ALBNI Condemns Shooting of #EndSARS Protesters Demands criminal prosecution of perpetrators

By Remi Adebayo/Ibrahim Dan-Halilu Abuja

The Accountable Leadership for Better Nigeria Initiative (ALBNI) has described the Tuesday, October 20 killings of unarmed, peaceful protesters in Lekki and some other locations across the nation as barbaric, dastardly, genocidal and illegal.
In a statement jointly signed by ALBNI’s Executive Director, Remi Adebayo and Secretary of the organization, Ibrahim Dan-Halilu, said unprovoked attacks and murder of defenseless and protesters demanding for an overhaul of the Nigeria Police is both uncivilized and violates the fundamental rights of Nigerians to peaceful assembly as guaranteed by the Constitution.

It is saddening to note that the government has lost the opportunity provided by the protesters to look into the issues on the list of demands presented to it and take immediate remedial measures that will restore dignity and honour of our security agencies.

Sad enough, instead of providing cover to the young protestors who want the best for their country and people, they were visited with violence and deaths.

“We condemn in unequivocal terms the termination of lives of those youngsters in their prime by the so-called hoodlums, and call for thorough investigation of the circumstances to unravel the perpetrators, and bring them to justice no matter their status, ranks or influence in the society.

“ABNI will not hesitate to build a coalition with civil groups to present formal petition to relevant global human rights protection organisation for trial of the principal actors of the callous act and their sponsors.

“Our organization holds it to be self-evident that every Nigerian citizen has the right to hold opinion, in support of, or against any government and its policies, actions or inactions through peaceful protests, and that right is inalienable, sacrosanct, and inviolable. The essence of every government is to protect lives and cater for the welfare of its citizens”, said ALBNI.

The organization totally rejects and denounces the assertion by Nigerian security of inability to curtail violent attacks on harmless citizens by either hoodlums or security operatives.

“We wish to remind those making these spurious claims that security agents are paid from tax payers’ money to provide protection to all law abiding citizens,” ALBNI stressed.

The group called on President Muhammadu Buhari to lead from the front as he promised during his inaugural speech, by addressing the nation on the #EndSARS protests and the measures taken by security agents in order to douse tension and reassure the citizens of his commitment to addressing the demands made by the protesters.

“We want to reiterate that the president’s silence is not golden at this moment of uncertainty, fear and anger,” ALBNI said

On the #EndInsecurity protests in other parts of the country, the group restates the need for President Buhari to ensure improved security on the lives and properties of citizens across Nigeria.

“The #EndInsecurity protests are equally legitimate as it exposes the vulnerability of the people in the face of multiple threats to life and people’s property in their own nation. The President must bear full responsibility as Commander-in-Chief and must deploy tact towards addressing these ominous signs indicating that all is not well with our dear nation,” Albni said.

The statement charged security agents on the need to exercise professionalism and decorum while handling peaceful protests reminding that rights and life protection, as well as welfare of the people remain enshrined in the Nigerian law.

“Loyalty to the Nigerian Constitution is the bedrock of our hard-earned democracy, as such; loyalty of security agents can only be exercised in tandem with the dictates of such laws which guarantee protection of human lives and dignity. It is unfortunate seeing parents burying their children in this very manner,” Albni stated.

The organization prayed for the repose of souls of the departed asking that God grant the families of the deceased the fortitude to bear the unfortunate loss.

e-Signed
Remi Adebayo Ibrahim Dan-Halilu
Executive Director Secretary

Abuja
October 21, 2020.

By Remi Adebayo/Ibrahim Dan-Halilu Abuja

ALBNI Condemns Shooting of #EndSARS Protesters
…demands criminal prosecution of perpetrators

The Accountable Leadership for Better Nigeria Initiative (ALBNI) has described the Tuesday, October 20 killings of unarmed, peaceful protesters in Lekki and some other locations across the nation as barbaric, dastardly, genocidal and illegal.
In a statement jointly signed by ALBNI’s Executive Director, Remi Adebayo and Secretary of the organization, Ibrahim Dan-Halilu, said unprovoked attacks and murder of defenseless and protesters demanding for an overhaul of the Nigeria Police is both uncivilized and violates the fundamental rights of Nigerians to peaceful assembly as guaranteed by the Constitution.

It is saddening to note that the government has lost the opportunity provided by the protesters to look into the issues on the list of demands presented to it and take immediate remedial measures that will restore dignity and honour of our security agencies.

Sad enough, instead of providing cover to the young protestors who want the best for their country and people, they were visited with violence and deaths.

“We condemn in unequivocal terms the termination of lives of those youngsters in their prime by the so-called hoodlums, and call for thorough investigation of the circumstances to unravel the perpetrators, and bring them to justice no matter their status, ranks or influence in the society.

