17:14 17/06/2015
London — British officials report an increase in human
trafficking into Britain, with many victims arriving from Nigeria and
being forced into domestic slavery or prostitution.
Official
figures show more than 2,000 suspected trafficking victims were reported
to authorities in 2014 including 244 from Nigeria.
This represents a 31 percent increase in Nigerian victims compared to the previous year.
Kevin Hyland, Britain's anti-slavery commissioner, told the BBC Wednesday the actual figures are much higher.
He
says many are lured into Britain with false promises and then stripped
of their identity documents and made to work as domestic cleaners or sex
workers.
Other cases have involved agricultural workers and people on fishing boats.
Britain's Home Office said in December there are between 10,000 and 13,000 potential victims of slavery in Britain.
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Wednesday, 17 June 2015
Someone wants to save Majek Fashek
17:14 17/06/2015
Lagos - A former backup singer of Legendary reggae act, Majek Fashek, wants to save him, reports Pulse.ng
Monica Omorodion Swaida has started a campaign to raise funds for Fashek whose health has deteriorated because of his long battle with drug addiction.
Swaida is based in Massachusetts, U.S.A. She created a GoFundMe page for the former star. Her aim is to raise twenty thousand dollars.
She believed that he had alcoholism, spiritual and mental issues.
Read more at Pulse.ng
Lagos - A former backup singer of Legendary reggae act, Majek Fashek, wants to save him, reports Pulse.ng
Monica Omorodion Swaida has started a campaign to raise funds for Fashek whose health has deteriorated because of his long battle with drug addiction.
Swaida is based in Massachusetts, U.S.A. She created a GoFundMe page for the former star. Her aim is to raise twenty thousand dollars.
She believed that he had alcoholism, spiritual and mental issues.
Read more at Pulse.ng
G Gallant, Super Falcons Crash out of Women World Cup
08:24 17/06/2015
Abuja - Abby Wambach's late first half goal saw USA beat ten-woman Nigeria 1-0 in their final Group D match this morning at the BC Place Stadium.
Right-back Sarah Nnodim was sent off nine minutes after the hour mark for a second bookable offence.
The win made it seven points for the Yankees, while Super Falcons headed for the exit.
The Americans only needed a point to qualify for the round of 16, having beaten Australia and drawn against Sweden in their first two games.
The Nigerians showed tactical composure especially at the back, however they were caught out by Wambach's strike.
A corner kick taken by Megan Rapinoe was poked home by the veteran striker.
An even first period saw Asisat Oshoala miss a golden chance for Nigeria ten metres from goal when she wasn't clinical enough to beat Hope Solo.
Nigeria coach Edwin Okon made three changes from the team that lost 2-0 to Australia, with Osinachi Ohale axed after a poor tournament, while Halimatu Ayinde and Desire Oparanozie started on the bench.
In the other Group D game, Australia claimed second place with a 1-1 draw against Sweden.
Super Falcons Starters Vs USA:
Precious Dede, Sarah Nnodim, Ngozi Ebere, Onome Ebi, Josephine Chukwunonye, Evelyn Nwabuoku (c), Ngozi Okobi, Esther Sunday, Francisca Ordega, Courtney Dike, Asisat Oshoala
Abuja - Abby Wambach's late first half goal saw USA beat ten-woman Nigeria 1-0 in their final Group D match this morning at the BC Place Stadium.
Right-back Sarah Nnodim was sent off nine minutes after the hour mark for a second bookable offence.
The win made it seven points for the Yankees, while Super Falcons headed for the exit.
The Americans only needed a point to qualify for the round of 16, having beaten Australia and drawn against Sweden in their first two games.
The Nigerians showed tactical composure especially at the back, however they were caught out by Wambach's strike.
A corner kick taken by Megan Rapinoe was poked home by the veteran striker.
An even first period saw Asisat Oshoala miss a golden chance for Nigeria ten metres from goal when she wasn't clinical enough to beat Hope Solo.
Nigeria coach Edwin Okon made three changes from the team that lost 2-0 to Australia, with Osinachi Ohale axed after a poor tournament, while Halimatu Ayinde and Desire Oparanozie started on the bench.
In the other Group D game, Australia claimed second place with a 1-1 draw against Sweden.
