The Barcelona star is expected to go head-to-head with his old foe, Cristiano Ronaldo of Juventus FC and the new pretender, Virgil Van Dijk once again for the right to be crowned best in the world.

Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Virgil van Dijk are expected to be among the 30 nominees for the 2019 Ballon d'Or as they contest the crown of best player in the world.

Messi has won 5 Ball on d'Or, with Messi's last in 2015. Cristiano Ronaldo has also won it 5 times with the last in 2015. Virgil Van Dijk's chances of winning this laurel is slim even after winning Uefa best player award last month, but in football, deciding the world best is not just based on fanship, love or hate for a player. Fans don't vote but rather, Coaches and Captains of national teams.

Other nominees are:

Saido Mane/Liverpool Fc/Senegal

Sergio Aguero/Manchester City/Argentina

Franke de Jong/Ajax/Barcelona/Netherlands

Dusan Tadic/Ajax/Serbia

Hugo Lloris/Tottenham/France

Kylian Mbappe/PSG/France

Trent Alex. Anold/Liverpool/England

Vonny Van de Been/Ajax/Netherlands

Perrie E. Augbameyang/Arsenal/Gabon

Eden Hazard/Chelsea/Real Madrid/Belgium

Ter Stergen/Barcelona/Germany

Alisson/Liverpool/Brazil

Matthijts de ligt/Ajax/Juventus/Netherlands

Kareem Benzema/Real Madrid/France

Georginio Wynaldum/Liverpool/Netherlands

Bernardo Silver/Manchester City/Portugal

Heung Min Son/Tottenham/South Korea

Robert Lewandoski/Bayern Munchen/Poland

Roberto Firmino/Liverpool/Brazil

Mo Salah/Liverpool/Egypt

Ngolo Kante/Chelsea/France

Antonnie Griezman/Atletico Madrid/Barcelona/France

Suarez/Barcelona/Uruguay

Nermay Junior/PSG/Brazil



The last was won by Luka Modric in 2018 ending Messi - Ronaldo Duopoly.

This year's Ballon d'Or winner will be announced on December 2.



who is going to scoop this?

Start the discussions now.





Source: https://ngg.ng/2019/10/21/ballon-dor-2019-messi-ronaldo-van-dijkj-makes-list-see-other-nominees/

Yesterday as seen around Ajah environs of Lagos state, a lady gradually gets dried up and skeletons surfaces shortly after some guys dropped her off from an SUV Hummer car.

She was seen just sitting and shortly standing up still without uttering a word. She was probably deaf and dumb.

Picture and video at the discretion of the viewers.......


Source: https://ngg.ng/2019/10/17/lady-gradually-dries-after-two-guys-dropped-her-off-see-videos/

cc lalasticlala

After months of waiting by the federal government and organized labour for the meeting slated for October 15, to negotiate and reach an agreement on the Consequential Adjustment of salaries of level 7 to 17 with regards to the new minimum wage, the meeting which was to be held in Abuja, however hit deadlock as no agreement was arrived at by the Federal Government and labour.

This development and unsettled scores between the federal government and labour today was because the organized labour leaders failed to turn up for the meeting and talk showdown.

This development means that, the planned October 16 strike ordered by labour nationwide to its state structures will hold. This is because labour had already directed its members nationwide to be gearing for strike once no agreement was arrived at in a communique to its state structures.


Source: https://ngg.ng/2019/10/15/politics-of-labour-fg-and-organized-labour-meeting-hit-deadlock/


cc lalasticlala

The Nigerian Labor Congress (NLC) has given out a directive to all its state structures to get prepared for a nationwide strike actions on 16 October. Labour is expected to meet with the federal government again on 15 October for another negotiation and probably to reach a general consensus with regards to the 29% salary increase for officers on salary level 07 to 14 and 24 per cent adjustment for officers on salary grade level 15 to 17.

This directive was conveyed in a circular sent to state councils, signed by its General Secretary, Mr Emmanuel Ugboaja. It further said that this was a notice in case the proposed negotiations slated for Oct. 15 with the Federal Government meet a deadlock.

“You will recall how ngg.ng reported that a joint Communiqué was issued by the NLC, Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Committee (JNPSNC) stating that two weeks from the date of the said communiqué, industrial harmony could not be guaranteed in the country should an agreement not be reached with the Federal Government on the Consequential Adjustment of Salaries as a result of the New National Minimum Wage of N30,000.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the organised labour demanded 29 per cent salary increase for officers on salary level 07 to 14 and 24 per cent adjustment for officers on salary grade level 15 to 17.

The Federal Government had, however, presented a proposal of 11 per cent salary increase for officers on grade level 07 to14 and 6.5 per cent adjustment for workers of grade level 15 to 17.

Reports also have it that implementation of the new wage has remained a problem, arising from the issue of relativity and consequential adjustments.

The Federal government have however on 4th May, 2019 inaugurated a committee called, the relativity and consequential adjustment committee, which in turn set up a technical sub-committee to work out a template for the adjustment of salaries of public service employees.

Since this committee has been established, the federal government and organized labour are yet to arrive at an agreement from the last meeting. Labour has however instructed all its state structures to be ready for total strike from October 16, if no arrangement is reached on October 15.


