Category: Communication - Page 6

Court Orders Extension of NIN Enrolment by Two Months

24Mar

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Communication, Information Technology, News, Nigeria

Court Orders Extension of NIN Enrolment by Two Months

A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered the extension of the deadline for National Identity Number enrolment by two months with effect from Tuesday, March 23, 2021. The extension was granted by Justice Maureen Onyetenu while passing a ruling in a fundamental right suit file by a legal luminary, Monday Ubani, against the Nigerian government, the Attorney General of the Federation, Nigerian Communications Commission and the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy. Ubani had in the suit contested that the two weeks ultimatum previously issued (now extended to April 6, 2021) to telecommunications operators to block SIM cards of Nigerians who have not registered their SIM cards with NIN, will infringe on their constitutionally guaranteed right to freedom of expression, rig...

NCC Clamps down on Street Vendors of Copyright Works

24Mar

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

Communication, News, Nigeria

NCC Clamps down on Street Vendors of Copyright Works

The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has increased efforts at curbing street trading of pirated books, musical works and movies across the country. The commission has arrested three piracy suspects and impounded pirated works estimated at N250,000 in Abuja. This move, according to NCC Director-General, Mr. John Asein, is part of the commission’s antipiracy operation in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Three piracy suspects engaged in street hawking of copyright-protected works at the Eagle Square. Those arrested were Abubakar Abdullahi, Emmanuel Onyebuchi and Odushola Arowolo. Suspected pirated works estimated at N250,000 were also seized during the operation included copies of various titles of foreign and local authors suspected to be pirated. One of the street vendors...

Buhari approves Paternity Leave for NITDA Staff

10Mar

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

Communication, Information Technology, Nigeria

Buhari approves Paternity Leave for NITDA Staff

The Federal Government has approved paternity and compassionate leave, among others, for the staff of the National Information Technology Development Agency. This was disclosed by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Pantami, at the unveiling and presentation of the NITDA’s Employee-Centric Condition and Scheme of Service in Abuja on Tuesday. In his address as the chief convener and host, the minister appreciated the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), for his approval of both documents for NITDA on the 12th of February, 2021, as well as his general support for the digital economy sector. He stated that the scheme and conditions of service took almost five years to complete, adding that they presented a holistic approach to the development of t...

10Mar

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

Communication, Finance, Nigeria

Buhari approves N5b for NIMC

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday approved N5billion for the National Identity Managment Commission (NIMC) to enable it deliver the national digital economy project with appropriate infrastructures and attractive conditions of service in agencies saddled with the responsibility to do so. The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Pantami said there was an upward review of the capital budget of NIMC from between N500million and N700 million in the previous years to about N5 billion this year as part of the commitments of the president to digitalise the economy. He commended the President for his support and approval of proposals on the development of the Information Communications Technology (ICT) sector, saying the contributions of the sector to the nation’s Gross ...

Sports Minister Petitions IG Over Alleged Fake News

18Feb

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

Communication, News, Nigeria, Youths

Sports Minister Petitions IG Over Alleged Fake News

Youth and Sports Development Minister Sunday Dare has petitioned the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to investigate Sylvanus Ofekun for alleged criminal defamation and incitement capable of threatening national security. The petition, submitted to the IGP on February 16, alleged that Ofekun, with the moniker “Sleeky Sly” on social media, accused the minister of daily benefitting from Lagos Concession Company (LCC), operator of the Lekki Tollgate, which has been at the centre of the #EndSARS protests. The petition reads: “Our client was surprised when Mr. Sylvanus Ofokun, also known as Sleeky Sly, published unfounded and baseless allegations of corruption against our client through direct reference and innuendo. “Mr. Ofekun is a sports journalist who currently plies his trade wit...

NIN Mandatory for Bank Account Opening, Voter Registration – Pantami

15Feb

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

Communication, Information Technology, Interview, News, Nigeria, Science

NIN Mandatory for Bank Account Opening, Voter Registration – Pantami

Isa Pantami, minister of communications and digital economy, says the national identification number (NIN) is compulsory for transactions such as bank account opening, payment of taxes and voter registration. Speaking in Abuja on Thursday, he said the government is determined to ensure that all citizens have NIN. Pantami quoted section 27 of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) act as stating that benefitting from government services as a citizen without NIN is an offence punishable by imprisonment. “This is most important in the area of NIN, which is a mandatory number, based on the NIMC order of 2007 that has actively been neglected for years, ” he said. “It is key to our national planning, budget, security, social development and many more. But it was neglected despite...

Tambuwal Revokes Contracts Awarded by Wamakko

13Feb

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

Communication, Interview, News, Nigeria

Tambuwal Revokes Contracts Awarded by Wamakko

Over five major contracts including that of a General Hospital in Wamakko town awarded by the former Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Aliyu Wamakko were revoked by the Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal’s led government. Also revoked are four others located at the Murtala Muhammed Hospital as follows: two additional blocks of wards, landscaping of the hospital, construction of 47 staff quarters and that of the completion of a special work at the hospital which comprises a theatre, mortuary, laundry and others. However, Tambuwal approved three projects for execution amounting to N4 billion. The new projects comprise of two health facilities and one for education. According to the state government, the General Hospital project was abandoned in 2013. Those approved for execution...

NIN Compulsory for Bank Accounts, Voter Registration – FG

12Feb

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Communication, Information Technology, News, Nigeria

NIN Compulsory for Bank Accounts, Voter Registration – FG

The Federal Government on Thursday said that the National Identity Number, NIN, is compulsory for the opening of bank accounts, payment of taxes, and voter registration. This was disclosed by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami in Abuja while hosting the newly elected National Executive Council of the Association Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria. It came at a time when operators have urged the Federal Government to align with the development of a strategic plan to bridge the over N15tn infrastructure funding gap for the telecoms/information communication and technology industry. Pantami in his speech assured the guests that the government was determined to ensure that all Nigerians had their various NINs. He said, “This is most important in th...

12Feb

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

Communication, Nigeria, Press Statement, Safety, Security

NBA Faults Extension of IGP’s Tenure

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has faulted the decision by President Muhammadu Buhari to extend the tenure of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu. The association has consequently sued at the Federal High Court in Lagos to compel the a reversal of the purported tenure extension. The suit, marked: FHC/L/CS/214/2021 has as defendants: the President, Federal Republic of. Nigeria; the Police Service Commission (PSC) and Mohammed Abubakar Adamu. The NBA’s contention, in the suit is that the IGP ceased to be a member of the Nigeria Police Force when he attained the milestone of thirty-five years of service. “Therefore, the President’s extension of Mr Adamu’s tenure by three months, in the NBA’s respectful view, is unconstitutional.”

6Feb

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

Communication, Information Technology, Interview, Nigeria

MTN Expands NIN Enrolment Capabilities

MTN Nigeria has disclosed that it is exponentially increasing capacity to provide National Identity Number enrolment services across its customer interaction touch points pan-Nigeria, rural locations inclusive. The telco in a statement issued on Thursday said it had deployed an onsite appointment booking system designed to limit indoor crowding, alongside standard COVID-19 safety protocols at its service centres, adding that it planned to launch an online version shortly. The company said this was to further support the Federal Government and the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy’s efforts to drive the NIN registration. According to MTN, a reliable and sustainable national identity management system would deliver multiple benefits to the telecoms industry and the coun...