News on the Go: 5 things that should matter to you today

• Senate orders Wike to halt Abuja house demolitions
• INEC to phase out PVCs, plans Diaspora voting
• FG threatens to demolish illegal structures on Lagos shoreline

We have highlighted the five most important developments in the news today, Friday, December 13, and present them below.

5 issues in the news that should matter to you today

1. Senate orders Wike to halt Abuja house demolitions: On December 12, the Senate directed the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, to immediately halt all ongoing property demolitions in Abuja.

This resolution followed concerns over alleged irregularities and hardships caused by the demolitions.

In addition, the Senate summoned the minister to appear before an ad hoc committee formed to investigate the demolition activities.

2. Governors back creation of state police – NEC: Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State, on Thursday, December 12, said 36 states of the federation had endorsed the creation of state police following the submission of their reports to the National Economic Council (NEC).

The Governor said this while briefing State House correspondents at the end of the 147th NEC meeting chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima in Abuja.

3. INEC to phase out PVCs, plans Diaspora voting: The Independent National Electoral Commission has proposed sweeping reforms to improve the country’s electoral system, following lessons learnt from the 2023 general elections and subsequent off-cycle polls.

The proposed reforms include diaspora voting and phasing out Permanent Voter Cards during elections.

The INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed these on December 12 in Abuja during a meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners.

4. LG autonomy: FG threatens contempt suit against errant govs: The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has issued a stern warning to state governors bypassing the Supreme Court judgment on local government autonomy, threatening to seek a contempt of court suit if the defiance continues.

Fagbemi stated this in Abuja on December 12 at the annual 2024 National Association of Judiciary Correspondents conference.

5. FG threatens to demolish illegal structures on Lagos shoreline: The Federal Government has issued a stern warning to developers on the Lagos shoreline, demanding they regularise their projects or face revocation and possible demolition.

This was disclosed in a statement on December 12 by the Director of Press and Public Relations at the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Salisu Haiba.