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APPOINTMENT OF THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL COMMUNICATION FROM THE AFRICAN GROUP

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The following communication, dated 11 July 2024, is being circulated at the request of the delegation of Chad on behalf of the African Group.

The African Group, in accordance with the Procedures for the Appointment of Directors-General
(WT/L/509), requests the inclusion of the following agenda item on the agenda of the forthcoming
General Council:

Appointment of Director-General
Document WT/L/509 provides that the process leading up to the decision by the General Council to
appoint a Director-General shall be conducted by the Chair of the General Council in consultation
with Members, and sets out the procedures to be followed in this regard. Regarding time frames,
Article 7 provides that the process ‘shall start nine months prior to the expiry of the term of an incumbent Director-General with a notification from the Chair to the General Council.’

Article 12 further provides that ‘where a serving Director-General decides to seek reappointment,
he or she shall so notify the Chair of the General Council before the start of the process, and shall thereby be considered to be a candidate. The Chair shall inform Members of the candidature of the incumbent Director-General, in order that they may take this into consideration in submitting their
nominations’.

The tenure of the current Director-General ends in August 2025, and the African Group is of the view
that it would be in the best interest of the Organization if the process of reappointment were to start
early for a number of reasons:

Firstly, the organization has delivered important results on many of the critical issues at MC12 in June 2022 and MC13 in February 2024, and it is essential that we build on these results at MC14.
Secondly, it would be important to ensure continuity and preserve the gains made so far, especially
at MC12 and MC13.

Thirdly, in order to allow Members to focus on the preparations for MC14 that will be taking place in
Africa (Cameroon) in a manner that delivers further results, the African Group believes that it is crucial that the process of appointing Director-General does not overlap with the preparations for MC14. The African Group is proud to support Cameroon in the hosting of MC14.

For these reasons, the African Group wishes to request the current Director-General, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, to make herself available to serve a second term, in accordance with Article 12 of the Procedures for the Appointment of Directors-General (WT/L/509). At MC12 and MC13, her leadership enabled the organization to conclude on several long-standing multilateral agreements. She has also been instrumental in guiding the Secretariat’s work to support Members’ efforts to reform the WTO.

We therefore request that the Chairperson of the General Council begin the appointment process as
soon as possible, in the best interests of the Organization. The African Group further urges WTO
Members to support this proposal with a view to achieving the provisions of Article 2 of the
Procedures for the Appointment of Directors-General (WT/L/509) which states that ‘the overriding objective of Members in this process shall be to reach decisions by consensus’.

Coordinator, African Group

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Track and report abandoned constituency projects; we’ll prosecute -EFCC tells Nigerians

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September 15, 2024

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has urged Nigerians to track and report abandoned constituency projects, warning that those responsible will face prosecution.

This initiative aims to:

1. Promote transparency and accountability in public spending.
2. Ensure elected officials fulfill their campaign promises.
3. Combat corruption and embezzlement.

Nigerians can report abandoned projects through:

1. EFCC’s website
2. Social media handles
3. Toll-free hotline

Required information:

1. Project location
2. Contractor’s name
3. Contract sum
4. Status (abandoned, incomplete, or completed)

The EFCC will investigate and prosecute those found guilty of corruption, mismanagement, or embezzlement.

This move demonstrates the EFCC’s commitment to fighting corruption and ensuring public funds are utilized effectively.

 

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Regina Daniels Reflects on Her Life Journey

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September 3, 2024

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Nigerian actress Regina Daniels has navigated beyond the controversy surrounding her marriage to billionaire and senator Ned Nwoko.

The mother of two recently shared captivating photos on Instagram, showcasing herself on a luxurious flight with her husband and their children.

In her post, she discussed the various activities that have been occupying her time. Regina highlighted that this constant movement is a defining aspect of her life, captioning her post:

“Story of my life – Always on the move.”

Photo source: Instagram

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#Endbadgovernance Protesters Face Trial For Treason, Court Hearing On September 11

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September 3, 2024

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Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the remand of 10 #EndBadGovernance protesters in custody.

On Monday, nine male protesters were sent to Kuje Prison, while one female protester was remanded in Suleja Prison. The court has scheduled their trial and ruling on bail applications for September 11.

The protesters, who were arraigned on charges of treason, mutiny, and intent to destabilize Nigeria, include Michael Adaramoye (also known as Lenin), Adeyemi Abayomi, Suleiman Yakubu, Opaoluwa Simon, and Angel Innocent.

Others facing charges are Buhari Lawal, Mosiu Sadiq, Bashir Bello, Nuradeen Khamis, and Abdulsalam Zubairu. All 10 defendants pleaded not guilty to the six charges brought against them, which include conspiracy to commit felony, inciting mutiny, and waging war against the state—offenses punishable under Section 97 of the Penal Code.

The protesters are accused of attempting to intimidate President Bola Tinubu by allegedly attacking police officers, burning police stations, and damaging government and private property during the demonstrations.

The #EndBadGovernance protests, which took place from August 1 to 10, were sparked by widespread dissatisfaction with the government’s economic policies, including the removal of the petrol subsidy and the unification of forex windows.

The protesters also called for measures to address food shortages, unemployment, and government waste, as well as reforms of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Responding to the arraignment, Amnesty International Nigeria Director Isa Sanusi condemned the trials as “sham” and called for the immediate release of the detained protesters.Sanusi criticized the government for prioritizing the punishment of protesters over investigating the deaths of several demonstrators across various states, including Kano, Katsina, and Maiduguri, during the protests.

The police reported seven deaths related to the protests but denied that security forces were responsible for any of the fatalities.

 

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