Super Falcons Starters Vs USA:
Precious Dede, Sarah Nnodim, Ngozi Ebere, Onome Ebi, Josephine Chukwunonye, Evelyn Nwabuoku (c), Ngozi Okobi, Esther Sunday, Francisca Ordega, Courtney Dike, Asisat Oshoala
Deputy Speaker says N150b budget for NASS not over-bloated
08:24 17/06/2015
Abuja - The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yusuf Lasun (Osun-APC), on Tuesday in Abuja said N150 billion budgetary allocation to the National Assembly was not over-bloated.
Lasun told newsmen that N150 billion yearly budgetary allocation to the National Assembly between 2011 and 2014 represented 2.67 per cent of the total budget of the country.
"When you talk about salary, it has to be tied to something.
"Let me tell you this, for the last three years with the exception of 2015, the budget of National Assembly has been N150 billion.
"And that is exactly 2.67 per cent of the total budget of the federation.
"So, I don't know where people see this when they said it was 25 percent of the budget of the federation.
"The budget of the National Assembly is 2.67 per cent of the budget of the federation and so it is not overblown.
"People have suddenly forgotten and don't know that here are 469 members in the National Assembly with each one having five aides paid from the N150 billion with their technocrats.
"We have National Assembly commission, all of them draw their salaries and allowances from the N150 billion.
"So when people talk, they say it is only the House of Representatives members and the Senators that collect the N150 billion.
"But they forget that in the 2015 budget, the money has been reduced to N120 billion," Lasun said.
The Deputy Speaker, however, expressed the commitment of the 8th assembly to deliver on its legislative roles.
"That is why the Dogara's Speakership in the last one week has repeatedly made it known that he's going to engage in what we call NEEDS assessment.
"We are going to call the development partners to sit down and see what it takes for National Assembly to be involved as an arm of government.
"And you might be surprised that we have reasons that we can compare with other legislative houses all over the world."
According to him, it is not going to come from us; it will come from that body that is going to sit down.
It could be recalled that there was public outcry over the cost of governance and the need for reduction in the salaries and allowances of lawmakers.
A legal practitioner, Lawrence Umudu, said that the state of the country requires prudent management of its resources.
According to Umudu, accountability and transparency should be the watchwords in the country’s drive to address economic challenges facing it.
"As a nation, our problems include unpaid salaries of various states government workers.
"The National Assembly spending N9 billion on allowances is unacceptable to Nigerians.
"We shouldn’t spend such amount in our present situation," Umudu said.
Abuja - The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yusuf Lasun (Osun-APC), on Tuesday in Abuja said N150 billion budgetary allocation to the National Assembly was not over-bloated.
Lasun told newsmen that N150 billion yearly budgetary allocation to the National Assembly between 2011 and 2014 represented 2.67 per cent of the total budget of the country.
"When you talk about salary, it has to be tied to something.
"Let me tell you this, for the last three years with the exception of 2015, the budget of National Assembly has been N150 billion.
"And that is exactly 2.67 per cent of the total budget of the federation.
"So, I don't know where people see this when they said it was 25 percent of the budget of the federation.
"The budget of the National Assembly is 2.67 per cent of the budget of the federation and so it is not overblown.
"People have suddenly forgotten and don't know that here are 469 members in the National Assembly with each one having five aides paid from the N150 billion with their technocrats.
"We have National Assembly commission, all of them draw their salaries and allowances from the N150 billion.
"So when people talk, they say it is only the House of Representatives members and the Senators that collect the N150 billion.
"But they forget that in the 2015 budget, the money has been reduced to N120 billion," Lasun said.
The Deputy Speaker, however, expressed the commitment of the 8th assembly to deliver on its legislative roles.
"That is why the Dogara's Speakership in the last one week has repeatedly made it known that he's going to engage in what we call NEEDS assessment.
"We are going to call the development partners to sit down and see what it takes for National Assembly to be involved as an arm of government.
"And you might be surprised that we have reasons that we can compare with other legislative houses all over the world."
According to him, it is not going to come from us; it will come from that body that is going to sit down.
It could be recalled that there was public outcry over the cost of governance and the need for reduction in the salaries and allowances of lawmakers.
A legal practitioner, Lawrence Umudu, said that the state of the country requires prudent management of its resources.
According to Umudu, accountability and transparency should be the watchwords in the country’s drive to address economic challenges facing it.
"As a nation, our problems include unpaid salaries of various states government workers.
"The National Assembly spending N9 billion on allowances is unacceptable to Nigerians.
"We shouldn’t spend such amount in our present situation," Umudu said.
NHRC reiterates need to end early, forced marriage
08:24 17/06/2015
Abuja - The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has reiterated the need to end early and forced marriage, saying that it constitutes a serious human rights abuse.
