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  • TCTI is Truly a World-Class Teacher Training Institute in Nigeria – NTI Observers

    By Higgins James 

    Participants and stakeholders to the just concluded workshop organized by the National Teachers Institute (NTI) Kaduna, for forty primary school teachers at the Teachers Continuous Training Institute (TCTI), Cross River State have rated the Institution as the best teacher training centre in Nigeria alongside the NTI.

    Observers on a 3-Day seminar tagged: ‘Global Goals for Sustainable Development’ which held between 15th – 17th November, 2023, lauded the concept, which according to them stands unequalled in terms of hospitality, facilities, formations, training and research and overall planning.

    According to Malam Suleiman Jibril, a teacher from Kaduna State, ‘the equipment on ground are in line with the latest technological advancement obtainable in modern learning anywhere.

    “The TCTI is one of the best teacher training institutions of development l have seen. The facilities are superb and the place is second to none. It is even included in our report”.

    Another teacher, Mr Leonard Iyeje testifies that: “The Institute has inculcated great knowledge into me with its up-to-date training facilities and l am happy that my students and wards back home will have something new to learn from this experience.

    Continuing, Iyeje said “the amenities are the best anyone can imagine in this country. Sincerely, l was amazed at what l saw on ground.

    An elated Mrs Emilia Matiki noted that “the place is one of its kind. From the location, high tech facilities, instructional materials, to the general coordination we were all very impressed with what we saw at the TCTI and l hope to be there for another training. It was indeed a wonderful experience”.

    The State Coordinator, Cross River State Chapter of the National Teachers Institute, Mr James Edet affirmed the comments made by the visiting tutors, highlighting the importance of the Institute to national integration and learning.

    Several commendatory reviews received from participants and observers in the pedagogical profession abound before and after the drills.

    Addressing participants after the exhibition, renowned educationist and pioneer Director-General of the TCTI, Professor Taoheed Adedoja, hinted that the Institute is open to local and foreign collaborations as a way to foster learning. Professor Adedoja thanked the NTI for the continued synergy in enhancing teacher’s growth.

    The TCTI, solely owned and financed by the Cross River State government, was conceived to boost manpower development and guarantee quality learning that meets global teaching. It is the first CERTIPORT approved institution for digital literacy proficiency testing with
    a view to filling the gaps on knowledge and skills needed for global employability and competitiveness.

    Higgins James writes from Calabar

  • Appeal Court Set To Deliver Judgement On Sandy Onor Appeal Against Prince Otu

    The Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos is set to deliver the governorship appeal by Sen Sandy Onor and PDP against Prince Bassey Otu and APC on Wednesday 22nd November 2023 by 9:00am.

    The governorship tribunal had dismissed the petition by Sen Sandy Onor and PDP brought before it against Prince Bassey Otu and APC.

    The tribunal had held that the matter before it was a pre-election matter.

  • Jarigbe Congratulates Chief Of Defence Intelligence, Calls For Improved Security Architecture In Cross River North

     

    The Senator representing Cross River North Senatorial District, Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, DSSRS, has hailed the appointment of the new Chief of Defence Intelligence, Major General Emmanuel Akomaye Parker Undiandeye.

    The lawmaker noted that the appointment of the CDI was a product of hard work, commitment, dedication and outstanding professionalism.

    Senator Jarigbe, while receiving the Major General to his National Assembly office, wished him the very best in his new office, and highlighted the strategic relationship between Cross River North constituents and Intelligence. He also called for improved security architecture in a bid to avert crisis and communal unrest in and around the Senatorial District.

    Major General Undiandeye appreciated the Distinguished Senator for the warm reception and also used the opportunity to condole the lawmaker on the demise of his brother in-laws. He promised to be a good ambassador of Cross River North Senatorial District in the course of his service to the nation.

    Congratulations, Major General.

    TEAM JARI MEDIA

  • NCTO To Partner UNICEF, Set To Crash Rising Poverty Index

     

    The United nations children Trust Fund, UNICEF have met with the Leadership of the National Cash Transfer Office to interact on measures to boost works in the Alleviation of poverty in the country.

    They visited to discuss measures in tackling multi dimensional poverty among all Nigerians with hopes of minimizing the influx of people into the sliding poverty index.

    The aim is to help cultivate a robust working relationship and ride on the guiding principles of equity, fairness and accountability in line with the Renewed Hope mantra of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu and guidelines of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs headed by Dr Betta Edu.

    The team received by the National Coordinator, Dr Michael Ajuluchuku and Deputy National Coordinator, National Cash Transfer Office, Dr Janet Ekpenyong was assured of harmonious working relationship in order to help Alleviate the over 133 million Nigerians said to be living below the Poverty index across the 774 Local Government Areas of the Country.

