₦airaland Forum

Check out the look on the face of this man! It is a faraway look; it is haunted; it is almost maniacal! It is the look of someone who has been lobotomized and then pole-axed. It is the look of someone who has forgotten his name or who he is; the look of someone who is irretrievably lost. This is not the look of a man who still has his senses intact! Check the flailed hand raised in feeble, lost and disconsolate salute! The picture I see is of a man who appears to have forgotten his face and lost his shadow! I doubt if this man can think let alone govern! Even cows deserve the excellent instinct of a herdsman. Why make this poor man go througj all this circus show?

Theatre of the Absurd! Even his minders appear to be amused by it all. My heart bleeds for my land!

BEFORE and AFTER: Spot the difference!

When Eniola Kiyesola left home for work on August 18, 2013, he bade his wife and three children farewell, saying he would return after the day's work.

This was, however, not to be as the 36-year-old man was beaten to death by land grabbers few hours after he left his house.

PUNCH Metro learnt that Kiyesola had gone to a construction site to supervise an ongoing work when about five land grabbers stormed the site.

The culprits were said to have demanded N5, 000 from Kiyesola, adding that if he did not pay them, they would prevent labourers from working.

A relative of the deceased, Mr Sola Solebo, said, "On that day, Kiyesola went to supervise construction at the site.

"After sometime, about five hoodlums from Omo Ebi Bagidan Village, led by one Babu and Kazeem, stormed the site and demanded money.

"Kiyesola reminded them that the owner of the property had given them money when the foundation of the building was being laid.

"The land grabbers then demanded N5, 000 so that they would leave. However, Kiyesola told them that he could not give them any money and told them to come back when the owner of the property was around.

"There was an exchange of words and the hoodlums picked up iron rods and beat him up."

A labourer, Yusuf Olatundun, who claimed to be an eyewitness, said the culprits beat Kiyesola for over an hour.

Olatundun, a bricklayer, said, "About 15 of us were working on the site when those land grabbers came. The land grabbers said they had an axe to grind with the architect. Some of us rushed to Ijede Police Division to report the matter.

"After beating Kiyesola for over an hour, he collapsed. When he became unconscious, the guys fled. When the police arrived we rushed Kiyesola to General Hospital, Ijede where he was confirmed dead."

PUNCH Metro learnt that the traditional leader of Omo Ebi Bagidan Village, Sunday Basorun, who was alleged to have employed the culprits to collect land dues for him, had been arrested.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, said, "The matter has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba."

Braide added that efforts were on to arrest the fleeing culprits. http://mobile.punchng.com/output.php?link=http://www.punchng.com/metro/land-grabbers-beat-architect-to-death-over-n5000/

Dozens of suspected Boko Haram militants in Magumeri forest, Borno, have turned to human eaters after being stranded for days without food or water.

Magumeri forest is about 150 kilometres from Maiduguri, the state capital.

Mallam Momodu Bukar, a suspected militant, told newsmen on Saturday in Maiduguri that he fled the camp at the forest on Thursday when it became obvious that he was going to be eaten.

“I thank God that I escaped because I would have been slaughtered by now to provide meal for my colleagues at the camp,” Bukar said.

The suspected militant was captured by a Youth Vigilante Group, popularly known as the civilian JTF at Baga Road motor park, Maiduguri, on Friday..

He said the militants had been in the forest since May, when they were dislodged from Marte, Marte Local Government Area, by the Joint Task Force (JTF) on Operation Restore Order (ORO) after the declaration of the State of Emergency.

“Our group, consisting of about 300 well armed combatants, headed for Magumeri on the orders of the sect leader, Abubakar Shekau, shortly before the military took over Marte Camp.

“We have been wandering in the forest. We have exhausted our food and water supply, and so, everybody became hungry,” Bukar said.

He also said that they lost contact with Shekau due to the closure of GSM services by the Defence Headquarters.

“It all started last Monday when three of the combatants in camp died of acute hunger, and it became obvious that all of us will die if action was not taken.

“The leader of the group, Abu Omar, directed that a non combatant member be slaughtered to provide meal for the rest.

“The meat provided meal for the combatant for just two days and another person was killed in the same manner on Wednesday.

“So, it became certain that I might be the next person since I am also a non combatant member.”

Bukar said he escaped after volunteering to help search for drinking water for the group in a nearby village.

“I left the camp on Thursday evening after agreeing to fetch water from the village.

“After leaving the camp, I started running until I arrived at Magumeri town, so, I slept in the motor park before boarding a vehicle to Maiduguri with the little money on me.” he said.

Bukar said that he was apprehended immediately he arrived at the motor park in Maiduguri by the youth vigilante group.

Commenting, an official of the vigilante group, Mallam Ajid Asheik, said the suspect would be handed to the Joint Task Force (JTF) on Operation Restore Order (ORO) for investigation.(NAN)

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/08/revealed-stranded-boko-haram-members-turn-human-eaters-in-borno-suspect/

