Image copyrightGetty ImagesImage caption Mr Conyers says he looks forward to “vindicating” himself
The longest-serving member of the US Congress says he is stepping aside as top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee while sexual harassment allegations are investigated.
A staff member alleges she was fired for refusing to “succumb to sexual advances” from the Michigan Democrat.
A prominent civil rights leader, Mr Conyers first joined Congress in 1965.
The House Ethics Committee has launched an investigation into allegations of sexual harassment and age discrimination involving staff.
On Sunday, Mr Conyers, who is 88, tweeted that he would like to remain as ranking member on the judiciary committee, but that he could not “in good conscience” allow the charges to “undermine” House colleagues.
It was reported on Tuesday that he had paid $27,000 (£20,000) in 2015 in exchange for the confidentiality of a former staff member who alleged she was fired for rejecting sexual advances.
Gombe (Nigeria) — The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Borno State chapter northeast of the country may have ended as the party, on Saturday, concluded its congress with the election of new executive members to pilot its affairs for the next four years.
The election was conducted at the Party’s Secretariat in Gombe by the chairman of the electoral panel, who told Journalists that four state executive members were elected by delegates from 27 local government areas of Borno State.
Garba said the party held the congress in 27 local government areas last month, except Bayo and Shani local governments where congress was not held following the crisis that erupted thereby making the exercise inconclusive.
“After no election in Bayo and Shani local government areas last month following a crisis that erupted the process of the congress , I reported it to the National headquarters. And later, they directed a panel committee to come to Gombe which concluded the election today Saturday 25th November 2017.
“Today we conducted the final election of the Borno state executive members that will pilot the affairs of the party for the next four years in sha Allah and everybody have got his right to vote all the delegates from 27 local government areas have voted,” he said.
Garba also announced the result of the congress that Zaina Gaddama Mustaph won the election with 553 votes against 525 got by Usman Mahadi Badeiri, Baba Ahmad was elected as Secretary while Hajiya Kelu Abba women leader and Baba Abba Sharif becomes Youth leader of the party.
Addressing party members, Kabiru Bappah Jauro, Northeast Zonal Secretary, urged them to put the past challenges behind them and forge a common front ahead for the 2019 general elections.
Speaking with journalists after he was sworn-in the new party Chairman, Zaina Gaddama Mustapha described the congress as successful adding that his emergence would usher in a repositioned and better PDP in Borno State.
He assured the party members that a reconciliatory committee would be set up to ensure permanent peace in the state chapter of PDP by bringing all the aggrieved party members back to the party.
“I want to thank the Almighty Allah that has made it possible for us to have a very successful state congress in PDP. My emergence, no doubt, will bring all aggrieved members, all those that are aggrieved back to the party and I see this congress putting an end to problems of PDP in Borno State.
Kaduna (Nigeria) — As salaries and allowances of workers as well as pensioners in IMO State South east of the country remain unpaid, coupled with the issuance of bounced cheques, a concerned group in the State has asked Governor Rochas Okorocha to account for the Paris club refunds and bail out funds that came into government coffers.
The group, G42 Imo Liberation Forum said in a statement signed by its Director of Communications, Walter Duru that it is saddened by the news of the unfortunate death of the Chairman ,National Union of Pensioners in Imo State, Mr. Gideon Ezeji which it attributed to the non payment of pensions.
According to the Group, his death is most unfortunate, as he died in penury, caused by the irresponsible nature of governance in the State and that investigations revealed that Mr. Ezeji died, holding his three (3) months bounced Cheque, issued by Imo State Government.
“We are aware that there is an increase in mortality rate, hunger and sicknesses among pensioners in Imo State, owing to non-payment of their pensions and gratuities for over twelve months now.
“The development is made worse by the recent issuance of three months cheques in August that cannot be cashed till date. The initial criminal attempt by this same government to compel them to forfeit a huge chunk of the owed monies remains green in our minds.
“Apart from the arrears owed Pensioners, Civil Servants in the state are owed several months of salary arrears by the state government. The infrastructural deficit in the state is so pronounced that Imo people are now ashamed of their state.
“The obvious hunger in the land notwithstanding; with the economy of the state almost collapsed, the present administration is more interested in the erection of meaningless statues and Christmas trees that have no relevance to the socio-economic wellbeing of the people. The debt profile of the state is also very high.
“G42 Imo Liberation Forum, a socio-political mass movement in the state sees this as worrisome, considering the huge sums that have been received by the present administration, particularly, the Paris Refunds and Bailout funds.
“We therefore demand an account of how the Imo State government under Chief Rochas Okorocha has expended the over twenty-six (N26b) Billion Naira bail out funds it received from the Central Bank of Nigeria.
