on the street without adherence to COVID-19 protocols for protest they know nothing about.
“We have classified information that most of those leading protests against the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari are persons with links to terrorist organisations. Most of these individuals were before now surviving on proceeds of corruption which the present administration is working tooth and nail to block. For this group of people who are used to lavish lifestyles survival is of essence and as such has found patronage in working to discredit the nation under the guise of activism”, the group alleged.
The group vowed to mobilise well meaning Nigerians to resist any further attempt by disgruntled elements to undermine the President Buhari led administration.
“We will march any agent of disunity and destabilisation masquerading under guise of protesters power for power, force for force. Those behind the so called protest should know that they don’t have the monopoly of madness and iresponsibility,” the group stressed.
Consequently, it urged Nigerians of goodwill to be alive to the gimmicks of a few individuals who have shown clearly there preference to personal survival at the expense of the Nigerian state.
Recall that #RevolutionNow group staged protests on Wednesday demanding the resignation of President Muhammadu Buhari for they described as systematic corruption and worsening insecurity in the country.
August 7, 2020
CSOs blast CUPP over call for Removal of Service Chiefs
The Conference of Civil Society for Peace, Security and National Development has taken a swipe at the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) for calling for sack of the nation’s service chiefs describing it as a bunch of political jobbers.
Recall that CUPP had issued a statement on Tuesday signed by its spokesman, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, saying it has instituted a law suit at the Federal High Court seeking among other things a declaration that the Service Chiefs having attained the mandatory retirement age of 60 years or 35 years of service in the Nigerian Armed Forces cannot lawfully have their services extended by the President or continue to perform any duty pertaining to their respective offices in the Armed Forces of the Federation amongst other demands.
But the CSOs in a statement issued on Wednesday signed by its conveners, by Comr. Mike Msuaan and Mallam Adamu Kabir Matazu, described CUPPS as bunch of political jobbers seeking crumbs from political opponents of the President Muhammadu buhari’s administration.
The CSOs maintained that there has been significant progress made in the war against insurgency, banditry kidnapping and other forms of criminalities in the country but regretted that enemies of the country have vowed to distract the administration to score cheap political points using the likes of CUPPS, SaharaReporters amongst others.
The rights group responding to the threat by CUPPS to mobilise for a nationwide protest within 30 days should the President fail to sack the service chiefs and guarantee security of lives and property said it was a huge joke that would be resisted by the CSOs and citizens in general.
“The civil society organisations most of whom have done detailed assessment of security situation in the country and the efforts of the current service chiefs know exactly where we were and where we are at the moment. Although, it is not yet uhuru, significant successes have been achieved and this we shall continue to engage the citizens on the need to support our military.
“It is embarrassing to say the least that the coalition of supposedly opposition political parties could be ignorant to the point of asking the Court to compel the President to sack the service chiefs or anyone on the account of attaining retirement age. Elementary understanding of government should avail to CUPPS and its cohort that the President reserves the right to extend the tenure of anyone.
“Reading through the statement of CUPPS points clearly that they were paid to discredit the service chiefs and the Presidency in general as it kept repeating one item over and over to earn their pay. It is either asking the court to compel the President to sack the service chiefs or asking the court to compel the service chiefs from performing their duties forgetting that appointment and sack is prerogative of the President.
“We find it disturbing that the group which claim to have been driven by patriotism to approach the court have never found it expedient to stand in solidarity with the troops at any point in time since 2015 when the entire nation was on the verge of been over thrown by insurgents and other violent criminals. Suddenly, because the CUPPS and their cohorts have received their pay check, they have now found reason to be patriotic”, the CSOs averred.
July 29, 2020