“ABNI will not hesitate to build a coalition with civil groups to present formal petition to relevant global human rights protection organisation for trial of the principal actors of the callous act and their sponsors.

“Our organization holds it to be self-evident that every Nigerian citizen has the right to hold opinion, in support of, or against any government and its policies, actions or inactions through peaceful protests, and that right is inalienable, sacrosanct, and inviolable. The essence of every government is to protect lives and cater for the welfare of its citizens”, said ALBNI.

The organization totally rejects and denounces the assertion by Nigerian security of inability to curtail violent attacks on harmless citizens by either hoodlums or security operatives.

“We wish to remind those making these spurious claims that security agents are paid from tax payers’ money to provide protection to all law abiding citizens,” ALBNI stressed.

The group called on President Muhammadu Buhari to lead from the front as he promised during his inaugural speech, by addressing the nation on the #EndSARS protests and the measures taken by security agents in order to douse tension and reassure the citizens of his commitment to addressing the demands made by the protesters.

“We want to reiterate that the president’s silence is not golden at this moment of uncertainty, fear and anger,” ALBNI said

On the #EndInsecurity protests in other parts of the country, the group restates the need for President Buhari to ensure improved security on the lives and properties of citizens across Nigeria.

“The #EndInsecurity protests are equally legitimate as it exposes the vulnerability of the people in the face of multiple threats to life and people’s property in their own nation. The President must bear full responsibility as Commander-in-Chief and must deploy tact towards addressing these ominous signs indicating that all is not well with our dear nation,” Albni said.

The statement charged security agents on the need to exercise professionalism and decorum while handling peaceful protests reminding that rights and life protection, as well as welfare of the people remain enshrined in the Nigerian law.

“Loyalty to the Nigerian Constitution is the bedrock of our hard-earned democracy, as such; loyalty of security agents can only be exercised in tandem with the dictates of such laws which guarantee protection of human lives and dignity. It is unfortunate seeing parents burying their children in this very manner,” Albni stated.

The organization prayed for the repose of souls of the departed asking that God grant the families of the deceased the fortitude to bear the unfortunate loss.

e-Signed
Remi Adebayo/Ibrahim Dan-Halilu
Executive Director Secretary

Abuja
October 21, 2020.

Public service reform: Borno Governor introduces promotional Exams into the state civil service

By Madu Mohammed, Maiduguri

The Borno state Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum has directed for the immediate introduction of promotional Examination into the state civil service, In it’s efforts to change the core values of the Public service and change a trajectory of doing government businesses, as he received report of the Committee on public service reform.

Governor Babagana Zulum who directed for the immediate introduction of promotion examination into the service while receiving the 42 recommendations report at the Government House, Maiduguri, yesterday, that was to test the ability and competence of all staff before promotion.

“I hereby directed the Head of Service to furnish my office with requirements for conducting 2021 promotion Exams, we cannot afford to just promote our staff at the end of every fours years without promotional exam to test their capability and competence”, the governor added.

Prof. Zulum while commending the committee for a job well done, said “the report of the committee which is intended to restore the core values of public service will be forwarded to the state Executive council for deliberations and a white paper committee will be constituted for implementation of the recommendations for both immediate, short and long term, added”.

“I also directed for the immediate construction of Zonal offices in Biu, Monguno and Ngala for effective monitoring of government activities and performance of government, ministries, departments and agencies at local government level. I also give the committee on the verification of local government personal to complete their assignment on or before the end of November this year”, he further directed

He said that government in it’s efforts to transform the civil service and provide conducive environment had carried out complete renovation and rehabilitation of the Musa Usman state Secretariat and finish it’, adding , the first time such complete overhaul was carried out, since the construction of the Secretariat in1972.

Earlier speaking before the presentation of the report, the chairman of the committee, the Secretary to the Borno State Government (SSG), Alhaji Usman Jidda Shuwa said the committee observed that there was a political interference in the appointment and promotion and discipline of the civil service, that led to the decay in core values and lack of discipline in the civil service”.

” The committee also recommended for the reduction of the number of permanent Secretaries by appointing one permanent secretary per local government and additional to some local government where your Excellency deem it necessary to promote principle of quota system, to also reduce the number of ministries from 22 to 16 to avoid doublication of responsibility and reduce cost of governance”, the SSG added.

Alhaji Shuwa further said ” the committee also observed that government business were done in a ministry with only commissioners, permanent Secretaries, and the concern director, which promote corruption and redundancy of other stuff, government classified document were designed, type and printed in business center thereby neglects secrecy in doing government business”.

” The committee also recommended for introduction of E governance in the civil service by providing computers and connection of electronic digital equipment in government ministries, departments and agencies. Training and retraining of civil servants by setting aside funds for that purpose in the budgets”, the committee chairman added.

He also use the opportunity to thanked the governor for giving them the opportunity to serve in this historic and epic making reform and assured of their continued loyalty and support.