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EU citizens face losing benefits if they fail to update DWP profile

EU citizens on benefits could lose their universal credit in three weeks’ time unless they evidence their right to be in the UK, charity workers have warned.

The Work Rights Centre (WRC) says it has been told by staff at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) that EU and European Economic Area nationals must upload a special Home Office code to prove they have the right to reside in the UK before the end of the month.

If they do not update the online DWP profile with this “share code” they could fall off the system, says WRC. Other charities have expressed similar fears.

WRC has raised concerns that many on benefits including children’s allowance could simply lose out because they did not know they had to update their profile or “journey” on the DWP universal credit website.

“Frankly, this is mass disentitlement waiting to happen,” the charity’s director, Olivia Vicol, said. “Many charities, including ours, warned that a digital-only immigration status wouldn’t remove the pressure of having to prove your rights.”

She says she was informed of the cut-off date by customer service agents who appeared to be “reading from a script” when she sought clarification over a letter that went to claimants from the Home Office advising them they needed to apply for the EU settlement scheme after Brexit.

The deadline will come as shock to many who thought the fact the Home Office is insisting on a digital share code to evidence their rights meant the DWP would automatically know who was entitled to remain in the country or not.

Vicol said the DWP demand will also be a concern for many in the 450,000-strong Home Office backlog of applications still being processed for the settlement scheme. “I can’t even begin to explain how anxious this will make those in the Home Office backlog, who – through no fault of their own – cannot generate the proof the DWP is demanding,” she said.

The letter failed to account for EU citizens who may have had pending applications to the EU settlement scheme (EUSS) and should therefore have had their rights protected until an outcome was reached.

The Home Office minister Kevin Foster has repeatedly said the rights of EU citizens who are still in the backlog would be guaranteed by the issue of a certificate of application from his department.

Vicol said her charity was also concerned about vulnerable EU citizens who were not computer literate and might have had their applications submitted by charities or other representatives, and so might not have been aware they needed to evidence their rights to the DWP. The WRC also fears that those who have moved address or changed their telephone number may not get notification from the DWP of the need to update their online benefits profile.

Almost half of those seeking the assistance of the charity reported they did not know how to get a “share code” from the Home Office when asked to do so by their employer.

“Their current approach puts local authorities and benefits advisers across the third sector in a very awkward position, to fixate on proving status when many people have already done it and others simply can’t,” she said.

A government spokesperson said: “We continue to use every possible channel – including letters, telephone calls, texts, and the direct contact our frontline staff have with their customers – to encourage those who are eligible to apply to the EU settlement scheme.”

News

Gov Bago signs Executive Order on Niger Green Economy

Governor Umaru Bago of Niger State has signed an Executive Order on the Green Economy.

The Executive order which was titled ‘the Niger State Green Economy Initiative Order (No.3), 2023’ provides that the Green Economy Initiative shall be driven by the State Blueprint that details the strategic pillars and outlines the strategic key performance indicators, targets and timelines of the transition into a green economy.

Also enshrined in the Order, Niger State Government shall produce a State-Wide Land Use and Economic Development Plan to guide investment decisions and ensure investments that would stabilise the green transition are properly coordinated and planned.

The Order further directed all the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the State to adhere strictly to the initiative, adding that appropriate sanction will be carried out on any violator of the Executive Order.

Singing the Executive Order shortly before the commencement of the weekly State Executive Council (SEC) Meeting at the Council Chambers, Government House, Minna, Governor Bago explained that the Executive Order was to ensure the effective implementation of the Green Economy Policy.

Governor Bago appreciated Media Practitioners for the wide coverage given to his administration and encouraged them not to relent.

Recall that the Present administration initiated the Green Economy Policy, and hosted the first summit on initiative with the view to turn around the economy of the State and engender socio-economic development.

According to the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Bologi Ibrahim, “With the signing of Executive Order Three, the initiative has come to stay and its implementation is sacrosanct.”

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COP28: President Tinubu Meets King Charles in Dubai

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday met with King Charles III of England in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Both of them are in the country to participate in the United Nations Climate Conference known as COP28 taking place in the Emirati city.

Tinubu posted a message on his X account, on the meeting, describing the king as passionate climate advocate.

He posted: “I had a productive meeting with His Majesty, King Charles III of England who is also the Head of the Commonwealth, and a passionate climate advocate.

“The meeting was a significant step in strengthening the partnership between Nigeria and the United Kingdom, and I am optimistic about the positive impact our joint efforts will have on our planet’s future as we look forward to setting an equitable global standard for environmental stewardship at COP28.”

News

Police Rescue Abducted Plateau Pastor, Three Others in Bauchi

Operatives of the Nigerian Police, Bauchi State Command have rescued four kidnapped victims including a pastor.

The victims were kidnapped by bandits who invaded Raddi village via Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State on Wednesday, November 29.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Ahmed Wakil, a Superintendent of Police, disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists.

Wakil said the bandits had stormed the house of one Yakubu Makeri, of Yagi village via Rahama ward, to attack him but a team of operatives attached to Rishi Police Divisional Headquarters in conjunction with local vigilantes swiftly moved to the scene and engaged the bandits in a gun battle.

The statement read, “On November 29, 2023, at about 1am, one sabitu ‘m’ of Kadade village via Toro LGA of Bauchi State reported that on the same date at about 12.30am, an unknown number of bandits invaded their village and stormed the house of one Yakubu Ya’u Makeri, male, of Yagi village via Rahama ward.

“A team of operatives attached to Rishi Police Divisional Headquarters in conjunction with local vigilantes swiftly moved to the scene and engaged the bandit.

“The operatives overpowered the bandits in a gun duel. As a result, one of the bandits was neutralised while the remaining scampered and abandoned their mission.

“However, during the encounter, the operatives succeeded in rescuing three kidnapped victims, namely: Pastor Bala, male (50), Keziya Ayuba (50) and Sunday Ayuba, (40) all of Raddi village via Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State.

“The aforementioned victims were confirmed to have been kidnapped from their village in Jos, Plateau State.”

Wakil stated that the Commissioner of Police has ordered the Divisional Police Officer to intensify wider patrol across the area in a bid to arrest the fleeing bandits so they can face the full wrath of the law.