    According to the National Coordinator, Dr Michael Ajuluchuku, the need to reinforce the actions and update the National social Register is imminent in order for the policy thrust of the government to be felt by the vulnerable. He further reiterated the commitment of the office to partner with organizations such as UNICEF that will support Cash Transfer , as it is one of the solutions to ending poverty. He also solicited for support in the areas of capacity building and input on the restructuring of the program.

    In her response, The Deputy National Coordinator, National Cash Transfer Office, Dr Janet Ekpenyong called for the formation of a Technical Working Group in alliance with sister MDAs and stakeholders in communicating with Nigerians on the gains recorded through the Cash Transfer Office.

    She said, the National Cash Transfer Program, which is one of the areas the Honourable Minister, Dr Betta Edu is prioritizing as a tool to fight poverty and will continue to promote innovations especially on cash transfer that will help provide sources of livelihood, income and knowledge to the vulnerable across the country noting that advocacies will commence soon as traditional communication means are already being lined up in communities. She further advocated for the reduction of fragmentation of cash transfer program in the country while soliciting for support to coordinate stakeholders in the cash transfer space in the country.

    In their separate responses, representatives of UNICEF headed by the Chief of social policy, Mr Hamidou Poufon congratulated the new team for their appointments, assuring them of maximum cooperation and supports in meeting with their targets.

    They called for a formation of child grant as part of the major social security and protection policy to bring an end to inflating Poverty rate in the country.

    They acknowledged the efforts of the Humanitarian Ministry under the leadership of Dr Betta Edu in prompt responses to natural disasters like flood, conflicts and communal crisis which daily contributes to the loss of lives and means of livelihood affecting parents and their children alike.

    They said even though there are reservations in the productivity of cash transfer, and sometimes doubts by Nigerians, millions have become beneficiaries, which has helped cushion the effects of perennial poverty across many zones in the country.

    Both teams are expected to produce a working document that when conceptionalized , will create the perfect template for modern day livelihood sustianace scheme.
    Also, in the meeting, were other technical staff of the National Cash transfer office and UNICEF staff including Nkatha Nobure and Segun Tekun.

  • Shehu Sani Condemns Appeal Court Verdict Against The Electoral Victory Of Plateau State Governor

    Shehu Sani, former Kaduna State Senator, has reacted to the outcome of the Appeal Court verdict, which sacked Caleb Mutfwang as the governor of Plateau State.

    Senator Sani, who posted this on his verified X account, said the appellate court decision is a broad daylight heist of the will of the people, adding that the bench is becoming the coffin of democracy.

    He wrote: “The Court of Appeal Judgement against the electoral victory of the Plateau State Governor is unfortunate, unacceptable, and condemnable. A broad daylight heist of the will of the people.The bench is becoming the coffin of democracy.”

  • Appeal Court Sacks Plateau Governor Caleb Mutfwang, Declares APC Candidate Winner

    A three-member panel, of the Court of Appeal in a unanimous decision on Sunday, held that Muftwang was not validly sponsored by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as provided by Section 285(2) of the Nigerian Constitution.

    The court declared Nentanwe Yilwatda Goshwe of the APC as duly elected governor of Plateau State.

    A three-member panel, in a unanimous decision on Sunday, held that Muftwang was not validly sponsored by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as provided by Section 285(2) of the Nigerian Constitution.

     

  • Child Support Scheme Platform Does Not Exist, Link is Fake – Betta Edu

     

    The attention of the Honourable Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu has been drawn to a circulating bogus child support scheme with the title “FEDERAL GOVERNMENT’S ₦50,000 CHILD SUPPORT FUND FOR ALL NIGERIAN PARENTS IS ONGOING”

    The said scheme and the accompanying link are fake as they did not emanate from the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.

    All social intervention schemes of the Ministry are well documented, in the public domain, and are brought to the notice of Nigerians through proper channels.

    The so-called “Child Support Scheme” is fake and is not and can never be any of the Ministry’s schemes.

    The general public is hereby alerted that undesirable elements whose sole agenda is to mislead and defraud unsuspecting Nigerians are behind the fake scheme advertisement and link.

    While security agents have swung into action to unmask the unpatriotic elements behind the intended scam, Nigerians are advised to ignore the link to avoid being defrauded of their hard-earned money.

