TECHDIGEST – President Bola Tinubu on Monday signed the Student Loan Bill into law.

The Student Loan Bill was proposed by the former speaker of the 9th House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, and it was passed by the lawmakers in late May 2023.

In November 2022, Gbajabiamila urged the Education Bank to provide interest-free loans to students in tertiary institutions in order to make funding education at that level more accessible to all.

“The bill proposes to provide students with interest-free loans.”

Following the passage by the House and assent by President Tinubu, here are seven things to know about the Student Loan Act:

1. The new act will establish the Nigerian Education Bank, which will supervise, coordinate, administer and monitor the management of student loans in Nigeria.
2. Applicants will go through screening to determine whether they meet the requirements for the loan.
3. Students in all the higher institutions are eligible for the loan.
4. It provides funds for all education-related matters, including textbooks, and research.
5. It is only accessible to students studying in Nigeria.
6. There will be jail terms for student loan defaulters.
7. The repayment of the loan will begin two years after the National Youth Service Corps Scheme is completed.

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TECHDIGEST – As Nigeria joins the rest of the world in commemorating the 2021 Universal Children’s Day recently, many students smiled home with brand new Laptop and Desk Computers as part of efforts the National Information Technology Development Agency NITDA at improving and standardising a SMART digital education.

“The gesture to the Nigerian students was borne out of the Agency’s strategic approach to developing emerging technology in Nigeria” commented Mallam Kashifu Inuwa, the director general National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), at the 2021 Universal Children’s Day celebration organised by the Children of Africa Leadership and Values Development Initiative (CALDEV) in Abuja.

The NITDA boss who was ably represented by Dr Usman Gambo Abdullahi, director Information Technology and Infrastructure Solutions ITIS, noted that the younger generation holds the future of this Country.

Mallam Kashifu stated that in realization of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s agenda of diversifying the nation’s economy, the Federal Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy FMoCDE was able to secure the approval of the Federal Executive Council for the implementation of the new National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy for a Digital Nigeria with a focus on Emerging Technologies and Innovations.

“Technology drives everything, in realization of that, NITDA shifted it’s intervention to education sector and students in particular, with a view to encouraging their technological and innovative ideas,” he said.

He further disclosed that, since NITDA was created twenty years ago, its intervention were spread across the 774 local government areas in the country, by establishing learning centres to cater for research and other developing emerging technologies.

The NITDA boss assured Nigerian students of the Agency’s commitment towards providing IT infrastructures that would aid and support emerging technologies to students in Primary, Secondary, Tertiary and schools for people with Special Needs.

Earlier, Femi Gbajabiamila, speaker of the House of Representatives, said that deliberate efforts must be made to prepare the Nigerian Children and Youth to become the desired leaders of tomorrow.

The Speaker noted that, equipping the students with necessary technology is one of the surest ways of securing the future of the country, giving people with multiple ideas the opportunity to be at the very top of governance.

Gbajabiamila, also called for continuous investment in the education of the Nigerian youth particularly in technological advancement, to enable conformity with global transformational trends.

“Technology has changed our world, we no longer exist in communal or national silos but as part of a braid fabric of humanity in a global village where opportunities and challenges abound,” he commented.

Hon. Gbajabiamila described the impact of emerging technology as the opening of a new world where a child with computer and internet connection in Lagos can compete for jobs in Texas or Bombay.

“Our job as leaders he emphasised is to ensure that every Nigerian child is educated and empowered to compete and succeed in this global market place of ideas and talent”.

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TECH DIGEST – Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has opposed claims by the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) that Nigeria does not have enough network coverage to guarantee the electronic transmission of election results in 2023.

Besides, the electoral body revealed that the NCC was aware since 2018 that the commission has the capacity and capability to transmit results electronically.

INEC Director of Publicity and Voter Education, Nick Dazang said this on Friday, during an interview on African Independent Television (AIT) breakfast programme ‘Kakaaki”.

Recall that following a stalemated consideration of the report on the Electoral Act 2010 (Amendment) Bill over the controversial Clause 52(2), Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila had summoned the NCC to appear and guide the lawmakers.

In response, officials of the NCC led by the Executive Commissioner (Stakeholder Management), Adeleke Adewolu; Executive Commissioner (Technical Services), Ubale Maska, and two others appeared before the lawmakers.

