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Accountable judicial systems solution to coup plots – Tinubu to ECOWAS judges
President Bola Tinubu has said that accountable judicial systems will solve the resurgence of military coups and strengthen democracy across West Africa.
Presidential spokesperson Ajuri Ngalale, in a statement on Thursday, said the President made these remarks at a meeting with a delegation from the ECOWAS Judicial Council led by Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman of the Council, at the State House in Abuja on Thursday.
“We are committed to transformative democracy because we believe the judiciary can protect democracy. We are ready to support you as learned minds with the requisite experience and institutional memory to comprehensively reform our institutions.
“I assure you, as Chairman of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, that the judiciary is one of the pillars to protect our democracy, and it is only in this regard that we can make a difference on the continent,” the President said.
President Tinubu congratulated judges from member states who participated in the two-day council meeting in Abuja, applauding the successful conclusion of their deliberations.
He assured them that their recommendations would be considered by the heads of state and government of ECOWAS.
“We will work with you to ensure that your expertise is employed to promote justice in our democratic experiences on the continent and in the region. You are truly the last hope of the common man across our sub-region,” President Tinubu added.
Speaking on behalf of the ECOWAS Judicial Council, Justice Ariwoola emphasised the council’s commitment to facilitating the effective functioning of the ECOWAS judicial system.
At the end of its meeting in Abuja, he said the council agreed to establish two sub-committees to address pertinent judiciary-related issues in the region.
He also said the first sub-committee would look into the council’s rules of procedure, which were found to be inadequate.
The Chief Justice of Nigeria explained that members from Benin Republic, Guinea-Bissau, Ghana, The Gambia, and Sierra Leone have been tasked to work on the rules of procedure on the Judicial Council.
Justice Ariwoola further explained that the Council of Ministers had tasked the Judicial Council, in collaboration with the Commission and the Community Court, to address the enforcement of judgements issued by the Community Court.
“The court, under the guidance of its President, has made presentations which have adequately informed the Judicial Council on the issues and challenges encountered in the enforcement of the judgements. The Judicial Council thought that a second committee was required to tackle the issue because of the complexity of the matter.
“The members of this second sub-committee are Senegal, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Cabo Verde, and Togo,” he added.
Justice Ariwoola stated that both sub-committees would present their findings to the Judicial Council, which would subsequently make recommendations to the Authority of Heads of State and Government.
Former lawmaker, Senator Shehu Sani, has described the planned increase in electricity and telecom tariffs as unconscionable.
The statement comes after the telecoms regulator last week approved the increase in mobile tariffs.
The federal government also recently said that plans were ongoing to increase electricity tariffs “over the next few months.”
However, Sani, who said the government’s plan is unreasonable, insisted that it should be halted.
The ex-lawmaker also expressed his support for the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) over the scheduled protest against the government’s proposal, calling it a welcome development.
“The planned increase in electricity tariffs in the midst of poor power supply and the proposal to increase telecom tariffs is unconscionable and should be halted. The scheduled labour union protest is a welcome development,” he posted on X.
The United States President, Donald Trump, has revealed his decision to cut off all future funding to South Africa, citing poor treatment of “certain classes of people.”
Trump made this known on Sunday in a post on Truth Social, his social media platform.
According to Trump, South Africa was seizing land and mistreating some citizens without concern for the violations of their rights.
“South Africa is confiscating land and treating certain classes of people VERY BADLY.
“I will be cutting off all future funding to South Africa until a full investigation of this situation has been completed!” Trump wrote.
Reports suggest that the American leader may be defending White South Africans, some of whom have alleged that the South African policy is unfair to them.
There are indications that the federal government will on Monday meet with the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, to stop the planned Tuesday nationwide protest against the 50 percent telecommunications tariff hike.
A reliable source familiar with the matter, who preferred anonymity, disclosed this on Monday morning, noting that the meeting between the NLC leadership and the federal government is scheduled for 5 p.m. on Monday.
The source said the meeting was a “dialogue on matters of national interest as it affects Nigerian workers.”
According to the source, it will be an inter-ministerial meeting with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), purposely to resolve issues raised by the NLC concerning the federal government’s approved upward adjustment to telecommunications tariffs, which the NLC, its allies, and others are vehemently opposing.
This comes as the NLC is already mobilizing workers for a mass protest tomorrow (February 4) against the 50 percent tariff hike approval.
On Thursday last week, in a letter to affiliate unions and state councils, NLC General Secretary Emma Ugboaja urged them to mobilize other Nigerians to send a serious message to the government.
The planned protest follows the 50 percent telecom tariff approval by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on January 20, 2025.
The approval had sparked widespread rejection among telecom subscribers.
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