    Rasheed Olanrewaju Zubair (ANIPR), Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Honourable Minister, MHAPA
    19/11/2023

  • The Leonid Meteor Showers Have Been Taking Place This Past Week And Are Expected To Speak Tonight BY ENDURANCE OGRI

    Culled From Vintage News

    In the pre-dawn hours of November 12, 1833, the sky over North America seemed to explode with falling stars. It was unlike anything anyone had ever seen before, and visible over the entire continent. Many witnesses interpreted it as a sign of the Biblical end times, remembering words from the gospel of St. Mark: “And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.”

    The Lakota people were so amazed by the event that they reset their calendar to commemorate it, and the Cheyenne people established a peace treaty with the Pawnee people. Even Abraham Lincoln, who was awoken by the shower, mentioned the event in a speech during his presidency.

    Scientists struggled to find an explanation for the event in 1833. Physicist and astronomer Denison Olmsted was most accurate in his description, publishing his findings in 1834, stating that the shower radiated from a point in the constellation Leo and speculated that it was caused by the Earth passing through a cloud of space dust.

    Today, we know that every November the Earth passes through the debris in the trail of a comet known as Tempel-Tuttle, thus causing the meteor showers we know as the Leonids. Although the meteorite shower is impressive every year, every 33 years or so they are especially striking, although very rarely being as awesome as the 1833 shower.

    The Leonid meteor showers have been taking place this past week and are expected to peak TONIGHT! ✨🌟💫

     

    Disclaimer: The opinion expressed in this article is strictly that of the author, Anne Endurance Ogri, and does not represent TheLumineNews or its agent 

  • No Conflicts In The Decisions Of The Court Of Appeal In Peter Obi & Labour Party Against INEC, President Tinubu And Two Others; And Kabir Yusuf & NNPP Against APC BY OKOI OBONO-OBLA 

     

    The Court of Appeal Abuja on 17 November 2023 delivered judgment in the appeal filed by the Governor of Kano State, Engr. Kabir Yusuf against the Judgment of the Kano Governorship Election Petition Tribunal dated 25 September 2023 that had nullified his election as Governor of Kano State.

    The Court of Appeal affirmed the Judgment of the Tribunal and ordered that Governor Kabir Yusuf vacant his gubernatorial seat for the APC candidate, Gamuwa to take over.

    One aspect of the judgment of the Court of Appeal that has attracted the attention of pundits is the part where the Court of Appeal, held that Governor Kabir Yusuf was not properly sponsored by his party-NNPP.

    Expectedly pundits have wondered why this should be so, given that the judgment of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal(PEPT) in the consolidated petitions of Peter Obi & Labour Party against INEC, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu; Senator Kashim Shettima, and APC, had held that it had no jurisdiction to adjudicate on membership of a political party raised by President Tinubu against Peter Obi.

    It goes without saying if that is the position; why would the Court of Appeal in Kabir Yusuf NNPP against APC decide otherwise?

    The position of the law is that where a superior court has decided on a matter; the court on the lower rung of the judicial hierarchy is bound to apply that principle enunciated by the superior court, where the facts of the previous case are similar to the facts and circumstances of the instance case.

    This doctrine is known as judicial precedent and, is one of the hallmarks of the common law tradition which holds sway in the Nigerian legal system.

    However, for judicial precedent to apply the facts of a previous case must be similar to the facts of the new case.

    The pertinent question therefore is:are the facts in Peter Obi & Labour Party against INEC, President Tinubu, Senator Shettima & APC on one hand ;
    and APC vs, INEC, Kabir Yusuf & NNPP on the other hand, are similar?

    The answer is No.

    In the case of Peter Obi& Labour Party and INEC, President Tinubu; Senator Shettima, and APC (the Respondents), took a preliminary objection on the locus standi of Peter Obi to bring his Petition on the ground that he contravened section 77(3) of the Electoral Act.
    Section 77 (3) of the Electoral Act mandates a political party to submit the membership register of its members 30 days before the Party primaries.
    The INEC, President Tinubu, Senator Shettima, and APC
    had argued that Peter Obi was not a member of the Labour Party but PDP.
    They contended further that Peter Obi had resigned from his membership of the PDP only on 25 May 2022 to join the Labour Party on 27 May 2022.

    On the other hand, in Kabir Yusuf & NNPP against APC; the Petitioner (APC) had filed a petition against Kabir Yusuf seeking a determination that the 3rd Respondent(NNPP) failed to sponsor a candidate who satisfied the requirements of sections 177 and 182 of the Constitution, Electoral Act 2022, and other Electoral Laws, for the election of the Governor of Kano State.

    Therefore, the facts, of the cases of the Respondents (INEC, President Tinubu; Senator Shettima, and APC) and Peter Obi are fundamentally different from the facts and circumstances in Kabir Yusuf & NNPP against APC.