Adewolu told the lawmakers that only 50 percent of the country has the 3G coverage required for transmission.

He also said the NCC cannot guarantee total safety for the electronic transmission of results, explaining that no system is completely free from hackers.

But Dazang described the claims by officials who appeared before the House of Representatives as false.

He said; “In January 2018, INEC approached NCC that it wants a technological- driven Commission and both have been working closely to deliver a free, fair and credible elections in our country for the benefit of citizens.

“They are also aware that two network providers- MTN and Airtel have assisted JAMB conduct their examinations across Nigeria. So INEC is still wondering why NCC has suddenly made a U-turn that there is not enough network coverage in every part of Nigeria.”

Dazang noted that INEC had introduced innovations designed to clean up Nigeria’s tainted electoral processes, adding that those innovations worked perfectly during the off season governorship elections in Edo and Ondo states as well as states and National Assembly Bye-elections across Nigeria.

According to him, the constitution has given INEC powers that cannot be shared with any agency of government, pointing out that the new directive of the Senate on e-transmission is akin to striping INEC of its powers.

“I am convinced that if INEC was given the chance to appear before the National Assembly alongside NCC, the Commission would have told the Distinguished Senators and Honourable Members that all the network providers in Nigeria have assured INEC that network coverage is 100% across the country,” Dazang said.

On the fear that INEC servers might be prone to hacking, Dazang allayed the fears of the public, saying “there is no website that is not prone to attack by hackers even in the most advanced nations but Nigerians should be rest assured that INEC has what it takes to fight off hackers and the Commission is well prepared to safeguard its websites against hackers.”

He urged the lawmakers to be patriotic enough to reverse their earlier decisions to vote against electronic transmission of elections results, adding that they should consider the image of the country in the comity of civilized democratic nations.

Dazang said: “As a patriotic Nigerian who wish his country well, I am using this medium to plead to the Conference Committee of NASS to look at the bigger picture, and to consider the future of our nation to approve the electronic transmission of results in the Electoral Act Amendment Bill”.

“I also want NASS members to think like “Statesmen”, they should think about the future not about the next election. Let us always look at the bigger picture. It pains INEC that beneficiaries of transparent elections in the forefront of working to weaken the Commission by asking INEC to share its powers with other agencies or take permission from another agency before performing its statutory functions guaranteed by the Constitution of Nigeria”.

“How can you do electronic voting but leave out the component of electronic transmission of elections results. In fact, transmission of results is the anti-climax of any credible elections and you want to leave our on flimsy excuses of network coverage. It’s sad.

“You cannot send INEC to buy salt from the market and then you invite the rain.

“I want to leave a legacy in INEC and many INEC staff, from top to the least person want to leave legacy of free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria before we retire from the Commission.

“We therefore urge NASS members to reverse their earlier decisions to vote against electronic transmission of elections results in Nigeria. Nigeria is ripe for It and INEC is ready and capable to do it.”

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TECH DIGEST – The House suddenly adjourned on Thursday following disagreement that arose from the controversial ruling of the deputy speaker while considering the Electoral Amendment Bill.

Despite the full installation of electronic voting, the House of Representatives continues to pass key legislations through voice votes.

On Thursday, the lawmakers used voice vote to consider the Electoral Amendment Bill and incidentally the process was stalled.

Earlier, the Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabimaila, said they would not use electronic voting because the “clauses are many.”

Mr Gbajabimaila said he received comments that the House ought to have used electronic voting on PIB and the yet -to-be passed electoral bill.

He stated that electronic voting can only be used for a single item piece of legislation, not a “400 clauses” bill.

Mr Gbajabiamila stated this in his remarks before the commencement of plenary on Thursday,

However, this is contrary to a promise he had made.

The Speaker had repeatedly promised the use of electronic voting in the House and committees proceedings.

It was even included in the legislative agenda before it was amended.

“It has been mentioned to me that landmark legislation such as the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) and the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill ought to have been considered using the electronic voting system in the House.

“While I agree with this suggestion, e-voting usually in most parts of the world is meant for single item pieces of legislation not 400 clause considerations, except on reports that contain limited number of clauses. As such, it is not ideal for this bill.

