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Police, other security officers to undergo mandatory drug, psychiatric tests
Any person joining the police and other security agencies in Nigeria will undergo compulsory psychiatric and drug tests, the Federal Government has said.
It also said those serving in the armed forces and the allied agencies would go through such tests periodically.
Information and Culture Minister Lai Mohammed, who announced this in Abuja on Wednesday, said it was part of measures taken by the government in the aftermath of last year’s #EndSARS protests.
October 20 was the first anniversary of the protests by some youths against brutality by policemen especially men of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
The protest snowballed into violence which led to the destruction of various government and private properties runing into over a trillion naira.
The minister, who itemized other remedial measures by the government in response to the call by the youths, said the Federal Government’s nine-reform plans for police and other security agencies.
He said “of 28 states that set up panels of inquiring on the #EndSARS protests have limited their reports to the National Executive Council (NEC).
Mohammed said the reforms were aimed at enhancing the efficiency of security agency.
He said, “NEC called on the leadership of the security agencies to ensure that persons recruited into arms-bearing security agencies undergo psychiatric evaluations and drug tests before enlistment and periodically after enlistment to ensure that the personal are psychologically, fit to carry live weapons and to identify behavioural tendencies that may require psycho-social interventions.
Other reforms arePersons recruited into arms-bearing security agencies undergo psychiatric evaluations and drug tests before enlistment and periodically after enlistment to ensure that the personnel are psychologically fit to carry live weapons and to identify behavioural tendencies that may require psycho-social interventions.
“Personnel of the agencies dutifully observe Rules of Engagement in the discharge of their functions/duties around and within the civilian populace.
“While acknowledging the various initiative introduced by the Federal Government to strengthen police accountability through the Police Service Commission, sustain improved funding and budgetary allocation to the Nigeria Police Force and other securities agencies, and the lifting of the ban on recruitment of police officers, Council urged the Federal Government to give priority to the general welfare of police officers and personnel of other security agencies. In particular, it advocated the review of pension and gratuity of retired police officers and attainment of parity of remuneration by police officers with sister security agencies.”
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Ooni of Ife dismisses agitators of Yoruba nation
Ooni of Ife dismisses agitators of Yoruba nation
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, on Tuesday, urged Nigerians to ignore the Yoruba nation agitators, who invaded the Oyo State government secretariat last week, describing them as attention seekers.
Speaking when he received in audience members of the Yoruba Council Worldwide, who paid him a courtesy visit at his lodge in Eko Hotels, Victoria Island in Lagos to inform him of the sixth annual Omoluwabi festival which holds on April 27- 28, 2024, in Ile Ife and the grand finale holding in Lagos at LTV 8 Blue roof on May 1, 2024, the monarch commended the president of Yoruba Council Aare Oladotun Hassan for promoting Yoruba culture and extolling the good virtues Yoruba are known for.
Oba Ogunwusi, however, advised Nigerians not to give the Yoruba nation agitators any attention.
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He said: “We should not give those people relevance, they are achieving their aims just to seek attention,we are having challenges here and there in the country, this administration is really trying her best.
“Under President Bola Tinubu, he is doing very well, he is doing exceptionally well, by trying to fix the economy,we should give him benefit of doubt and also to engage people, very important we should be engaging people to talk to others about success recorded by the government in power.
“For us, we will continue to uphold and support the government, to support the president to ensure everything he does is to our advantage not as a race, but to our advantage as a nation, irrespective of where you come from Yoruba land or anywhere.”
Speaking on the importance of organising the Omoluwabi day, the president of the organisation, Mr Hassan said the essence is to rekindle the fast dieing Yoruba morals and values and as well inculcate it into the youths.
He said: “Yoruba Council Worldwide is registered organisation with Corporate Affairs Commission with vocal point of promotion of Yoruba cradles Omoluwabi ethos, National development, ensuring due dividend of democracy.
“The organisation was established 18th March 1999,just celebrating the sixth edition of world omoluwabi day.
Ooni of Ife dismisses agitators of Yoruba nation
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Jubilation as FG begins disbursement of N200bn palliative loans
Jubilation as FG begins disbursement of N200bn palliative loans
The Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment says it has begun disbursement of the Presidential Conditional Grant Scheme to verified applicants after an exhaustive selection process.
The government, through the Bank of Industry, had said it would be disbursing three categories of funding totalling N200bn to support manufacturers and businesses across the country.
In a progress report posted on the trade minister’s official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Tuesday, Doris Aniete stated that an unspecified number of beneficiaries have received their grants, adding that by Friday, April 19, another significant disbursement will be made to a substantial number of verified applicants.
She said, “We are pleased to inform you that the disbursement process for the Presidential Conditional Grant Programme has officially commenced. Some beneficiaries have already received their grants, marking the beginning of our phased disbursement strategy.”
“By Friday, 19th April 2024, a significant disbursement will be made to a substantial number of verified applicants. It is essential to understand that disbursements are ongoing, and not all applicants will receive their grants on this initial date. However, rest assured that all verified applicants will eventually receive their grants in subsequent phases.”
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This is coming more than eight months after President Bola Tinubu announced the grant for manufacturers and small businesses and two weeks after applicants were directed to submit their National Identification Numbers as part of the requirements to obtain the grant earmarked to cushion the effect that recent economic reforms have had on businesses in the country.
In the address, the president said he was determined to strengthen the manufacturing sector, increase its capacity to expand, and create good-paying jobs.
“We are going to spend N75bn between July 2023 and March 2024. Our objective is to fund 75 enterprises with great potential to kick-start sustainable economic growth, accelerate structural transformation, and improve productivity.
‘’Each of the 75 manufacturing enterprises will be able to access N1bn credit at 9 per cent per annum with a maximum of 60 months repayment for long-term loans and 12 months for working capital,” Tinubu said.
The programme, riddled with multiple delays and a complex registration process, had received several criticisms from prospective beneficiaries.
The President of the Association of Small Business Owners, Femi Egbesola, had decried the slow pace of data collation by the supervising agencies, alleging that genuine businesses were being deliberately discouraged from accessing the loans.
Jubilation as FG begins disbursement of N200bn palliative loans
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DSS operatives beat, harassed me – El-Rufai’s loyalist
DSS operatives beat, harassed me – El-Rufai’s loyalist
Aisha Galadima, a political ally of former Kaduna State Governor Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, has revealed that she was beaten and harassed by Department of State Services (DSS) officers while in custody.
Galadima made this statement following her release from DSS detention after being arrested in Kaduna over a Facebook post attacking the state governor, Uba Sani.
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According to Galadima, she was forcibly taken from her residence by four DSS operatives who dragged her out of her room while she was preparing to take a bath. She recounted being pushed into a vehicle and driven away by the operatives.
Galadima asserted that the DSS accused her of making posts against the governor in February.
“I was inside my room about to take my bath when they came in and dragged me out. I saw four of their Hilux vehicles outside the gate. They pushed me inside and drove away,” she said.
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