Unongu Shares Mind

A bill which seeks to provide for the registration and monitoring of convicts of sexual offences against children has passed second reading in the House of Representatives. Sponsored by the lawmaker representing Bekwarra/Obudu/Obanliku Cross Rivers, Ochiglegor Idagbo, the bill proposes the establishment of a monitoring unit under the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and keep records of those convicted for the rape of minors. The bill, which enjoyed the support of most members will also ensure that a website is created to make it easy for members of the public to check the identity of those that seek to work with them before employing them. “History has taught us that people that commit sexual offences against minors have the tendencies to commit this sexual offence again and again. “So, this bill seeks to establish a monitoring unit under NAPTIP that will register and monitor these sexual offenders. Whenever these sexual offenders seek employ...

News monitored on Al Jazeera Network has it that Mauritanians have voted to abolish their senate and alter their national flag by referendum. The electoral commission announced this on Sunday, in a clear victory for President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz the day after the vote. While turnout was 53.73 percent, 85 percent of voters on Saturday declared "Yes" to changes put to a referendum when they were defeated in the Senate in March, despite fierce criticism from a boycott movement that called mass protests during campaigning. Abdel Aziz, who last week described the senate as "useless and too costly," has said the move to abolish the governing body would improve governance by introducing more local forms of lawmaking. But the boycott movement drew broad political support from figures as diverse as religious conservatives and anti-slavery activists. Members of opposition parties spearheading the boycotters held a press conference on Sunday during which they denoun...