Abuja -  The Federal Government has provided N30 billion to support university councils in settling the “Earned Allowances” of university workers.
Chief Anyim Pius Anyim, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, announced this at a meeting with Pro-Chancellors and Vice Chancellors of Public Universities.
Anyim said the amount would be disbursed to the various university councils, which were in position to know, who was entitled to what and how much, after verification.
“From the foregoing, it is obvious that the Federal Government has demonstrated sufficient commitment to the implementation of the 2009 FG/ASUU (Academic Staff Union of Universities) Agreement.
“By this, it is clear demonstration of commitment to revitalise the university system, government hereby, urges every staff of the nation’s universities to return to work as all issues are being resolved.
“With particular reference to the contentious issue of “Earned Allowance’’, every staff of the universities that is so entitled should verify his claim with his university council and accordingly get paid.
“President Goodluck Jonathan is fully committed to bringing the students back to school and appreciates the patience of parents and students",Anyim said.
Earlier, the Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayyatu Rufa’I, said that the government was ready to implement all the recommendations, particularly as it relates to revitalisation of the universities.
Rufa’I said that on the issue of funding and revitalisation, the Needs Assessment Committee would address infrastructure decay in universities.
“I want to assure you that this will be done in the next few years". (NAN) http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/08/fg-provides-n30bn-to-support-university-councils/

Mmalistic mma: ASUU & FG SHOULD FOR ONCE REACH A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MoU) IF NOT FOR ANY OTHER THING, LET IT BE FOR THE SAKE OF THE STUDENTS.

Are you familiar with the issues at all? What new MoU do you want when the previous one has not been honoured? The issue is not with churning out MoUs but government honouring the one it has already signed with ASUU which is the present bone of contention.

Aryourkunlay: Kudos to ASUU, as you make forth big strenght to earn your pockets with 3yrs allowances, remember that the Nigerian Students are growing old and ditter grey.. Dramatize your foolishness, as I am also foolish to have supported you. Now FG has approved N400b, you must have a good reason to keep us waiting at home, other than preserving your pockets for some allowance.. ..

You sound rather uneducated! You just jump into threads and comment without reading previous posts that could have given you the enlightenment you so desperately need! How many times do you need to be told that FG has not "approved N400 billion naira"? Assuming there was such amount, was it for lecturers' allowances? You seem so so gullible, believing every rubbish you hear from the mouths of government spokesmen.

alexdidi: What's really happening? Was the news on NTA a mere stunt? And what's this logical conclusion ASUU want to arrive at?

Yes, the news on NTA is the usual government stunt, full of lies and half-truths. The so-called government negotiiation ASUU has now pulled out of was a mere charade, to give Nigerians the impression that something was being done by government to resolve the crisis. Nothing concrete was really on the table. All the talk about billions upon billions being approved was all noise. No kobo had been released. ASUU saw through these usual government tactics and didn't want to continue to waste their time. Truth is: this is not a sincere government: they enter into agreements they cannot honour; they make promises they cannot keep. They are fire brigadiers; they rush in to douse the fire, leaving the source of the fire. The billions being talked about ought to have been released installmentally from 2009 when they signed the agreement with ASUU, but they went to sleep after that, destroying our patrimony in senseless waste and self-aggrandizement. Now the chicken has come home to roost. Did it not surprise you that a government that told you earlier it had no money to meet ASUU's demands would suddenly begin to 'approve' billions of naira? As a Somali proverb goes, "You cannot talk of things falling apart when they were never whole".

Abuja – An Abuja Magistrates’ court on Thursday sentenced a 35-year-old security guard, Ibrahim Saleh, to 90 days in prison for collecting recharge cards valued at N12,000 under false pretences.

Saleh was found guilty of collecting the cards from one Salihu Abdullahi of Gwarimpa Market on Aug. 14 under the guise that he was going to pay.

However, the court was told that the convict refused to pay after recharging his cell-phone.

The court also orderered him to pay N12,000 to the complainant as compensation for his recharge cards.

Slaeh pleaded guilty to the charges.

Earlier, the police prosecutor, Sgt. Salihu Mohammed, said that following the report by the complainant, Saleh was arrested and  confessed to the crime. (NAN) http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/08/man-to-spend-90-days-in-jail-over-n12000-recharge-card-fraud/

BY PETER DURU

MAKURDI—Over 200,000 Nigerian students studying in Ghanaian universities are reported to expend over N100 billion annually as tuition outside sundry fees.

Former lawmaker and educationists, Senator David Iornem, who disclosed this yesterday at a briefing to mark his 64th birthday anniversary in Makurdi, said the figure represented a major capital flight from the country.

According to him, “available figures show that the over 200,000 Nigerians currently studying in Ghana, expend over N100 billion annually on tuition and sundry fees. This situation arose because official figures show that out of N1.7million Nigerians seeking admission into institutions of higher learning, only 500,000 find placements leaving many with no other option but to seek admission in Ghana.

The federal government should take immediate steps to unbundling the higher education sector in Nigeria by adopting the United Kingdom, American, Malaysian and German models which allows for the establishment of small university colleges by willing entrepreneurs.

“In these countries, small university colleges which may be affiliated to bigger universities are set up by small scale entrepreneurs with adequate resources. I believe that when we kick start this process, more than 500,000 university places will be created in the first year.

“This can be achieved by involving small entrepreneurs and allowing existing universities to set up satellite campuses. By the third year of starting this system, no Nigerian youth wanting to enter a university, polytechnic or a college of education will have any difficulty or denied the opportunity to development him or herself.

Prof. Iornem added, “it is totally unacceptable to officially shut the door against young Nigerians wanting admission, thereby, leaving them stranded and hopeless; we must return the higher education sector to its days of glory when brilliant young people were sure of their future.” http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/08/nigerian-students-spend-n100bn-on-tuition-in-ghanaian-varsities/

The Ikeja branch of the Nigerian Bar Association has urged the Academic Staff Union of Universities not to end its ongoing strike which started on July 1, 2013 unless its demands are met by the Federal Government.