The Executive Secretary of the commission, Professor Bem Angwe, made the call on Tuesday in Abuja at an event organised by the commission to mark the Day of the African Child.
Angwe, who was represented by his Special Assistant, Harry Obe, said that early and forced marriage could represent a threat to both the child and the society.
"Statistics show that 15 out of 20 countries with the highest rate of early child marriage are in Africa. Early and forced marriage is any marriage before the age of 18.
"It is a marriage where one of the parties does not have the power to prevent or end.
"Early and forced marriage is a serious human rights abuse, which threatens not just children, but the society at large.
"This menace undermines the rights and development of children as it impacts on their emotional, physical, psychological, health, education, economic well-being and dignity.
"Critical human rights violated by this practice include the rights to education, the right to health, the right to family, equality and non-discrimination, employment, freedom of movement, freedom from violence and access to reproductive and sexual health care.
"Child marriage contravenes critical human rights international and regional instruments like the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Child’s Rights Convention, the African Charter on the rights and the Welfare of the Child, etc."
The executive secretary expressed optimism that Nigeria could achieve the eradication or mitigation of child marriage through the various legal platforms and frameworks available to it.
Speaking in an interview, Mary-Joy Soughul, a student of Regina Pacis College in Abuja, advised parents against forcing their children into early marriage for any reason.
"What I will advise parents is that they should not force their children into marriage because they are not helping them in any way instead they are bringing more harm and danger to their family in the sense that if you send your child into early marriage it can cause under development because let’s say the child wanted to be a doctor but because of what you have done, now she cannot become a doctor anymore.
"Or you son wanted to become let’s say a politician - and who knows he might be the president - but because of what you have done, your child will be stock with family issues - always thinking about the family.
"It can lead to so many harmful things and if parents do this, it can even lead to the death of the child and this can bring depression and sadness to the parents."
Since 1976, the Day of the African Child has been celebrated on June 16 of every year in remembrance of the school children that were shot dead in Soweto, South Africa during the apartheid regime.
The theme for this year’s celebration is: 'Accelerating our collective efforts to end child marriage in Africa'.
This year’s celebration also coincides with the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the African Charter on the rights and welfare of the child.
Abuja - The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has reiterated the need to end early and forced marriage, saying that it constitutes a serious human rights abuse.
The Executive Secretary of the commission, Professor Bem Angwe, made the call on Tuesday in Abuja at an event organised by the commission to mark the Day of the African Child.
Angwe, who was represented by his Special Assistant, Harry Obe, said that early and forced marriage could represent a threat to both the child and the society.
"Statistics show that 15 out of 20 countries with the highest rate of early child marriage are in Africa. Early and forced marriage is any marriage before the age of 18.
"It is a marriage where one of the parties does not have the power to prevent or end.
"Early and forced marriage is a serious human rights abuse, which threatens not just children, but the society at large.
"This menace undermines the rights and development of children as it impacts on their emotional, physical, psychological, health, education, economic well-being and dignity.
"Critical human rights violated by this practice include the rights to education, the right to health, the right to family, equality and non-discrimination, employment, freedom of movement, freedom from violence and access to reproductive and sexual health care.
"Child marriage contravenes critical human rights international and regional instruments like the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Child’s Rights Convention, the African Charter on the rights and the Welfare of the Child, etc."
The executive secretary expressed optimism that Nigeria could achieve the eradication or mitigation of child marriage through the various legal platforms and frameworks available to it.
Speaking in an interview, Mary-Joy Soughul, a student of Regina Pacis College in Abuja, advised parents against forcing their children into early marriage for any reason.
"What I will advise parents is that they should not force their children into marriage because they are not helping them in any way instead they are bringing more harm and danger to their family in the sense that if you send your child into early marriage it can cause under development because let’s say the child wanted to be a doctor but because of what you have done, now she cannot become a doctor anymore.
"Or you son wanted to become let’s say a politician - and who knows he might be the president - but because of what you have done, your child will be stock with family issues - always thinking about the family.
"It can lead to so many harmful things and if parents do this, it can even lead to the death of the child and this can bring depression and sadness to the parents."
Since 1976, the Day of the African Child has been celebrated on June 16 of every year in remembrance of the school children that were shot dead in Soweto, South Africa during the apartheid regime.
The theme for this year’s celebration is: 'Accelerating our collective efforts to end child marriage in Africa'.
This year’s celebration also coincides with the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the African Charter on the rights and welfare of the child.
Ex-Turkey president Suleyman Demirel has died
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