TheNewsGuru

Tag: EU

  • Buhari explains why Nigeria may never sign Economic Partnership Agreement with EU

    President Muhammadu Buhari Thursday in Abuja said the insistence on probity, transparency and accountability in the public and private sectors is to secure the future of the country for all Nigerians, especially the youths.

    Receiving a Letter of Credence from the Head of Delegation of the European Union to Nigeria, Ketil Iversen Karlsen, at the State House, President Buhari said his administration will continually promote the culture of honesty and integrity in service, which will guarantee a better future for the youth.

    “Our insistence on probity is to encourage people to be accountable, and accept honesty as a lifestyle so as to secure the future of our youths,’’ he said.

    The president said more than 60 per cent of Nigerians fall into the age category of youth and deserve to inherit a stable and prosperous country that they can be proud of, adding that the government will work assiduously to prevent waste and the depletion of resources by corrupt Nigerians.

    President Buhari told the Head of Delegation of the European Union that Nigeria had been reluctant to sign the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) among ECOWAS countries because of the need to protect the economy, especially the industries and small businesses that currently provide jobs for majority Nigerians.

    He noted that the signing of the agreement will expose the industries and small businesses to external pressures and competitions, which could lead to closures and job losses.

    “We are not enthusiastic about signing the EPA because of our largely youthful population. We are still struggling to provide jobs for them, and we want our youths to be kept busy.

    “Presently, our industries cannot compete with the more efficient and highly technologically driven industries in Europe. We have to protect our industries and our youths,” he said.

    Buhari, who commended the EU for its support for the rehabilitation of the North-east, noted that the Nigerian economy was already being repositioned to attract more investments that will create jobs.

    In his remarks, Mr Karlsen said the EU will continue to support President Buhari’s administration in the key priorities it listed; security, economy and the fight against corruption.

    He said the EPA was designed to accommodate and protect some economies that would find it difficult to compete.

    “We are hopeful that there will be a signature on the agreement,’’ he added.

    Buhari also received Letters of Credence from the Ambassador of Italy, Stefano Pontesilli and the Ambassador of Spain, Marcelino Ansorena.

  • Facebook “show of remorse” not enough in data scandal: German official

    Johannes Caspar, the German government official responsible for policing the activities of Facebook, on Wednesday criticised the U.S. social media company’s reaction in the ongoing Cambridge Analytica data scandal.

    “In so far it must be feared that this scandal will not result in any concrete consequences beyond Facebook’s apology statement and show of remorse,” Caspar told the newspaper “Handelsblatt”.

    “It is and will remain Facebook’s business model to collect data and make it accessible to people with the right profiles in exchange for money,” he said.

    Caspar attended a high-level meeting between German Justice Minster Katarina Barley (SPD) and senior Facebook representatives in Berlin on Monday.

    The data protection officer subsequently lamented that no convincing proposals had been made on behalf of Facebook to redress the situation.

    Barley has demanded a “comprehensive investigation” into whether German users were affected by the illegal use of information from millions of Facebook profiles during “electoral strategy” work by the company Cambridge Analytica for the U.S.

    Trump presidential campaign and the British Leave campaign during the Brexit referendum.

    The justice minister went as far as to describe the social network as a “threat to democracy and the rule of law”.

    She further emphasized that it was the responsibility and right of the European Union (EU) and its member state governments to determine the rules of the game by which tech companies must operate in the bloc.

    According to media reports, Cambridge Analytica used an application designed by the Russian academic Aleksandr Kogan to illegally access the data of around 50 million Facebook users.

    The information was used for targeted campaign advertisements, “micro-targeting” to sway voters in favor of casting their ballot
    for U.S. President Donald Trump or to vote Leave in the British referendum.

    In a recent appearance before the British parliament, ex-Cambridge programmer Christopher Wylie shocked delegates by stating that he had not doubt that his former employer had manipulated the Brexit referendum and broken the law.

     

  • World Bank, EU train personnel from 52 MDAs in Delta

    World Bank, EU train personnel from 52 MDAs in Delta

    The World Bank and EU in collaboration with Delta government on Tuesday started training of over 100 workers of state on financial reforms.

    Mr Benson Okojo the Project Coordinator of the World Bank, EU sponsored State Employment and Expenditure for Results (SEEFOR) project said the training was to build the workers’ capacity on adequate budget preparation.

    “We were able to identify 52 MDAs under our International Public Sector Accounting Standard (IPSAS) platform,” he said.

    Ojoko said the exercise would enable them to understand the reforms that were being implemented under the SEEFOR project intervention.

    According to him, one of such reforms is under our Component B which is budget reform.

    “A lot of changes are being introduced. We are changing from the old ways of preparing budget according to the heads, sub-heads of each sectorial budget to the new coding structure that has been informed by the adoption of IPSAS.