“We also demand an account of the Internally Generated Revenue of the State, since the inception of the present administration. Imo State belongs to all of us and must not be run as an extension of Governor Rochas Okorocha’s private business empire, the statement said
The Wole Soyinka Centre For Investigative Journalism, WSCIJ, on Friday honoured female journalists who were part of its Female Reporters Leadership Fellowship Programme.
The award and appreciation programme, which saw the best three fellows receive special prizes, held at the Central Business District, CBD, GRA, Ikeja.
The Leadership Fellowship, supported by the Free Press Unlimited, was designed to empower female journalists with the skills, finesse, support and tools to take bold steps that help position them for the highest leadership roles in their various media houses.
According to the organisation, the initiative, which is a part of the WSCIJ Report Women programme, is helping to mobilise a network of female journalists that are oriented for leadership as well as create a train-the-trainer team who better appreciate the importance of mainstreaming gender in news.
The pilot exposure included a three-day training, three-month mentorship, a fair-share as well as leadership and story fellowship projects for 15 fellows spanning over six months.
Speaking at the award ceremony, Motunrayo Alaka, the programme director at the centre, explained that the media is like a magic mirror which reflects the society. Mrs. Alaka explained that the media also has the capacity to go into that mirror and make changes as it can set agenda, narratives and frame perspectives.
“The media itself has its own challenges and one of those things is the gender issues,” she explained.
“In management position, it is a 9-1 ratio in many media houses; many media houses don’t have women in their management (cadre). So how does the media set agenda for gender balance when it does not live gender balance?
“The programme is meant to help the media become what it wants the society to become. The media must be able to walk the path that they are preaching and we want to help the media set the agenda. There is an imbalance in leadership,” she said.
She, however, added that the project was not meant to promote matriarchy but to sensitise the media on imbalance in the different structures across newsrooms.
“This is not a women-take-over initiative; not a move from patriarchy to matriarchy but to address the imbalance in leadership in the media… (but) to address how the media write stories – political and social – to reflect society and shape the narrative,” she reiterated.
The highlight of the event was the presentation of awards to the participants, including PREMIUM TIMES’ judiciary correspondent, Evelyn Okakwu.
Meanwhile, Bunmi Yekinni, a reporter with Radio 1, emerged second runner-up in the programme. She was awarded a cash prize of N100,000. Juliana Francis, a crime reporter with New Telegraph newspapers emerged the runner-up and was awarded a cash prize of N150,000 while Olufunke Fayemi of Voice of Nigeria, VON, emerged overall winner and was awarded a cash prize of N200,000. All of the three outstanding fellows were given a laptop computer each.
In her remarks, veteran broadcaster, Bimbo Oloyede, advised the fellows to remain outstanding journalists and role models to young females in their respective capacities.
Similarly, the resource persons who took the fellows through the three-month programme –– Lekan Otufodunrin, Online Editor at The Nation Newspapers; Nneka Okekearu of Pan-Atlantic University; and Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi ––also admonished the participants to maximize the opportunity offered them by the centre through the training.
Kaduna (Nigeria)–Local Government autonomy content in the proposed constitutional amendment has been identified as the most important tool of ensuring that power returns to the people.
A former Minority Whip in the House of Representatives, Samson Osagie said this when a team of ‘Friends of Democracy ‘ paid an advocacy Visit to the Kaduna State House of Assembly northwest Nigeria over the ongoing 1999 constitutional amendment.
He said the proposed amendment of making the local Government councils independent, is a welcome idea, noting that effectiveness and efficiency of it, would enable provision of social amenities to the people at grass root.
“The State and Federal Governments are currently performing the task that is meant for the local Government which is not part of Federalism ,” Osagie noted
He added that the constitution required that state should provide at least 10 percent of its internally generated Revenue to the local government councils, and wondered how many states in Nigeria that are implementing it practically now.
Osagie said the issue of strengthening local government , is very important and serious .
” If we must ensure that democratic dividend goes to the grass root then you should not construe from the point of your position today as members.
“Your position would remain, the institution will remain, but what you will be remembered for, is your contribution to the deepening of democratic governance ” he said.
According to him, the friends of democracy want the Assembly to support the amendments and abolish local government joint account, so that the system of local government can be democratic
” Let local governments have their funds directly ,while you continue to maintain your oversight functions and State continues to exercise supervisory role over management of resources” Osagie added
He wondered why elections are not always being conducted at local Government level in most of the state’s in the country, but rather being managed by Care Taker committees appointed by the Governors.