Chairman of the branch, Mr. Monday Ubani, at a press briefing in Lagos on Wednesday, said the union should stick to its demands to avoid the need for embarking on another round of strike action in few months time.

The demands of the university teachers include the N87bn which the Federal Government agreed to pay to them in 2009 as arrears of their earned allowances.

Ubani, while fielding questions from journalists, said, "I will like ASUU not to call off the strike for now so that this issue can be addressed once and for all.

"They should not renege on the agreement and call off the strike only to embark on another one again in the next few months."

Ubani, who addressed the press alongside other members of his executive council, said the strike was a blow to the educational system and that it was caused by the Federal Government's misplaced priorities.

He said, "We are confused with the priorities of this government. While they said they have no money to rescue our educational sector, they are busy buying another jet to add to the fleet jet already owned by the Presidency and organising jamboree of high class women in Abuja with millions of naira."

http://mobile.punchng.com/output.php?link=http://www.punchng.com/news/nba-urges-ASUU-not-to-end-strike/

Governor Danbaba Suntai of Taraba is expected to depart the Sea View Hospital Rehabilitation Centre and Home located in New York for home on August 25, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

The governor’s wife, Hauwa Danbaba Suntai, made this known in a telephone interview with NAN on Tuesday in New York.

She said that all arrangement had been concluded for the return of the governor, who had spent some months at the rehabilitation centre, following the injury he suffered after his aircraft crashed in Adamawa while attempting to land in October in 2012.

Hauwa also expressed the families appreciation to all who had in many ways supported the family throughout their
trying moment.

NAN also learnt that some Nigerians living in New York have volunteered to accompany the governor home.

Members of the PDP Fact-finding Committee on the Taraba political situation, led by its chairman, Sen. Hope Uzodinma, earlier this month paid a solidarity visit to the governor at the rehabilitation centre.

Uzodinma was accompanied by the Special Adviser to the PDP National Chairman on INEC and Inter-party Affairs, Alhaji Shittu Mohammed, the Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Alhaji Ahmed Gulak, Sen. Abubakar Gada and the Consul-General of Nigeria in New York, Amb. Habib Habu.

``We are impressed with what we have seen and we thank God for that. We will take back home what we have seen
and we will inform the leadership of the party.

``We are impressed; we are also happy that the governor is recovering. We will still go back home and relate what
we have seen,’’ he said after the visit.

Also while in the rehabilitation centre, Suntai spoke with President Goodluck Jonathan, Vice President Namadi Sambo

just as he received his colleague, Gov. Gabriel Suswam, the governor of Benue on June 25, among others.http://www.theguardianmobile.com/readNewsItem1.php?nid=16586

The Enugu State Universal Basic Education Board (ESUBEB) has recorded 6,251 applications for the 400 slots for primary and secondary schools teachers allotted it by the Federal Government.
The Desk Officer for Universal Basic  Education (UBE) in the state, Mrs Amaka Eze, said on Wednesday that the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) allotted only 400 spaces to the state in its intervention for the employment of teachers.
Eze, who was in Nsukka for the written interview for candidates from Enugu North Zone, said the recruitment was Federal Government’s education intervention programme to ensure that primary and secondary schools in the country had enough teachers.
“This recruitment is government’s intervention programme to solve the problem of inadequate teachers in some primary and secondary schools in the country.
“Successful candidates will be employed and they will teach for two years and will be paid N18,000 as monthly salary,” she said.
The desk officer commended the applicants for their orderly conduct during the exercise.
“This written interview is going on simultaneously in every state of the federation. It is a two-day interview. Some candidates wrote on Tuesday while the remaining are writing today and those to be recruited will be based on merit.
“Only regular NCE holders from Colleges of Education are qualified since part-time or sandwich NCE holders are not qualified to apply,” she said.
Eze attributed the high number of candidates that applied for the jobs to the high rate of unemployment in the country.
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/08/6251-applicants-jostle-for-400-ubec-teaching-jobs-in-enugu-state/

STRONG indications emerged Tuesday that President Goodluck Jonathan may have personally taken charge of efforts aimed at getting striking university teachers back to work soon.

Besides, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has asked the Federal Government to honour its agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in order to end the industrial action.

Meanwhile, the Niger State Governor, Dr. Babangida Aliyu, has appealed to the ASUU to accept the offer made by the Federal Government and call off the strike. He spoke at the African Regional Centre of Enterprise Workshop yesterday in Abuja.

And the Registrar/Chief Executive of Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Dibu Ojerinde, has directed all universities to conclude admissions on or before October 31, 2013.

Jonathan met yesterday for more than two hours with the Federal Government’s officials engaged in the negotiation with ASUU at the Presidential Villa.

At the meeting were Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo; Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Anyim Pius Anyim; Benue State Governor, Dr. Gabriel Suswam; Ministers of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; Education, Prof. Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufa’i and Labour, Chief Emeka Wogu; Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Julius Okojie, as well as the Chief of Staff to the President, Chief Mike Oghiadomhe.

The previous negotiations between the Federal Government team and the union on Tuesday last week and Monday this week at the office of the SGF failed to yield result as the teachers insisted on the implementation of the 2009 ASUU/FGN agreement.

Briefing State House correspondents after the meeting, Suswam, who chairs the implementation committee of the NEEDS Assessment panel of the universities, expressed confidence that with measures so far put in place by the Federal Government, there was hope that the teachers might call off the strike soon.

