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EiE Nigeria Weekly Update Friday, July 28, 2017

“One of the penalties of refusing to participate in politics is thatyou end up being governed by your inferiors.”- Plato (Ancient Greek Philosopher)

#OpenNASS’ Demand on Constitution Review Bills

The National Assembly used electronic voting system to vote on the Constitution Review Bills earlier this week. The #OpenNASS campaign demands that the National Assembly makes use of the electronic voting system and makes voting records public. This should also apply to the Constitution Review bills so that citizens will know how their representatives voted on the bills considered.Over 10,000 Nigerians have signed the petition demanding for an #OpenNASS. Lend your voice and sign the petition.Catch up with updates of the National Assembly’s voting on Constitution Review Bills.

#OfficeOfTheCitizen Activated in Abuja

The Office of the Citizen was in action on Tuesday, July 25th as the main entrance of the National Assembly was blocked by protesters of the #NotTooYoungToRun movement, an initiative of Youth Initiative for Advocacy Growth & Advancement (YIAGA). The protesters were clamouring for the passage of the #NotTooYoungToRun bill during voting on the Constitution Review bills at the National Assembly. The bill was eventually passed by the National Assembly.Active citizenship in action! Use your voice!!

OfficeOfTheCitizen Radio Programmes!

#OfficeOfTheCitizen in Owerri on Hot99.5FM – “#OpenNASS: Demands of the Citizens”Jude Ohanele of Development Dynamics discussed the #OpenNASS campaign and how citizens can lend their voice to the campaign.Tune in every last Tuesday of the month at 8:30am.#OfficeOfTheCitizen in Abeokuta on Sweet107.1FM – “The Real Cost of Education: How Free is Free Education?”Kunle Saani of Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC) discussed the cost of providing education in Ogun State.Tune in every Tuesday at 10:30am.#OfficeOfTheCitizen in Lagos on NigeriaInfo99.3FM - "2017 Budget Realism: A Look at Revenue and Funding Gap"Oluseun Onigbinde of BudgIT discussed the government’s ability to fund the 2017 national budget considering the federal government’s limited revenue.Miss the conversation? Catch up.Tune in every Wednesday at 8.00am.#OfficeOfTheCitizen in Calabar on Hit95.9FM – “Youth Participation in Governance”George Oben'etchi, Commissioner for Solid Minerals in Cross River discussed the roles of youth and how they can participate in governance.Tune in every Thursday at 8:00am.#OfficeOfTheCitizen in Ibadan on Splash105.5FM – “Local Government Autonomy in Oyo State”Adegbola Taiwo of Movement for Social Change and Titilayo Sodo, NULGE Chairman, Oyo State led the discussion on the implication of local government autonomy on development of local government areas.Join us again tomorrow, July 29th as we discuss dwindling revenue and fiscal instability in Oyo State.Never forget, the office of the citizen is the highest office in the land! Tweet at @EiENigeria using #OfficeOfTheCitizenWatch Out for #OfficeOfTheCitizen in Anambra, Kano & Abuja coming soon!

Office of the Citizen with Chude Jideonwo: What Nigerian Billionaires Should Consider Doing with All that Money

Do our billionaires believe in nothing? What do Nigeria’s wealthy do with all the money that they have? The players we have in our political space today are not the best that we have, and not the best we can find. They are have arrived at destinations only to accumulate and keep political power. To ensure a new cadre of players in that space, the well-resourced will have to find the young and old who have practical, transformational ideas for engaging and restructuring. They will have to stand in their gap for their nation by investing in those people. We need our billionaires to invest directly in civil society and politics. They can speed up the change we need faster if they make this long-term call.

This is an important conversation to have because, for Nigeria to make any real change fast, investment in philanthropy and politics is required…Read More 

Class Action Updates

1. Are you an unmetered customer of Eko and Ikeja Electricity Distribution Companies having inflated estimates billing?Click to join the class action lawsuit or send your Name, LGA/LCDA, Last Estimated Bill and DISCO Account Number to 09023555335.The suit came up for hearing on Friday, July 14, 2017 and was adjourned to Monday, October 30, 2017.2. On Wednesday, September 14, 2016 a Lagos-based consumer rights lawyer, Olumide Babalola, filed a class action suit at the Lagos High Court for himself and on behalf of all the subscribers of the GSM operators who might have received the unsolicited calls and messages from the telecommunication companies in Nigeria.Judgement has been reserved for Wednesday, October 4, 2017.

1200 Days of #ChibokGirls Abduction & #RescueEpe6

Thursday, July 27th made it 1200 days since 276 #ChibokGirls were kidnapped. 57 of the girls escaped, 3 were found and 103 have been released. 113 #ChibokGirls still remain in captivity. Also, the 6 Lagos school boys from Lagos State Model College, Igbonla-Epe who were abducted on Thursday, May 25, 2017 regained their freedom today, July 28th after 65 days in captivity.We hope to see the remaining 113 #ChibokGirls reunites with their family just as the 6 Lagos school boys have been released from captivity. Lend your voice in your own way or join our gatherings:Abuja – Unity Fountain, Daily, 5 - 6pmLagos – Falomo Roundabout, Ikoyi, Saturdays, Noon – 1pmLagos – Ejigbo Local Council Area, Opposite NNPC, Ejigbo, 2nd & 3rd Saturdays, 11am – 1pmSubscribe to get periodic updates.

#NigeriaDecides2019 is Around the Corner!

Local Government elections in Akwa Ibom; gubernatorial elections in Anambra, Ekiti & Osun and the 2019 elections are around the corner – have you registered to vote??

Week in Review - July 28, 2017

Youth Governance Dialogue Series

The Youth Development Centre of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library is hosting the 2nd Edition of the Youth Governance Dialogue with the theme ‘Youth Building Peace’.This edition is organized to mark the International Youth Day on Saturday, August 12, 2017.To register, send your name, email address, phone number and location by e-mail to [email protected] or SMS/WhatsApp 0817 277 9988.Registration closes on Monday, August 7, 2017.

There is vacancy for a position at EiE Nigeria   

Have a great weekend!

The EiE Nigeria Team