The Ex-Reps Minority whip stressed the need for the Kaduna Assembly to critically look at the issue raised in the proposed amendments so as to be part of the process.
Earlier, the leader of the delegation, Abdullahi Bala said the group were at the Assembly to solicite for supports of Kaduna State House of Assembly on the proposed amendments of the 1999 Constitution.
Bala , a former Senator representing Taraba North said the essence of their visit was to interact with the members of the Assembly on the impending constitutional amendment exercise.
” Also to engage members of the Assembly on the need to sensitize the general public and to vigorously look at the proposed amendments with a view to passing it so that institutions of democracy can be strengthened ” “The processes of governance can be enhanced so that service delivery and dividends of democracy can reach the teaming masses of Nigeria who regularly vote for elected leaders with the view to improving their lives”,he said..
He called on the assembly to do the needful to ensure that the proposed amendments scale through, especially the issue of local government autonomy adding that to defend democracy one has to start from the basic foundation .
“All of you have constituencies and it has to start from local government administration which is the foundation on which we build the edifice of the federal structure” Bala noted.
According to him, if the law is amended, the autonomy would enable local Government to execute meaningful programmes and projects as we’ll as their welfare.
He stressed the need to ensure that democracy is strengthened ” we need to build those institutions that will ensure survival of democracy “
Bala noted that issues raised in the proposed amendments are geared toward strengthening governance, institutions and accountability in the management of resources .
He noted that local Government across the country are managed by care takers or sole administrators whereas section 7 of the the Nigeria constitution guarantees democratically elected local government.
According to him, the Federal Government has all its institutions running on democratic dispensation, so the state hence the need for the local government to be giving the oppoturnity.
On the electoral process, he said a number of recommendations have been made as well as the issue of internal security .
He said the group were impressed with the State of mind of the legislators in Kaduna state and are also very impressed with the strides achieved by Nasiru El-Rufai Administration in trying to reposition kaduna State.
Responding, the Speaker Kaduna State House of Assembly, Aminu Shagali reiterated the commitment of the Assembly to supporting the financial autonomy for local government.
The speaker who was represented by his Deputy, John Kwaturu said the issue of constitution reforms, especially the area of the local government reforms, Kaduna State was already at the top.
Immediately the Governor assumed office in 2015, he insisted that they should be given their financial structure and autonomy.
On the 2018 budget, he said the state Assembly was expecting to receive the report from the committee by next week and hopefully to passed into Law, and subsequently send to the governor for assent before the year run out.
“In kaduna State Assembly, we are not concerned about our financial autonomy we are concerned about very important issue like local government autonomy, budgeting among others, when the bill comes to us, we will put heads together to see how we can give the best for the betterment of Nigeria.
“Strengthening local government is strengthening internal democracy, because once local government is strengthened, it will go along way”
“The Kaduna State House of Assembly is presently working on a very good bills on the structuring of local government and the State Independent Electoral Commission” which are at the Committee on judiciary”
He assured the team that Kaduna would partner and continue to work in ensuring that Nigerians live to enjoy dividends of democracy.
Kaduna (Nigerian)–Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has charged states and local governments to leverage their unique culture and tourism products to generate income and create jobs.
A statement issued by the Special Adviser to the minister, Segun Adeyemi, said Mohammed was speaking on Friday at the opening of the 9th National Council on Tourism, Culture and National Orientation in Dutse, Jigawa State, northwest Nigeria
The Minister explained that the Federal Government has recognized the Creative Industry, of which culture and tourism are integral parts, and a key sector to create jobs and wealth to earn foreign exchange, as reflected in the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan 2017 to 2020.
“It is common knowledge that all the States and Local Governments have unique products, festivals and outstanding tourism sites. I, therefore, wish to also encourage all the Managers of Culture and Tourism at the State and Local Government levels to make the necessary efforts to develop these products and tourism sites in partnership with the private sector, in order to attract both domestic and international investors and tourists,” he said.
Mohammed noted that countries like China, Brazil, India, United Kingdom, United States of America, France and Egypt, to mention a few, have mainstreamed culture and tourism as vital parts of their economic agenda to generate income and sustainable employment for their citizens, and redirect the energies of their youths for productive ventures.
He said against the backdrop of the fall in oil prices, the Federal Government was clear – right from the onset – in its determination to enhance the economic fortunes of Nigeria through the diversification of the country’s economy, with a view to reducing poverty, creating jobs, stimulating revenue generation, ensuring effective utilization of local resources and providing sustainable peace and security.
“This is why we have consistently been evolving policies and programmes to explore the tourism and culture sector, in collaboration with our partners and stakeholders, to reposition Nigeria’s economy. Against this backdrop, the theme of this year’s meeting is apt and in tandem with our Administration’s avowed commitment to boosting the economy through the non-oil sector,” the Minister said.
