INFOGRAPHIC: APC approves different primaries for states

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has released details of the types of primaries approved for its various state chapters.

Direct and indirect primaries

Direct primaries: All card carrying members of the party are eligible to elect its candidates.

Indirect primaries: This involves the use of party delegates or key officers to elect party candidates.

 

The states that are to elect their governorship candidates via the direct method are Abia, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Cross River, Edo, Ekiti, Imo, Kano. Lagos, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Taraba, Zamfara and the Federal Capital Territory.

States that got the approval to pick candidates using the indirect mode are Adamawa, Benue, Borno, Delta, Ebonyi, Enugu, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Nasarawa, Oyo, Kogi, Kwara, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto and Yobe.

Timetable

Presidential primaries, which will be by direct method, will hold all over the country on Friday 28th, 2018 while governorship primaries will hold in 29 states on Saturday, September 29, 2018. Primaries for elections to the Senate will hold on Tuesday, October 2nd 2018, those for the House of Representatives will hold on Wednesday, October 3rd, 2018 while those for state assemblies will hold the following day, October 4th, 2018.

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Facts About Lightning

Lightning is regarded as the most under-recognized weather hazard, often commanding little attention from the public and the media. Meanwhile, Its more prevalent in tropical regions of the world due to high moisture and rapidly rising warm air.

How do you protect yourself?

• At the first sign of lightning or thunder, seek shelter.
• Good shelters are substantial buildings or fully enclosed metal vehicles.
• We suggest you remain in shelter for 30 minutes after the last observed thunder or lightning.
• Proximity to water (eg. pool, lake or sea) increases the risk of being struck by lightning.

Download full presentation here

 

Infographic: State By State FAAC And IGR For 2017

The National Bureau of Statistics, NBS in its latest report published last month has revealed the IGR and FAAC statistics by state for the 2017 fiscal year. IGR statistics shows how states across Nigeria are performing in terms of revenue generated. While the FAAC shows the total amount of money received from the federation account.

 

From the report, Lagos, Rivers, Ogun, Delta and Kano states, generated the highest revenue in Nigeria in 2017. Lagos generated a total revenue of N333,967,978,880.44 followed by Rivers and Ogun with N89,484,983,409.10 and N74,835,979,000.51 respectively.

Comparatively, Lagos and Ogun are the only states that has  IGR over FAAC. Other states depend solely on the federal allocation over IGR.

Akwa Ibom,  Rivers, Delta and Lagos state received the highest allocation from the federal government with N143,614,945,782.83, N119,632,192,162.38, N111,203,709,891.98, N89,694,754,919.47 respectively.

Total IGR for the 2017 fiscal year amounted to N931.23bn, which was N100.04bn higher compared to the N831.19bn generated in 2016. This indicates a growth of 12.03% from the previous year.

In all, 31 states recorded growth in IGR in the year under review, while five 5 states (Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Osun and Taraba) recorded a decline at the end of 2017 Fiscal Year.

Political Participation and Role of Citizens

Kehinde Fashua

Political participation is used to describe actions taken by citizens of a country to influence the outcome of political issues via participation in political processes. It provides an opportunity for electorates to influence public decisions and to be a part of the democratic decision making process.

It is noteworthy that the outcome of any political process in a democratic setting is highly dependent on the awareness and positive involvement of the citizenry in civic and political activities.

Political participation in Nigeria is yet to live up to expectation even as political apathy holds sway across the nation. Election statistics over the years has further shown the extent of political apathy in Nigeria. Sadly, the consequence is a continuous upsurge in incompetent political office holders and more opportunity for rigging during election.

The role of the citizens in political participation cannot be overemphasized. For us in Nigeria, it involves a total overhaul of our political philosophy and psychology. Citizens need to know that they are obliged to participate in governance across all levels by voting during elections, joining a political party and encouraging someone to vote.

Other forms of political participation includes the act of attending political rallies, sensitization meeting such as the ‘One Voice Nigeria’ movement or even signing a petition at constituency level both online and offline.

Further alternative kinds of political participation include; protesting, writing letters, blogging about political issues, donating resources, volunteering in any capacity, vying for a political post, organizing and attending town hall meetings with political representatives.

Fortunately, with the 68 political parties in Nigeria according to INEC, the platform for political participation has been made even more possible.

Likewise, the rise in technology and social media can be leveraged as regards contributing, monitoring, reporting, sensitizing and even signing online petitions on issues that have to do with political office holders. The prospect is unlimited.

Conclusively, there is no better time other than now to rewrite our wrongs by reshaping the future of Nigeria even as many things depend on us as the electorates. As crucial as it is, the fundamental role of citizens in politics can be included in our curriculum and lifestyle so as to ensure a political-sustainable development.