“Nonetheless, I take the point and we will make sure that the system is fully deployed in advance of our resumption.”

The use of voice vote was the main reason there was stalemate during the consideration of the bill, as the Deputy Speaker, Idris Wase, kept on ruling against obvious “louder voices.”

Luke Onofiok (PDP, Akwa-Ibom), Kingsley Chinda (PDP, Rivers) and Ndudi Elumelu (PDP, Delta) all called for the division of the House to decide clause 52(2) during the consideration of the bill.

However, Mr Wase, who appeared to have an interest in the section, was adamant.

Following the rowdy session over Mr Wase’s actions, the consideration was adjourned till Friday.

Also, the report on the PIB is currently stalled as the House on Thursday stepped down the consideration of the conference committee which recommended three percent for Host communities development fund.

Mohammed Monguno, the chairman of the ad hoc committee, moved for the report to be stepped down following a rowdy session.

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TECH DIGEST – In view of the on-going amendment of Nigeria’s electoral Act to accommodate electronic transmission of results, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has said it cannot guarantee total safety for the system.
The Commission further explained that no system is completely free from hackers, according to Channels Television report.

Federal lawmakers had a rowdy session as debates over the inclusion of electronic transmission of results in the Electoral Act Amendment took centre stage in the chambers on Thursday in Abuja.

But Adeleke Adewolu, executive commissioner, Stakeholder Management (ECSM) of the NCC, told lawmakers at the House of Representatives on Friday that while concerns over the electronic transmission of results are genuine, no system can guarantee a 100 percent shield from hacking.

The EC also stated that elections results can only be transmitted by a 3G network, noting that 50 percent of the country has 3G coverage.

He, however, explained that for areas without such coverage, poll results can be recorded and thereafter uploaded in places where there is a network. But Adeleke admitted that this cannot be compared with the real-time upload.

The House of Representatives had failed to reach an agreement over the controversial clause.

This was after Deputy Speaker Idris Wase ruled against the electronic transmission of results despite a resounding vote in favour of electronic transmission.

Subsequently, the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the NCC would be present on Friday to give further clarifications on the Electoral Act with a major focus on section 52(3).

The Senate had on the same day voted for the conditional electronic transmission of election results.

At the end of voting, 28 Senators mostly from the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) voted for the original amendment in the report while 52 Senators backed the amendment as proposed by Senator Sabi Abdullahi.

This means the majority of Senators voted that INEC may consider electronic transmission provided the national network coverage is adjudged to be adequate and secure by NCC and approved by the National Assembly.

Source: Channels

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TECH DIGEST – Members of the Peoples Democratic Party in the House of Representatives have staged a walkout over the refusal of the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, to grant their prayer on the Federal Government’s Twitter Ban.

Gbajabiamila had earlier asked relevant committees of the House to investigate the matter within 10 days.

Leader of the PDP caucus, Kingsley Chinda, much later, raised a point of order to make an additional prayer that the House asks the Federal Government to lift the ban pending when the House carries out the probe.

Chinda noted that the implication is that the ban would remain for 10 days, which means the rights of Nigerians would be kept in abeyance during the period.

Gbajabiamila, however, cited part of the Standing Orders of the House stating that a matter that had been concluded by the parliament cannot be revisited for a debate.

The Speaker, therefore, ruled Chinda out of order, a decision that did not go down well the members of the opposition.

Insisting on speaking and several leaders of the House shutting him down, Chinda led other PDP members out of the chamber.

They later addressed journalists to say the action was in defence of Nigerians.

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TECH DIGEST – The House of Representatives has summoned the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, to appear before it over the controversial suspension of Twitter.

Mr Mohammed is to appear before a joint committee on Justice, Commerce and Information.

The Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, announced this in his speech during the plenary on Tuesday.

He said the joint committee will investigate the process that led to the suspension of the platform.

Mr Gbajabiamila said the House will have to listen to the government before taking any action.

The joint committee has 10 days to conduct the investigation and report back to the House.

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TECH DIGEST – The call for the resignation or sack of the Minister for Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Pantami, is tearing the House of Representatives apart following reaction by the leadership that the Minority leader, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, who made the call should come by way of a proper motion before the House.