    “It was approved by the Federal Executive Council in 2010 and in 2011, there was a Federal Allocation Accounting Committee (FAAC) that now designed a new national chart among the three tiers of government,” he said.

    Ojoko said that Delta was among the first five states that had adopted the new national chart of accounting.

    “Having adopted the chart, Delta has been working by organising workshops and trainings for relevant stakeholders.

    “This includes budget officers, accountants as well as staff of the Ministry of Economic Planning for the implementation of the programme in the state.

    “This has made it possible for the state to prepare the 2018 budget which is already online and the World Bank had applauded the state for this effort.’’

    Ojoko said that in spite of the progress recorded by the state in the area of budget preparation, there were still lapses that needed to be corrected.

    The workers were drawn from 52 Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the state.

     

  • Facebook’s response to data scandal has ‘diminished’ trust — EU

    Facebook must do more to address allegations of large-scale data mining, the EU has said, warning that the recent Cambridge Analytica scandal threatens democracy and has diminished trust in the social media giant.

    Facebook has come under fire after a co-founder of data analysis firm Cambridge Analytica told an undercover reporter that information from about 50 million Facebook users was taken without their consent and used for U.S. President Donald Trump’s 2016 election campaign.

    The issue has broad “consequences for the democratic process,’’ EU Justice Commissioner, Vera Jourova, wrote to Facebook’s Chief Operating Officer, Sheryl Sandberg, in a letter seen Tuesday.

    Jourova added that her concerns were “not alleviated’’ by Facebook’s response to the scandal.

    “This is particularly disappointing given our efforts to build a relationship based on trust with you and your colleagues,” Jourova wrote. “This trust is now diminished.”

    Facebook has long been used for political marketing, she noted, adding that the apparent lack of transparency and alleged abuse of personal data could have a “negative impact on the quality of this debate and even on our electoral process.”

    The commissioner called on Facebook to “take steps to regain the trust of its users and meet its obligation to society.”

    Jourova asked whether the data of EU citizens had been affected by the recent scandal, whether a similar thing could happen again, how Facebook would apply EU privacy laws and whether stricter rules are needed, giving the company two weeks to respond.

    Cambridge Analytica is accused of illegally obtaining information from Facebook users after misleadingly gaining access under the guise of an app.

     

  • U.S. confirms investigation into Facebook over data privacy scandal

    The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on Monday confirmed that it was investigating Facebook over its privacy practices.

    The commission is looking into reports that Facebook failed to honour promises to comply with existing privacy protections, including a data privacy deal between the EU and the U.S. agreed in 2016.

    “The FTC is firmly and fully committed to using all of its tools to protect the privacy of consumers,” said Tom Pahl, Acting Director of the FTC, in a statement.

    Facebook Chief Executive, Mark Zuckerberg, has come under pressure over a data-mining scandal involving the British firm Cambridge Analytica.

    Information from about 50 million Facebook users was taken without their consent and used in work Cambridge Analytica did for U.S. President Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign, according to a whistle-blower, who helped set up the company.

    Zuckerberg took out full-page ads in Sunday newspapers in the U.S. and Britain to apologise.

    “We have a responsibility to protect your information. If we can’t, we don’t deserve it,’’ Zuckerberg said in the apology. “I promise to do better for you.’’

    The privacy deal between the EU and the U.S. is known as Privacy Shield.

    It replaced an earlier framework that the EU’s top court struck down as insufficient after revelations in 2013 of mass spying by U.S. intelligence authorities.

    The deal aims to prevent the indiscriminate collection of Europeans’ private data via the internet.

     

  • Trafficking: Edo govt. seeks UN, EU partnership on returnees’ resettlement, empowerment

    Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has commenced talks with the British High Commission and the United Nations Women on areas of partnership spanning resettlement of victims of human trafficking and empowerment.

    The meetings with the two International bodies held on the sideline of the Senate Roundtable on Migration and Human Trafficking, which held in Benin City, the Edo State capital.

    Obaseki met with the Country Representative, United Nations Women, Comfort Lamptey, with whom he discussed areas of partnership on empowering returnees and stemming the tide of human trafficking.

    The talks are expected to lead to partnerships that will see the UN Women engage in programmes to resettle returnees, halt the tide of irregular migration and empower women to lead productive lives without resorting to dangerous journeys outside the country.

    Governor Obaseki also had a separate session with British Deputy High Commissioner, Ms Laure Beaufils, to synergise on measures to mitigate human trafficking and initiate novel agriculture programmes.

    The efforts are expected to culminate in an inter-agency committee to coordinate the programmes of international agencies in the state.

    The state’s effort to stem human trafficking is led by the Edo State Taskforce on Anti-Human Trafficking Illegal Migration.

