Wednesday brief: Osinbajo backtracks on naira devaluation
+ Senate on electoral act & booster shots in Lagos
* The Naira/Dollar rate was calculated by averaging buying rates from several Nigerian FinTech startups.
** The NCDC figure is from Monday.
Good morning.
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Senate buckles for INEC
The Senate on Tuesday handed over the power to decide whether to transmit election results electronically to the Independent National Electronic Commission (INEC).
An earlier version of the electoral act amendment bill had required INEC to seek permission from the Nigeria Communications Commission and the National Assembly before embarking on electronic transmission.
The issue had divided lawmakers and public opinion and yesterday’s decision to hand the reins to INEC, appears like a huge victory for democracy.
However, changes in the electoral act amendment bill still need to be harmonised with the version at the House of Representatives and assented to by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Party Primaries: The Senate also introduced direct primaries as a way for political parties to nominate candidates. This means political parties will no more rely on delegates when choosing party candidates.
Reaction: Chairman of the INEC Committee in the Senate, Kabiru Gaya, believes direct primaries will end godfatherism. But the PDP says it will only increase the cost of conducting primaries and hurt democracy.
Lagos considers booster shots
The Lagos state health commissioner, Akin Abayomi, says booster shots may be required for Covid vaccinated persons to ensure all-round protection against the virus.
Many countries across the world, including Israel and the United States, have sanctioned a third dose of the vaccine as the virus continues to mutate and vaccine protection grows weaker.
Quote: “Definitely, scientists around the world are toying with that idea as a third or fourth dose may be required. And that’s not very different from the flu. We all know that the flu vaccine needs to be updated every year if you want to protect yourself,” Abayomi said at a media briefing in Ikeja.
First steps: Before offering booster shots, more people still need to receive the initial vaccine. Less than five percent of Nigerians have been fully vaccinated. The Lagos state government says its goal is to vaccinate 30 percent of its residents before the end of the year.
Osinbajo backtracks on Naira devaluation
After saying the naira was “artificially low” on Monday, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has said he is not calling for the devaluation of the naira.
According to a statement signed by his media aide, Laolu Akande, the Vice President said he was only addressing the corruption inherent in the current exchange rate policy.
“Prof. Osinbajo is not calling for the devaluation of the Naira,” the statement said. “He has at all times argued against a willy-nilly devaluation of the Naira.”
I have read the statement over and over again, comparing it to what he said on Monday, and I have concluded that it (the statement) is total nonsense. Osinbajo obviously called for a devaluation of the naira and is simply trying to save face.
One thing I’ll say is that the abrasive mixing of politics and economics is a greater danger to the Nigerian state than even separatist violence. It is an insidious virus that eats away at the foundations of common sense required to make progress. And Yemi Osinbajo, a pastor and distinguished professor of law, has caught the flu.
What else is happening?
Banditry: The Zamfara State House of Assembly has suspended two lawmakers for allegedly supporting the activities of bandits in the state.
Kaduna State: Gunmen have attacked a Catholic seminary and kidnapped three people, a continuation of the violent state of affairs across the country. At least 2,287 people were killed in violent attacks across the country between July and September, according to one report.
Kebbi State: Over 90 kidnapped students and staff of Federal Government College (FGC), Birnin Yauri, are said to have regained their freedom.
Usifo Ataga: 21-year-old Chidinma Ojukwu has pleaded not guilty to the murder of the late Super TV CEO.
Chiwetalu Agu: After four days in DSS custody for his apparent support of the proscribed, separatist group, IPOB, the Nollywood actor has regained his freedom.
Anambra Election: A group of armed men on Tuesday thwarted a scheduled campaign of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Ihiala Local Government Area. A soldier was reportedly killed.
Customs: The government agency is threatening to impound 29 private jets over unpaid duties to the federal government.
And that’s it for today. Have a great day.