We’ve received N224 Billion of N800 Billion census budget so far - NPC Leave NASS alone,middle belt leaders tell Shettima

By Abubakar Yunus, Abuja

Ahead of the election of the leadership of the National Assembly, the Coalition of Middle Belt Youth leaders have urged Vice President-elect Kashim Shettima to stop shipping religious sentiments and allow members of the national assembly to choose their leaders.

The Middle Belt Youth leaders were responding to Shettima comment that the issue of islamization will be in the front burner if a Muslim emerged as the Senate President of the 10th Assembly.

According to the youth leaders, if Shettima is sensitive to the plight of Christians in the country he should step-down for a Christian to emerge as the Vice President for the religious balancing that he is now advocating for.

Speaking at a world press conference in Abuja on Thursday, the leader of the coalition, Nasiru Jagaba said a competent person should be elected as the next Senate President irrespective of religion or tribe.

They urged Shettima to desist from making unhealthy incitement and allowed elected lawmakers to choose their leaders.

“What we are trying to avoid is a situation whereby the number of one citizen, number two citizen,the number three citizen,and the number four citizens are all of the same faith. That will lend credence and validate the negative narratives of the Islamization agenda of Nigeria,” Shettima was quoted as saying.

But reacting, the Middle Belt Leaders said Shettima and his agent should leave Nigerians alone because his counsel is not needed.

“The country has moved on from the same faith ticket and we do not need this now and we believe that the best Shettima can do now to show he is sensitive to the stability of this country and his sudden advocacy for Christianity is to humbly step down for a Christian Vice President as it is still not too late.

“This is the best way forward now that he has found his voice and conscience. Until that is done, we will continue to rate Shettima as a bigot, who specializes in manipulating religion for his personal interest.

“We equally admonish our elected lawmakers of the 10th National Assembly not to let themselves be deceived by Shettima’s Machiavellian moves and elected leaders should defend the interest of the majority of Nigerians, irrespective of their faith or ethnicity.

“They should know that Nigerians have great expectations and goodwill for them and that we support whatever they decide by themselves hence, they should

By Maria Abeeb

The National Population Commission Chairman, Hon

Nasiru Isa Kwarra has disclosed that the Commission so far only received the payment of N224 Billion out of the total of N800 Billion budget set aside for the overall conduct of the population census.

Kwarra made the clarification in response to a question on what is left of the money made available to the Commission, at an interactive session with media executives in Abuja yesterday.

The session was held to update the media on the progress report on the population census which was earlier ordered postponed recently by President Muhammadu Buhari on the heels of the 2023 general elections.

Kwarra said N800 Billion is a figure that was worked out right from when the commission started preparing for the census, including salaries from 2014, procurement, training and other allied matters connected to the census.

He explained that it is not as if the government has given the NPC N800 Billion already. “We may or we may not spend up to that amount,” he said.

While stating that the coming census will be the first time a digital census that will be done in Nigeria,

Kwara noted that it’s postponement has turned out to be a blessing because it affords the Commission the opportunity to further perfect the process for a more seamless exercise.

The decision by the President to postpone the census, Kwarra said, did not come to the Commission as a surprise, because they had underestimated the impact of the election on the census, suggesting that carrying out both critical exercises in quick succession may bring about unsolicited concerns.

He said the Commission is going ahead with the preparation to prevent being taken unawares whenever the postponement is lifted, adding that they were practically prepared but in his wisdom the president felt they should give honour to the incoming administration to play a role so that the outcome will be all inclusive.

Kwarra, who intermittently invited directors of various departments of the NPC to give departmental updates, said that though the President postponed the census, he did not say they should suspend their activities. “The postponement does not mean cancellation,” he said.

He said that the focus of the commission is to ensure that all the funds already expended remain relevant, “so that when a new date is announced we do not need to start spending all over again.”

Allow NASS members to choose leaders,Delta youth tells Tinubu

By Abubakar Yunus, Abuja

The Niger Delta Youth Congress (NDYC) has called on the President-elect, Bola Tinubu to allow members of the National Assembly to exercise their rights to vote and be voted for, without being hindered by zoning restrictions.

The group in a statement issued Thursday by its National Coordinator, Israel Uwejeyan, said the President-elect must remain resolute in his dedication to national unity, rejecting any attempts by mischief makers to sow seeds of discord and division among different regions of our beloved nation.

It noted it found it expedient to address the mounting concerns over the attempt to deprive the respective elected members of the coming National Assembly.

The group warned the President-elect of the inherent complications of not upholding the fundamental principles of democracy by allowing members of the National Assembly to exercise their rights to their leaders without any form of restriction.

It said: “Restricting principal offices to specific regions limits the ability of capable and qualified individuals from other regions to contribute their skills and expertise to the development and progress of our great nation.”

The NDYC stressed that Tinubu should take cue from his party’s presidential primary elections, where interested candidates from all regions were allowed to contest and delegates had the opportunity to vote for their preferred candidate.

It added that Tinubu must beware of those who swarm around him marketing the dangerous merchandise that imposition of a leadership on the National Assembly would bear any fruit.

He should know that these people are enemies of his personality and therefore working to place hurdles on the path of the incoming administration.

In this regard, the Presidentelect is urged to exercise discernment and discretion, refusing to heed the whispers of those who seek to undermine his administration and tarnish his legacy before it even commences by pitching certain regions and the masses at large.

It said: “We beseech him to disregard the voices of discord and division, and instead foster an environment of unity, cooperation, and progress.

“The Niger Delta Youth Congress (NDYC) respectfully appeals to the President-elect to embrace the principles of neutrality, equity, fairness, and inclusivity in our democracy. We implore the President-elect to allow members of the National Assembly to exercise their rights to vote and be voted for, without being hindered by zoning restrictions. By doing so, we can pave the way for a stronger, more representative, and united Nigeria.

“By allowing members of the National Assembly to exercise their democratic rights, regardless of their region, we can foster a healthy competition of ideas, skills, and experiences that will enrich the legislative process and governance as a whole.”