     

  • Saraki, Dambazau, EU back Edo Govt.’s fight against human trafficking

    The Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, Minister of Interior, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau and the European Union have thrown their weight behind the Edo State government’s efforts at combating the scourge of human trafficking and illegal migration.

    At a Senate Round-table on Migration and Human Trafficking held in Benin City, the Edo State Capital, on Monday, Saraki commended the effort of Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, in the fight against the menace.

    He said that the effort by the Edo State Government was the beginning of many steps to be taken in halting illegal migration.

    He canvassed for renewed efforts in stemming the tide, noting that it was regrettable that youths save funds to leave the country and, in the process, fall prey to predators that sell them as slaves.

    Saraki urged stakeholders to join forces to fight the menace, noting, “The government has been doing its best to liberate Nigerians from slave trade in Libya, as many lives have been lost in the cause of irregular migration. The time is apt to end the scourge.”

    Noting that the summit is expected to provide direction on how to improve collaborations to tackle human trafficking, he said that some of the resolutions will lead to improved legislation, funding to agencies such as the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and accelerating pending treaties.

    In his address, Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, said the incidence of irregular migration and human trafficking has become critical, noting that its magnitude wasn’t fully grasped before.

    Obaseki said the Edo government considered the menace at variance to the culture and value of the people, which led to the establishment of the taskforce to handle the issue.

    He added that the taskforce has “worked assiduously to achieve its objectives, as it has coordinated the receipt and reintegration of returnees, led the prosecution of offenders, and managed public perception to tackle stigmatisation.

    “Edo State Government under my watch considers modern day slavery, a practice that is at variance with our rich cultures and values.”

    Minister of Interior, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau, expressed concern over the trend, noting that it was unpalatable for youths to risk their lives across difficult terrains to Europe.

    The European Union (EU), Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Ketil Karlsen, said it has recorded no fewer than 10,000 cases of irregular migration within the last two months.

    Karlsen said that EU’s illegal migration registration of the 10,000 took place in 2018, as the records were taken between January and February.

    He said that in 2017, EU registered about 187,000 cases, while number of deaths registered so far was 411, as against 116 reordered in 2017.

    He said that of the figure, Nigeria accounts for about 60 percent, adding that in view of this, there was need to correct the worrisome error.

    “What should be of worry and concern was the irregular migration and the conditions the victims were being migrated. We should also look at the causes for such migration,” he said.

     

  • EU appoints woman as Head of Commission’s Cabinet for 1st time

    The European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker on Wednesday appointed a woman for the first time as his Head of Cabinet.

    “The President appointed today Clara Alberola as his new Head of Cabinet with effect from March 1.

    “Mrs Alberola is the first woman and the first Spanish national in the history of the European Commission to head the Commission President’s office,” the Commission said.

    Clara Martinez Alberola, who served as Deputy Head of Cabinet, will assume the office from Martin Selmayr, who has been appointed as the EU Commission’s Secretary-General following the retirement of Alexander Italianer.

     

  • NITDA counsels Nigerians on EU data protection regulation

    The National Information Communication Technology Agency (NITDA) on Monday warned Nigerians using European Union General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) to beware of possible negative impacts.

    Dr Isa Pantami, Director-General of NITDA said this in a statement in Abuja.

    The EU’s GDPR is the result of four years of work by the EU to bring data protection legislation into line with new and previously unforeseen ways of data usage.

    Currently, the UK relies on the Data Protection Act 1998, which was enacted following the 1995 EU Data Protection Directive, but this will be superseded by the new legislation.

    The new legislation introduces tougher fines for non-compliance and breaches, and gives people more say over what companies can do with their data and it also makes data protection rules more or less identical throughout the EU.

    The GDPR will apply in all EU member states from May 25, because GDPR is a regulation, not a directive, the UK does not need to draw up new legislation – instead, it will apply automatically.

    The GDPR applies to controllers and processors of data. A data controller states how and why personal data is processed, while a processor is the party doing the actual processing of the data.

    The controller could be any organisation, from a profit-seeking company to a charity or government. A processor could be an IT firm doing the actual data processing.

    “NITDA will like to bring to the attention of Nigerian businesses, especially those that collect, store and process personal data of EU citizens for the provision of goods and services, and the general public, the implications of the new EU GDPR.

    “The regulation, which was adopted on April 27, 2016 and becomes enforceable from May 25, is replacing the data protection directive of 1995.

    “It applies to the data controller or an organisation that collects data from EU residents or processor.

    “An organisation that processes data on behalf of data controller such as data centres or the data subject.

    “The person whose personal data has been collected is based within or outside any EU member state, if they collect or process personal data of EU citizens and residents.

    “The agency has realised that this regulation may have huge impact on Nigerian businesses or individuals that use information technologies to collect, store, process and transact on EU citizens personal data in EU territory or elsewhere.