    In Peter Obi’s case, the Respondents challenged the locus standi of the petitioners to bring the petitioner on the ground that Peter Obi violated section 77 (3) of the Electoral Act,2022 but they were overruled. The PEPT held it did not have jurisdiction because membership of a political party is a political question that cannot be determined by a court.

    On the other hand, in Kabir Yusuf & NNPP against APC; the Petitioner(APC) sought a determination that the 3rd Respondent(NNPP) failed to sponsor any candidate who satisfied the requirements of sections 177 and 182 of the Constitution, Electoral Act 2022, and other Electoral Laws, for the election of the Governor of Kano State.

    The facts of the two cases are therefore different and the precedent enunciated in the judgment in Peter Obi’s case is not Kabir Yusuf & NNPP against APC.

    The facts and circumstances of these two cases (Peter Obi against INEC, President Tinubu, Senator Shettima & APC), and Kabir Yusuf & NNPP and APC are distinguishable.

    It is worth noting that in the case of INEC; President Tinubu; Senator Shettima and APC did not appeal against the dismissal of their objection on the competence of Peter Obi’s Petition by the PEPT to the Supreme Court.

    Therefore since there was no appeal against that decision by the PEPT, it stands in law.

    However, it is instructive that the PEPT is also a panel of the Court of Appeal, Abuja.

    The judgment in Kabir Yusuf & NNPP was also delivered by another panel of the Court of Appeal Abuja.

    Is there any conflict between the judgment of the PEPT on one hand; and the judgment of the Court of Appeal in Kabir Yusuf & NNPP against APC?

    I do not think so.
    The judgment of the PEPT in Peter Obi & Labour Party against INEC, President Tinubu, Senator Shettima, and APC was premised on the interpretation of section 77 (3) of the Electoral Act,2022.
    The import of section 77 (3) of the Electoral Act on the main is that a political party must transmit to INEC the register of its membership 30 days before holding its convention or congress to nominate its candidates for the general election.

    Conversely, the judgment of the Court of Appeal in Kabir Yusuf & NNPP against APC is anchored on the interpretation of sections 177 and 182 of the Constitution,1999 (as amended) which provides that a candidate for governorship election must be a member of a political party that sponsors his elections.

    @ Okoi Obono-Obla

    Disclaimer: The opinion expressed in this article is clearly that of the author, Okoi Obono-Obla, and does not represent TheLumineNews or its agent.

  • Stakeholders Blame Witchcraft Branding On Government, Nollywood Films

    By Godwin Otang

    Stakeholders at the forefront to end witchcraft branding in Cross River and Akwa Ibom States have blamed the act on institutional failures, government oversights, and Nollywood fiction films that depict characters as witches or wizards.

    These fingers were pointed during a Town Hall meeting held at the Old Residency, National Museums and Monuments Calabar, to sensitize the public and to explore coping mechanisms for the survivors of terrorism, conflict,  witchcraft branding, and among others in Cross River and Akwa Ibom States.

    National Geographic Explorer and co-organizer of the Town Hall meeting Etinosa Yvonne frowned at the spike of witch hunting in the two States and perpetrators go unpunished.

    “I use this project to advocate for increased access to psychosocial support for the survivors. For this chapter, we are focusing on people accused of witchcraft; as a society,  we are more focused on the physicality of conflict than the mental and psychological effects. Some of the children you call ‘scolombo’ are not scolombo, they are just victims of a dysfunctional society; some of them, (both boys and girls) are being raped.

    “In Nigeria, justice belongs to the highest bidder. That’s how Nigeria works, there’s too much abnormality and dysfunctionality. Until that is checked we would continue to spiritualize things that are just normal. The entire Nigerian system has failed, so when these things happen we spiritualize them, which is wrong,” Yvonne said.

    Human Rights Lawyer and Co-founder of Basic Right Counsel Initiative (BRCI), James Ibor, Esq averred that witchcraft branding is a criminal offense.

    He noted that the reason why the act keeps thriving is because governments at all levels are mute.

    “We have to end it, it’s criminal to brand anybody a witch,  those who have been branded have been affected negatively. It is the duty of the government to bring all the perpetrators to justice. Primarily, systemic failure is the major cause of witchcraft branding.

    “What’s the state of our education, health, and road infrastructure? So superstition now spreads to the detriment of innocent citizens. Until we revive our school where critical thinking, wealth creation, technical and practical are taught; until our labs and the hospitals begin to function, churches would not shut down. The government should bring to justice all perpetrators of witchcraft branding and the killers of victims.

    The program featured a healing retreat for survivors, panel discussions, and others.