He also noted government’s readiness to make available N30 billion out of the N87 billion being demanded by ASUU to be disbursed as earned academic allowances to the teachers, in addition to the N100 billion for infrastructural rehabilitation in the universities.

He confirmed that the Federal Government would meet with the governing councils and vice chancellors of federal universities before the end of the week to inform them of the decisions so far taken by the Federal Government.

In a statement in Abuja yesterday by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, APC said no government worth its salt could afford to play with education, because it is the path to national development.

It said ASUU was not making any fresh demand beyond the agreement it reached with the government in 2009, stressing: ‘’Agreements are meant to be honoured, and breaching them comes with some consequences.’’

APC said the strike was a further blow to the country’s educational system, which has deteriorated so much that no Nigerian university is currently listed in the top 100 universities in the world and only a few of them have made the top 100 in Africa.

The party added: ‘’The N87 billion that ASUU is demanding represents earned allowances hence cannot be renegotiated. In any case, this amount pales into insignificance when placed side by side with the N1 trillion that has been spent on federal legislators in the past eight years; or the frivolity involved in a government minister travelling to China to negotiate a $1 billion loan in a chartered jet (with its attendant cost) and with a retinue of staffers who earned generous estacode in hard currency.

‘’It is an indication of the kind of priority that this Federal Government attaches to education that while it has refused to meet its own side of an agreement it reached with ASUU since 2009, it could pay out N3 trillion in non-existent fuel subsidies to fat cats, spend N10 billion yearly to maintain the jets in the presidential fleet and do little or nothing to prevent the stealing of 400,000 barrels of crude oil per day, which translates to $120 million in a month, money that surely ends up in some people’s pockets!

‘’What we are saying is that if the Federal Government would reduce its profligacy and cut waste, there will be enough money to pay teachers in public universities, as well as fund research and upgrade infrastructure in such institutions. Hungry teachers can neither teach well nor carry out research. And poorly-taught students can neither excel nor propel their nation to great heights.’’

Ojerinde spoke yesterday during the opening of the first technical committee meeting on 2013/2014 admission to degree-awarding institutions held at the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

In attendance are officials saddled with admissions into federal, state and private universities whom the registrar charged to strictly adhere to the dateline as late submission would not be entertained by the board.

“I wish to inform you that the next admission exercise for the

2013/2014 academic session will come up from Monday, October 14 to Friday, October 18, 2013 at the board’s national headquarters, Bwari, Abuja”, he said.

According to him, the selection for Nigerian universities has to be done because of the higher number of candidates who subscribed to these institutions.

“It, therefore, implies that the next technical meeting scheduled to hold at Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo, from Monday, September 23 to Friday, September 27, will solely be for admission into polytechnics, monotechnics, colleges of education and innovative enterprises institutions”, he added. http://www.theguardianmobile.com/readNewsItem1.php?nid=16584

•  Orders FG teams to hasten negotiations   •Govt offers N30bn to aid payment of earned allowances  • APC wants union's demands met

  Muhammad Bello,  Onyebuchi Ezigbo  and Mohammed Aminu with agency report

President Goodluck Jonathan Tuesday directed the federal government negotiating teams to take all the necessary steps to ensure the quick resolution of the industrial dispute declared by university teachers.

The president gave the directive when members of the two committees set up by the federal government to negotiate with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) briefed him on the progress so far made in ending the lingering strike by the union.

The meeting with the president came against the backdrop of the deadlock on Monday in negotiations between the federal government teams and ASUU over the implementation of the 2009 agreement signed between the government and the union.

THISDAY checks on the state of the implementation of the 2009 agreement showed that government has provided N30 billion to support the governing councils of the universities to pay earned allowances.

Chairman of the Universities Needs Implementation Committee, Mr. Gabriel Suswam, who is also Benue State governor, told State House reporters after a closed-door meeting of the two committees and other stakeholders with Jonathan at the State House, Abuja that the president instructed them on what to do to end the strike.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) also intervened in the industrial crisis in the education sector as it urged the federal government to save the future of students who have been at home for about seven weeks by meeting the demands of the union.

Suswam, according to a report by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said   the meeting was summoned by the president “to take some decisions that would end the strike."

“The president has instructed us as to what to do and he has shown a lot of commitments to flagging off projects worth about N100 billion in all the universities in the country, about 61 of them.

“So, we are hoping that we will be able to see the end of the strike very soon.
“At the end of the day, we hope ASUU is satisfied with the measures that have so far been taken.

“The federal government will also be meeting with the universities councils and vice-chancellors of our universities within the week towards updating them on some of the decisions taken," he added.

He told the reporters that the federal government had approved about N100 billion for his committee to address infrastructure deficit in all the universities.

He said: “The president has graciously agreed that in the first week of September,  he will be able to launch the projects.

“You also know that the procurement process will have to be followed and these projects include hostels in our universities, classrooms and theatres, libraries and laboratories among others.

“Some are renovation; some are new and all the 61 universities are going to benefit from one project or another.

“So, it is not going to be selective, all the universities are going to benefit from this infrastructure revitalisation of our universities.”

According to him, contentious issues between the union and the Earned Allowance Committee,  headed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, will soon be addressed.

“As you must have heard, the federal government made an offer of N30 billion to assist the various councils of our universities to be able to pay the earned allowances," he said.

However, ASUU had rejected the offer of the N30, insisting on the full payment of the N92 billion needed to settle the earned allowances.

Asked whether government would be willing to shift ground on the ASUU insistence, Suswam said negotiation was still ongoing.