He disclosed that the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, in its bid to reposition the sector, has established 14 Cultural Industry Centres with necessary facilities across the six geo-political zones of the federation to serve as skills acquisition and capacity building centres for the country’s teeming youth and women, with the aim at creating wealth, generating jobs and boosting national GDP.
Mohammed listed some of the major challenges facing the culture and tourism sector as the need to package the festivals and other tourist attractions into products that can be marketed and sold, as well as evolving a strategy to increase domestic and international tourism.
“Concerning international tourism, we have realized that our clear competitive advantage is our Film and Music industries. Whether it is Nollywood, Kannywood, or Afrobeat. Consequently, we will be harnessing them to promote our country as a tourism destination.
“Seeing our sites, people, culture and cities through films and music video should spur many to want to explore the country. That’s why we have reached an agreement with the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the global news channel CNN to showcase Nigeria globally, from the perspective of our film and entertainment industry. Indeed, packaging, marketing and thinking outside the box is the future of tourism,” he explained.
Gombe (Nigeria)–Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has urged State Governors to strive to ensure the growth and sustenance of the manufacturing sector in their respective States.
National President of MAN, Frank Udemba Jacobs, made the call on Friday at the opening of the 32nd Annual General Meeting (AGM) North-East Zone of the Association, held in Gombe , northeast of the country.
Udemba Jacobs who was represented by the North-East zone Chairman, Ahmad Mai Abba described the manufacturing sector as one of the most viable reliable partners of Government in creating wealth, generating employment and engaging skill acquisition.
“Your Excellency, I appeal to you and your colleagues to patronize made-in-Nigeria products, Government remain the largest single spender in the economy and could drive industrial development and economic growth by increasing its patronage of locally made products”, Frank said through the
He decried the unhealthy operating environment in the North-East due to the security challenges and the recession of the 2016 down to the first quarter of the year 2017, which made business opportunities so gloomy.
The National President however congratulated Governments and people of the North-East sub-region for once again having a healthier living environment and improved security.
Also speaking Governor, Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo who was represented by the General Manager, State’s Investment and Property Development Company, Jalo Ahmed Ganga, said his administration’s open door policy is the best in the North-East sub-region of the country towards advancing economic growth.
According to him, there were deliberate efforts made to reposition the economy of the State, adjudged the most peaceful in the North-East, through embarking on infrastructural developments such as road construction, provision of electricity and potable water for domestic and industrial purposes.
He said the State is committed towards ensuring that investors carry out their businesses without fear, intimidation or molestation.
The Governor expressed Government’s determination to partner with MAN in all industrial matters, especially now that focus is on diversification of the economy.
“In order to promote both commercial and industrial activities, the administration established an industrial cluster/enterprise zone, procurement of bakery machines from China for use by Master Bakers Association, procurement of oil expeller machines to promote the business, procurement of leath machines for metal fabrication as well as established commodity depot and exchange centre to facilitate export trade and boost internally generated revenue as a panacea to the nation’s dwindling economy,” he stated.
Kaduna (Nigeria)– Member representing Zangon Kataf/Jaba Federal Constituency in Nigeria’s House of Representatives, Sunday Marshall Katung, has appealed to the Federal and the Kaduna State governments to immortalise late renowned Nigerian scientist, Professor Andrew Jonathan Nok.
Katung in a statement made available to newsmen in Kaduna, northwest Nigeria Friday expressed deep sadness over the sudden death of Professor Nok, and that his contributions to Nigeria’s academic environment and Kaduna State should not be forgotten in a hurry.
He noted that such a reputable scientist who discovered the gene responsible for enzymes that cause trypanosomiasis commonly known as sleeping sickness, should be immortalised by the same federal government that gave him the Nigerian National Order of Merit Award (NNOM) in 2010 by President Goodluck Jonathan.
Kaduna State government, the Lawmaker suggests, should name a state owned institution after late Professor Nok, who died on active service as Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology.
The lawmaker said, the death of Nok is a monumental loss not just to Kaduna state but to the federal government and the entire world.
“He was a humble patriot, a nationalist, an academic enthusiast, and a man of uncommon peace.
“He was a perfect gentleman that lived his life without bias. His life is worthy of emulation and the vacuum he left has become a challenge to others to rise up, fill it and surpass his achievements for the betterment of humanity.
“The best way we can continue to remember the contributions of this renowned scientist is to name an institution after the late Professor of Biochemistry whose discovery in the world of science has placed Nigeria in the annals of history,” he explained.
Image copyright Getty Images 