    “It is in the utmost interest of the agency to protect Nigerian businesses from unnecessary exposure to the risks of this regulation and any regulations that might have negative impact on their businesses.

    “This can also affect the rights of Nigerians that have dual citizenship of any EU member state,” Pantami said.

    “NITDA calls on Nigerian organisations that are controllers and processors of personal data of EU nationals to note that companies must not have offices in an EU member state.

    “Those organisations should have more than 250 employees and have fewer than 250 employees, where its data processing impacts the rights and freedoms of data subjects,” he said.

    Pantami said the regulation required that data controllers and processors must seek consent from data subjects in an intelligible and easily accessible form.

    According to him, the consent should clearly specify the purpose for the collection and stipulate distinguishable format from other matters and presented in clear language.

    Pantami said a breach of the regulation could attract a fine of up to four per cent of a company’s annual global turnover or an equivalent of 20 million Euros.

    “Companies can be fined up to two per cent for not having their records in order, not notifying the supervising authority and data subject about a breach or not conducting impact assessment.

    “The regulation also gives data subjects the right to obtain from the data controller confirmation as to whether or not personal data concerning them is being processed.

    “They also have the right to transmit data they had previously provided to another controller.

    “Furthermore, they are entitled to have the data controller erase their personal data, cease further dissemination of the data, and potentially have third parties halt processing of the data,” he said.

    According to Pantami, Nigerian businesses carrying out online transactions and meet the GDPR compliance criteria should put in place appropriate measures to observe the provisions of the regulation.

    He said organisations were also required to note the provisions of the NITDA Guidelines on Data Protection, issued in 2013 and currently being revised.

    He added that the revised guideline would soon be presented for stakeholder consultation as stipulated in the Rulemaking Process Regulation of NITDA.

     

  • 2019: Nigeria gets €26.5m EU grant for electoral process

    2019: Nigeria gets €26.5m EU grant for electoral process

    The European Union on Thursday in Abuja re-affirmed its commitment to Nigeria’s electoral process with a €26.5m grant.

    The EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr. Ketil KarLsen, made the disclosure at the launch of the EU Support Programme to Democratic Governance in Nigeria.

    Karsen said the electoral process, which would be funded over a period of five years, was aimed at promoting transparent, inclusive and credible elections.

    “The overall objective of the EU-SDGN is to contribute to the reinforcement of democracy in Nigeria through building strong, effective and legitimate democratic institutions.

    “Ahead of the 2019 general elections, Nigeria is at a pivotal moment that allows the country to take important steps to consolidate democracy and strengthen the electoral process.

    “The EU continues to partner with Nigeria in the on-going reform process, with a view to strengthening the capacity to conduct well-managed elections with ample participation of all Nigerians.

    “For this to happen, all must contribute, from the key institutions to the political parties, candidates, media and civil society.’’

    KarLsen said the project would be anchored in the priority areas identified by the Nigerian government.

    He said it would also build on the recommendations of the EU Election Observation Mission, made after the 2015 elections as well as those of the EU Expert Identification Formulation Mission to Nigeria.

    He said that the programme would focus on five areas of support, including improved quality of electoral administration in Nigeria and effective discharge of legislative function in compliance with democratic principles and standards.

    The envoy identified other areas as enhanced pluralism, tolerance, internal democracy and equality of opportunity of political parties and fair, accurate and ethical coverage of the electoral process by the media.

    He said the other areas are women, youths and marginalised citizens, civil society orgainisations and other relevant agencies contributing to the enhancement of the electoral process.

    Vice-President of the European Centre for Electoral Support, Mr. Jose Pinto-teixeira, said that the programme would be implemented from 2017 to 2022.

    “Our work revolves around building on the already notable resources and tools developed to safeguard the integrity of the electoral process in Nigeria.

    “This programme is being launched, ahead of the 2019 elections knowing that for many stakeholders, including the electoral management bodies in Nigeria, elections are regular and continuous events given the many by-elections that have been taking place so far.’’

    Pinto-teixeira said that the programme had five inter-connected components, comprising support to INEC, National Assembly, political parties, CSOs and the media.

    The INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said the inauguration of the programme was another demonstration of the EU’s commitment to the promotion of the rule of law, good governance and democracy in Nigeria.

    Yakubu said that for the 2019 elections, INEC would be conducting elections in 1,558 constituencies nationwide made up of one presidential constituency, 29 governorship constituencies, 109 senatorial districts, 360 federal constituencies and 991 state constituencies.

    He said that INEC had registered 74 million voters so far.

    The INEC chief said that Nigeria had 68 political parties with about 100 new applications awaiting registration with a proposal from the National Assembly on independent candidacy.

    Mr Samson Itodo, the Executive Director, Youth Initiative for Advocacy, Growth and Advancement, said the gap identified in 2015 was that youths were not given support to contest.