"If ASUU said that this was the amount of money that the federal government is owing and the federal government has shifted ground from its initial posture of 'there was no money' to offering N30 billion, it means we are moving forward and with a N100 billion available now for addressing the physical infrastructure deficit in our universities, I think the federal government has done quite well to have moved to where we are today.

“The federal government has opted to also meet with the councils and managements of the universities, because earned allowance is something that can be certified by the management and councils of the universities.

“I think that the government has demonstrated some substantial faith," he said.
Yesterday’s meeting with the president was attended by Vice-President Namadi Sambo; Anyim; Coordinating Minister for the Economy and  Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; Minister  of Education, Prof. Ruqayyatu Rufa'i,  her Labour counterpart, Chief Emeka Wogu; Minister of State for Education, Mr.  Nyesom Wike; the Executive Secretary of National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Julius Okogie; and the Chief of Staff to the President, Chief Mike Oghiadomhe.

THISDAY checks have further revealed that the federal government has since it signed the agreement with ASUU in 2009, strived, within its limited resources and the ambit of the law, to fulfil its obligations to the union.

On the disagreement over the payment of the earned allowances, it was learnt that the government had reached an understanding with the union to undertake a Needs Assessment of the universities with a view to harnessing all funding of the sector to expand the internally generated of the institutions to enable them fund their recurrent expenditure, especially the earned allowances.

According to a source familiar with the negotiations, universities ought to pay the earned allowances to deserving staff but the federal government decided to assist because of the amount that  ASUU is claiming as arrears.

It was learnt that  government did not receive any computation of amount involved until February, 2013 for which it is claiming N92 billion as arrears for three years’ payment based on percentage range of between 15 and 20 per cent.

THISDAY gathered that government decided to provide the  N30 billion to support the university councils in settling the earned allowances after discussions with various stakeholders, including the National Assembly and some cabinet members.

The amount will be disbursed to the university councils that are in the position to know who is entitled to how much after verification, the source added.

Besides, it was learnt  that contrary to the claim by ASUU, the federal government has shown its readiness to implement the 2009 agreement it entered into with the union, which has led to the implementation of  the agreement on the Consolidated Salary Structure for Academics of Nigerian Universities (CONUASS), a new retirement age under which professors retire at 70 and others at 65 instead of at 60 years, among others.

The APC yesterday however urged the federal government to honour its agreement with ASUU in order to end the ongoing strike that has paralysed academic activities in the nation's public universities.

The advice came as the senator representing Sokoto Central senatorial district in the National Assembly, Alhaji Ahmed Maccido, urged the federal government to involve elder statesmen and traditional rulers in the resolution of the impasse.

The APC said since ASUU was not making any fresh demand beyond the agreement it reached with the government in 2009, the federal government should have no reason dragging the issue.

In a statement by its interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said no government worth its salt could afford to play with education, because it is the path to national development.

''Agreements are meant to be honoured, and breaching them comes with some consequences," it said.

According to the party, the strike is a further blow to the country's education system, which has deteriorated so much that no Nigerian university is currently listed in the top 100 universities in the world and only a few Nigerian universities have made the top 100 in Africa.

''It is an indication of the kind of priority that this federal government attaches to education that while it has refused to meet its own side of an agreement it reached with ASUU since 2009, it could pay out N3 trillion in non-existent fuel subsidies to fat cats; spend N10 billion annually to maintain the jets in the presidential fleet and do little or nothing to prevent the  stealing of 400,000 barrels of crude oil per day, which translates to $120 million in a month, money that surely ends up in some people's pockets,'' the party said.

APC explained that it viewed with disgust the apparent nonchalant attitude  demonstrated by those who should be working round the clock to resolve the crisis, especially Wike, "who has enough time on his hands to be launching vigilance groups and dancing 'palongo' around town when the nation’s public universities are shut and students are languishing."

Meanwhile, Maccido, while speaking with journalists in Sokoto, stressed the need for the nation's past leaders, to as a matter of urgency, call the federal government to order to save the education sector from collapse.

Maccido, who is the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriation, maintained that past leaders and traditional rulers owe the country a duty to call the federal government and ASUU to order to quicken the resolution of the industrial dispute to enable students go back to school. http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/jonathan-seeks-quick-end-to-ASUU-strike/156852/

okeke2: He must die somebody should kill him nobody is goin to miss him let him and his family burn in hell forever and ever

Pray you don't die first! Why bring death upon others over a matte that is not personal? Like the poster above already said, you're perhaps still a kid!

The protracted negotiations between the federal government and Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to resolve the ongoing industrial action by the latter has again reached a dead end as both parties differed on crucial issues bordering on funding.

This is despite the fact that federal government had agreed to release the total sum of N130 billion to tackle the knotty issues of infrastructural deficit and pending allowances.

The Governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam, who spoke immediately after about four hours of deliberations between the union and the government team at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), said that the negotiation would continue.

Suswam, who is also the Chairman of the Presidential Universities’ NEEDS Assessment Committee,  said progress was made in the area of addressing the infrastructural deficit in the  universities with the release of N100 billion, which would be distributed by next month.

"The federal government has been able to harness about N100 billion, which Mr. President has agreed. And that will begin the project and starting from the first week of September in virtually all the universities. The process of achieving that is ongoing at the centre and due process for it at various universities," he said.

"The infrastructure deficit will be addressed like hostels, laboratories and libraries. Some will be renovated while others will be brand new. Every university will be affected and each of the hostels will accommodate 1,200 students.