The House Spokesman, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, on Thursday night reacted to trending reports in the media suggesting that the House Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila had shut down Elumelu’s motion seeking the resignation of the minister.

He said the matter brought by the Minority leader was on the basis of his personal privilege as a member and not a formal motion, adding the Minority leader should for the proper channel by way of a motion on urgent public importance or on notice which would be duly debated and resolved upon.

But in a strongly worded reaction issued by Hon. Francis Ottah Agbo, on behalf of the Minority caucus on Friday stated that the opposition leader brought a proper motion before the House, and that the House Spokesman, Kalu, should apologise for issuing a “reckless statement “.

“Attention of the Minority Caucus in the House of Representatives has been drawn to a statement by the Chairman of House Committee on Media and Public Affairs/ Spokesman of the House, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, which clearly exposed a sinister intention to misrepresent the rules of the House, mislead the undiscerning public and frustrate genuine effort in the fight against terrorism in our country!

“We find it shocking that instead of standing with Nigerians at this critical moment, Hon. Kalu chose to engage in personal attack on the Minority Leader, Hon Ndudi Elumelu, for pointing to the dangers of retaining in office, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, after reports of the minister’s support for terrorists came to the fore.

“This is especially after the minister himself admitted to the facts of his sympsthy for violent, extremist and terrorist groups, including, the al-Qaida and Taliban.

“Indeed, Hon. Kalu’s claim that our Minority Leader did not properly present his motion, under an appropriate rule is completely dumb, frivolous and exposes his poor knowledge of the legislative procedures.

“It also points to a deliberate scheme to jeopardize our nation’s fight against terrorism,” Agbo said.

Venting further, he said: “we take a strong exception to Hon. Kalu’s vain posturing of trying to tutor the Minority Leader, a well respected seasoned legislator, on the House Standing Rules and parliamentary convention!

“It is instructive to state that the motion by the Minority Leader calling for the resignation or sack of the Minister by President Muhammad Buhari was properly presented under the House rules as provided in Order 6:1,2&3 (Privileges), contrary to claims by Hon. Kalu.

“Order 6:1,2,3 clearly and generously provide for full debate on the issue brought pursuant to it.

“For the avoidance of doubt, while sub-section 2 of the Order 6 provides that “whenever a matter of privilege arises, it shall be taken into consideration immediately”, sub section 3 is clear in providing that whenever a matter of privilege arises, it shall be disposed of and no other issue shall be considered until “the debate on a motion thereon” is adjourned.”

“Moreover, it is clear that the Speaker, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, conceded to the appropriateness of the Order, under which the Minority Leader presented his motion, and for that, did not rule him out of order, regarding the presentation of the motion and its consequential prayers.”

Furthermore, the Hon. Speaker, in accepting the motion, announced that the issues raised have been noted.

“It is therefore completely irresponsible for anybody, let alone the spokesperson of the House, who should be abreast of the Rules, to state that the Minority Leader ought to have known better than coming under Order 6.”

“His statement is therefore in bad faith and should be disregarded and withdrawn by him immediately.

“Our Caucus will not condone any unwarranted attack on any of our colleagues, let alone the Minority Leader, who is doing very well by speaking the mind of the silent majority of Nigerians, who have no platforms to speak out.

“In any case, we are aware that Hon. Kalu was not in Plenary when the motion was moved. We expected him to have consulted the Rule book before attacking the Minority Leader. For we believe if he had done that, he would have saved the 9th House of Representatives the embarrassment his statement has caused!”

“We therefore demand that Hon. Kalu should withdraw his statement and tender an unreserved apology to the Minority Leader and Nigerians for misrepresenting the rules of the House.”

“Our caucus, standing with millions of Nigerians, also demands that the Speaker should immediately act on the prayers of the motion, by conveying same as the position of the House to Mr. President, having accepted the appropriateness of the procedure and taken legislative note of the prayers therein.”

“As a caucus, we stand behind the Minority Leader in insisting that the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, should resign or be removed by President Muhammadu Buhari, as his continued stay in office poses great threat to our national security.”

“Insecurity is blind to creed and party colourations and this underscores why the Caucus will resist any attempt by anyone to politicize a clear existential threat to our motherland, the statement added.

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