Adding his voice, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, said all the issues had been resolved except the unpaid allowances.

Anyim said the federal government had agreed to release the sum of  N30 billion in that regard, which must be paid according to the verifiable claims by each university councils.

He said the sum of N92 billion being demanded by ASUU could not be met as the claims upon, which fund were to be released could be faulty using the initial criteria being proposed by the academic union.

He said they had shifted the responsibility of settling the pending arrears to the university councils, who will be supported with the N30 billion.

"ASUU is asking for the N92 billion and we felt that the way the whole process is being done, there would be discrepancies and we want things to be done according to due process.

"We know that it is the responsibility of the university councils to take care of the issue of unclaimed allowances. So the actual figures will be verified by the council and we will be supporting them with N30 billion," he said.

On the funding of the universities’ infrastructure, Anyim said federal government would start with the sum of N100 billion.

He said the federal government would release funds in a progressive manner over a period of three years to meet up with the sum of N400 billion being demanded by ASUU.

Meanwhile, ASUU has refused to shift ground on the two outstanding issues of infrastructure funding and pending arrears.

Speaking with journalists, ASUU President, Nasir Isa Fagge, said they would meet with their National Executive Council (NEC) to decide the appropriate response to the federal government.

He, however, made it clear that ASUU’s position had not shifted from the 2009 agreement, saying, "The union is talking about the implementation of 2009 agreement and not renegotiation."

He said: "If you remember, the objective of going on strike is to get government to implement the 2009 ASUU and federal government agreement particularly to implement the provisions of the memorandum of understanding we reached with the government in 2012.

“I want to say that at today’s meeting, we looked at all the issues and it is clear to us that the Suswam Committee that is working on the funding requirement for revitalising the university system particularly on the implementation of the NEEDS assessment report... its clear to us that we have not really gone far in that aspect."

"So, on the basis of that, we will also go back and inform our principals on the development. I think it is important to clarify that at this point that we are not making a demand, there was an agreement with government, and even that aspect that government is talking about, the entitlement of earned staff of then university, that includes the technical staff, members of the senior staff association and members of the non academic staff.

"So, I think at this point, what the union is talking about is the implementation of 2009 agreement not the renegotiation of the agreement.

"Well, we will wait to hear from government after the consultation with the councils. Whatever they place on the table, we will look at it. But for now, we will also go back and report to our principals," he stated.http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/fg-ASUU-negotiations-end-in-deadlock/156747/

The protracted negotiations between the federal government and Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to resolve the ongoing industrial action by the latter has again reached a dead end as both parties differed on crucial issues bordering on funding.

This is despite the fact that federal government had agreed to release the total sum of N130 billion to tackle the knotty issues of infrastructural deficit and pending allowances.

The Governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam, who spoke immediately after about four hours of deliberations between the union and the government team at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), said that the negotiation would continue.

Suswam, who is also the Chairman of the Presidential Universities’ NEEDS Assessment Committee,  said progress was made in the area of addressing the infrastructural deficit in the  universities with the release of N100 billion, which would be distributed by next month.

"The federal government has been able to harness about N100 billion, which Mr. President has agreed. And that will begin the project and starting from the first week of September in virtually all the universities. The process of achieving that is ongoing at the centre and due process for it at various universities," he said.

"The infrastructure deficit will be addressed like hostels, laboratories and libraries. Some will be renovated while others will be brand new. Every university will be affected and each of the hostels will accommodate 1,200 students.

Adding his voice, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, said all the issues had been resolved except the unpaid allowances.

Anyim said the federal government had agreed to release the sum of  N30 billion in that regard, which must be paid according to the verifiable claims by each university councils.

He said the sum of N92 billion being demanded by ASUU could not be met as the claims upon, which fund were to be released could be faulty using the initial criteria being proposed by the academic union.

He said they had shifted the responsibility of settling the pending arrears to the university councils, who will be supported with the N30 billion.

"ASUU is asking for the N92 billion and we felt that the way the whole process is being done, there would be discrepancies and we want things to be done according to due process.

"We know that it is the responsibility of the university councils to take care of the issue of unclaimed allowances. So the actual figures will be verified by the council and we will be supporting them with N30 billion," he said.

On the funding of the universities’ infrastructure, Anyim said federal government would start with the sum of N100 billion.

He said the federal government would release funds in a progressive manner over a period of three years to meet up with the sum of N400 billion being demanded by ASUU.

Meanwhile, ASUU has refused to shift ground on the two outstanding issues of infrastructure funding and pending arrears.

Speaking with journalists, ASUU President, Nasir Isa Fagge, said they would meet with their National Executive Council (NEC) to decide the appropriate response to the federal government.

He, however, made it clear that ASUU’s position had not shifted from the 2009 agreement, saying, "The union is talking about the implementation of 2009 agreement and not renegotiation."

He said: "If you remember, the objective of going on strike is to get government to implement the 2009 ASUU and federal government agreement particularly to implement the provisions of the memorandum of understanding we reached with the government in 2012.

“I want to say that at today’s meeting, we looked at all the issues and it is clear to us that the Suswam Committee that is working on the funding requirement for revitalising the university system particularly on the implementation of the NEEDS assessment report... its clear to us that we have not really gone far in that aspect."

"So, on the basis of that, we will also go back and inform our principals on the development. I think it is important to clarify that at this point that we are not making a demand, there was an agreement with government, and even that aspect that government is talking about, the entitlement of earned staff of then university, that includes the technical staff, members of the senior staff association and members of the non academic staff.

"So, I think at this point, what the union is talking about is the implementation of 2009 agreement not the renegotiation of the agreement.

"Well, we will wait to hear from government after the consultation with the councils. Whatever they place on the table, we will look at it. But for now, we will also go back and report to our principals," he stated.http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/fg-ASUU-negotiations-end-in-deadlock/156747/

The Monday meeting between striking university lecturers and the federal government ended without a resolution of the crisis.
The meeting, which held at the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, was attended by the Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; Minister of Labour, Emeka Nwogwu; Minister of Education, Rukayyatu Rufai; and the Benue State Governor and head of the government’s delegation, Gabriel Suswam.
The lecturers’ union, ASUU, was led by the President of the union, Nasiru Fagge.
The meeting lasted for over four hours (from 3:p.m. to about 7:15p.m).
More details later…
http://premiumtimesng.com/news/143057-breaking-ASUU-strike-continues-as-fg-lecturers-meeting-deadlocked.html

Eneze1: this government should stop lying

Exactly! You hear of billions being released as if it was handed over to the ASUU or the universities! This government makes promises on paper. As far as the discerning ones know, no kobo has been released! Before we get carried away, the alleged amount being earmarked for infrastructural development is proposed to be released over several years. As is the habit of this government, it often does not get released! This government always reneges on agreements it freely enters into. This is why ASUU is always on strike.

Daraplato: Duh! President Jonathan paid the money for infrastructure not the money that the lecturers asked for i.e 92 billion. ASUU no dey fight for students, na for their belle o.

Where's the evidence that he "paid the money"?

Mr Anonymous: Tomorrow's Headline: Jonathan Denies N400billion approval

Hehehehehe! You know your country so well! These people are not serious. Denials, counter-denials, affirmations, rebuttals... These are signs of a confused government. There's nothing to believe anymore.You need to willingly suspend your belief to keep your sanity right now. Too much propaganda in the air. Too many lies being told. Too many lies.

BY GBENGA ARIYIBI
ADO EKITI — THE Police have arrested a middle aged man, Musibau Mustapha, for killing his colleague during a hunting expedition.
Mustapha, 30, was said to have mistaken his fellow hunter, Sunday Ijasa, for an antelope and released the bullet which instantly  claimed his life a couple of days ago at Igbara Odo Ekiti in Ekiti South-West Local Government Area of the state
According to the Public Relations Officer of the state police command, Mr Victor Babayemi, in Ado Ekiti, weekend, the suspect was arrested following an allegation that he killed the deceased  while hunting at Igbara Odo Ekiti.
According to him, Mustapha was said to have  mistook the deceased for an antelope.
The police image maker added that there were inconsistencies in the statement made by the suspect after preliminary investigations conducted by the police.
Babayemi further said autopsy had been conducted on the corpse, while investigation is still on-going, adding that the suspect will be charged to court as soon as investigation is completed.http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/08/hunter-mistakes-colleague-for-antelope-kills-him/

I received a text message from Glo a short while ago (see below) talking about the new Glo Blackberry Absolute plan. Never heard of it! I have been on the N1,400 3 gig glo comonth and enjoying it. Has anyone tried the Absolute Plan of N1,500? If you have, can we share your thoughts!

Former Super Falcons forward, James Johnson, has made a startling revelation saying there are two hermaphrodites playing women football in Nigeria.

Johnson, formerly Iyabo Abade, played female football as a hermaphrodite but had surgery in the United States of America in 2004 and is now living as a man.

The head coach of Marasta Soccer Academy, Abuja, revealed that the two players were sisters, adding that she was working to help them overcome their trauma, just like she did nine years ago.

"As I speak with you, the two players are hermaphrodites. One plays for Pelican Stars of Port Harcourt while the other plays for a club in Akwa Ibom State. I speak with them and I am helping them out. I have given my doctor in the US their contacts," Johnson told our correspondent.

"I told them that, 'You don't need to give up. Ignore what people say, you can move on with your own life after all you didn't create yourself. You can use me (Johnson) as an example.'

"I also told them how I handled my own case when it became general knowledge. I have been courageous; I didn't create myself, so why should I be bothered by what people say? I am using my experience to lecture others that have same issue."

He also lamented the discrimination against hermaphrodites, saying they were afraid to come because of this bias.

He said, "They (hermaphrodites) can be treated and be happy just like myself. I won't blame them for not coming out because the support is not there in Nigeria. If they come out, they will be discriminated against." http://mobile.punchng.com/output.php?link=http://www.punchng.com/sports/there-are-hermaphrodites-in-nigerian-football-abade/

Cameroun  Wednesday took full sovereignty over the disputed Bakassi Peninsula, signalling the end of a bloody conflict over the land.

“The transitional period in the Camerounian peninsula of Bakassi has come to an end,” said the Agence France-Presse (AFP).

Nigeria formally ceded Bakassi to Cameroun on August 14, 2008, bringing to an end 15 years of border conflict.

A United Nations-backed period of transition agreed by the two countries followed to allow Cameroun to develop an administrative presence in the area.

Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs II, Nurudeen Mohammed, said the government had taken note of the landmark date.

“This has been going on for 10 years. We are aware. We are part of the process,” he said.

The peninsula, in the west of the country, was formerly part of Southern Cameroun, itself an area of Nigeria, until inhabitants voted to join Cameroun in 1961.

It has around 40,000 inhabitants, including many Nigerian expatriates.
Based on the formal take over of the peninsula by Cameroun, Nigerians living in the peninsula will now have to apply for a visa or apply for Camerounian citizenship, and Camerounians will have to register with the tax authorities.

Mohammed said a committee had been set up to address a range of citizenship issues.

In October 2002, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that Bakassi, a 1,000-square-kilometre (386-square-mile) patch of Atlantic coastal swamp, was part of Cameroun, not Nigeria.

Cameroun originally took its claim over the sovereignty of the potentially oil and gas rich peninsula to the court in 1994.

Nigeria relinquished any hope of legally reclaiming Bakassi last October, when the 10-year period to appeal the ICJ’s ruling expired.

The decision not to appeal sparked wide media criticism in he country, including from local leaders who alleged that Nigerians in Bakassi had been abandoned by the federal government.

Rights groups have warned that Nigerians in Bakassi face discrimination.
Much of the tension surrounding Bakassi stems from the belief that it is resource-rich.

Large chunks of the area have been gazetted for exploration, but energy firms have typically stayed clear given the uncertainty on sovereignty.

The area has also been a prime target for Nigerian pirates due to its proximity to the unstable but oil-rich Niger delta region, where attacks and kidnappings are common.

In 2009, the Camerounian government stepped up its fight against the pirates by deploying an elite army unit to Bakassi, and by later establishing five military bases there. http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/cameroun-finally-takes-control-in-disputed-bakassi/156319/

By Cletus Ikogor
LAGOS — A woman, her three children and a neighbour were at the early hours of Wednesday, burnt to death at Shagari Estate, Musan, in Musan-Okunola Local Council Development Area, LCDA, of Lagos State.
The fire, as gathered, started at about 1.15 am in a three-bedroom flat located on 9, CH street.
Eye witnesses said one of the victims identified simply as Aunty Philo, alerted neighbours with the shout of fire.
But before sympathizers could rush to the flat, the fire had reportedly spread to the entire building, in the process of which the roof fell on Philo, burning her beyond recognition.
Efforts by youths in the area to safe the situation failed.
An eye witness who spoke on condition of anonymity told Vanguard: “We saw Aunty Philo trying to force the burglary proof open but she could not. At that time, we tried to break the wall  to rescue her when all of a sudden the roof fell on her.
“When we eventually succeeded in pulling down the burglary proof, we saw roasted members of the family  on the floor. We could not do anything again but had to leave because of thick smoke.”
Identities of the victims were given as Mrs Anwuzia, said to be in her fifties, Ekene (16), Emeka (7) and  Nwike (30). The mother of three whose husband was said to be away, reportedly returned from a church programme in Ghana the previous day.
Her husband, a Pastor, was said to have travelled to Aba, Abia State for an undisclosed assignment.
Fire service men were said to have arrived the scene later and succeeded in putting out the fire, but the harm had been done.
Contacted, Director, Lagos State Fire Service, Mr Rasaq Fadipe, confirmed the death of five  persons, saying that news of the incident was received at about 1.39 am
He said: “We had to mobilise a truck of 10,000 water capacity  from Ikotun to the scene. On reaching there the fire was still on. Because of the magnitude, we had to mobilise another truck from Agege with another 10,000 litres  to compliment the first one, before the fire was contained.
“Unfortunately, we saw the charred remains of the victims. We saw four of them and later discovered the fifth one. We handed the corpses to policemen who also arrived the scene.”
Fadipe said the family of four could have been suffocated by smoke from the inferno which prevented them from escaping from the flat before they were burnt.
The  inferno, according to him, was also suspected to have been caused by candle, noting: “When we got there, there was no light, which ruled out the possibility of it being cause by electrical fault. We suspect it could have been caused by candle.” http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/08/family-of-four-neighbour-burnt-in-early-morning-fire/

debby dominic: For the fact that Beverly is sleeping with a man that is not her husband doesn't mean everyone is doing the same.Stop generalising, everyone isn't as rotten as Beverly.

You lack the capacity to judge others, because you too may not be perfect. Calling people "rotten" is being judgemental. Remember you're not God who is our judge, and remember this too: "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God". Note that after a genuine repentance and God's acceptance, this same Beverly people are attacking now will make heaven and those pilloring her will not, unless they too genuinely repent of their sins and change their ways. Remember Paul before his conversion on the road to Damascus and Paul after his conversion. Two different people! That is the way life is. I believe very strongly that those who object to the kind of life people live in BBA have no moral reason to watch the programme. If they are not saints they should not judge others!

ODENIG: Beverly,should be shown love.Bevrely only masked Angelo to limit his swag .Sure Angelo had swag but Beverly knew his weak point.Beverly presence in Angelo life made him popular but made Bev stronger.Just check she never hid her personal history both dirty and clean.Why hate her i feel she is intelligent and knows how to get her things done.Sleeping with a man that is not your husband is a sin everyone is commiting, wether secretly or in a full a glare of a surveillance camera.Sin is sin.No need to condem her or throw a stone at her.To me Beverly is fun loving,wants to keep herself happy at all cost.A psychologist once said''Happiness is what you must decide to have at all cost'' so when you wake up decide to be happy.She is not a hypocrite like such we see in most pentecostal churches hiding under the cloak of choir we dont condem them.BEVERLY I WISH YOU THE BEST,THE VERY GOD THAT KEPT YOU TILL NOW WE TAKE YOU TO AN EXPECTED END.COME BACK HOME WITH YOUR MILLIONS.

Nice intervention, this... Touching too! "He/she who has not sinned, let him/her cast the first stone"!