Source: https://ngg.ng/2019/10/13/labour-gears-to-go-on-strike/

cc lalasticlala

The Federal government of Nigeria and UNESCO, a UN organization are in partnership to put a stop to early marriages or child marriage and other harmful health traditional practices in Nigeria.

To achieve this objectives, United Nations is doing everything possible to link up with traditional rulers and leaders across Nigeria.

The UN Country Representative to Nigeria, Ms. Comfort Lamptey, said this at the Girl Child Concerns One Million Girls’ March for free and compulsory Secondary Education for all girls, held in Abuja.

She said, “The UN is actually doing a lot here in Nigeria; we are just about to partner with the ministry and other partners on a big program; the ‘spotlight initiatives’, which is really looking at how we can support States and different organisations to address the issue of early marriage and harmful traditional practices because we have seen across the world and for a country to realise its full development potential, it has to invest in the girl child.

The Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen, who took part in the march, urged Nigerians to support the fight of ensuring free and compulsory education for all girls across the nation.

She said ,”I am sure you are all aware that today is the international day of the girl child worldwide and Nigeria is out here with this girls to make a statement that we want free and compulsory education for the girl child at all level from primary up to the senior secondary school.

These harmful health traditional practices we want to seriously combat and end includes:

1. Scarification is  harmful traditional practices
2.Female genital mutilation/ genital cutting
3.Male child is king, girl-child is relegated to the background
4.Acid bathe
5.Fattening ceremony before marriage
6.Women only are the cause of infertility
7.Mistreatment and maltreatment of Widows
8.Cutting the umbilical cord with unsterilized sharp objects
9.Child marriage/ forced marriage/ arranged marriage
10.’Witch’ hunting/burning
11.Poor attitude to cleaning our environment
12.Breast ironing is harmful traditional practices
13.Removal of the epiglottis
14.Discrimination of the mentally ill is harmful traditional practices


Source: https://ngg.ng/2019/10/13/nigeria-fg-to-partner-un-to-end-early-marriage-harmful-traditional-practices/

Gov poll: APC group calls for total reconciliation in Bayelsa, Wants discussions with Alaibe, Timi Frank, Orunimighe, others



A group of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on the platform of Young Stakeholders Forum (YSF), South-south zone has called on the national leadership of the party to urgently embark on a total reconciliation move within and outside the party to ensure victory ahead of November 16th governorship election in Baylesa.

The group believe that the chances of APC taking over Bayelsa currently is very high but the party's governors forum, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole-led National Working Committee (NWC) and the Bayelsa state leadership of the party, under the former governor Timipreye Sylva, should forget about political sentiments for now by reaching out to those who matters in Bayelsa politics.

In a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Sunday, signed by its coordinator, Hon. Charles Ibinabo, the group said after a careful study of how the election will play out, Bayelsa is up for APC if it leaders could reach out to some persons and ensure total reconciliation among its members.

Hon. Ibinabo specifically called on the presidency to convene an urgent round table meeting with all the aggrieved governorship aspirants in the state and secure their commitment to the election, adding that Timi Alaibe's political family, including former APC Bayelsa state chairman, Chief Tiwe Orunimighe and the former APC Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Timi Frank, who had predicted a victory for APC, among others should be engaged.

"Timi Alaibe's political family can not be ignored in Bayelsa politics. This is a man with massive supporters across all the political parties in the state and being a former APC leader in the state, he should be talked to.

"For the former APC state chairman, Chief Tiwe Orunimighe and the former APC spokesman, Timi Frank, their support become necessary because of their antecedents, the area they come from and their influence in Bayelsa politics.

"In 2015, Timi Frank was in APC and his prediction of the then candidate of the party came to pass. He has also said that APC will take over Bayelsa in the forthcoming election, we should embrace these voices and bring them on board to achieve total victory.

"We recalled that in the last governorship election in Osun state, the party stakeholders reached out to members of the opposition political parties like Chief Oyiola Omisore and it brought about the victory for APC.

"We are also in the know that the PDP is more desperate to win the state again, and it has set up a reconciliation panel headed by the former Senate President Bukola Saraki. We expect our party to move fast and reach out to those we think can add value to APC winning more state in the South-south," the group stated.

The young APC stakeholders, however, revealed that on its own part, it has set up a 5-man delegation to meet Chief Alaibe, Chief Tiwe Orunimighe and even Timi Frank in Dubai, among others before the election.

The group specifically appealed to the Minister of Petroleum, Chief Timipreye Sylva to forget about whatever might have happened between him and the aforementioned before and give peace a chance to achieve the desire goal for the APC.

Source: https://ngg.ng/2019/10/13/gov-poll-apc-group-calls-for-total-reconciliation-in-bayelsa-wants-discussion-with-alaibe-timi-frank-orunimighe-others/

cc lalasticlala

Today been on 11 October 2019, the presidency through the president's Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina made it clear to the populace that the rumours being carried about on social media by mongers with regards to marriage arrangements between President Muhammadu Buhari and Minister of Humanitarian and Disaster and Management, Sadiya Umar Farouq at the FCT mosque, to be all mere lies and rumours.

Buhari on Friday observed the weekly two raka’at jumaat prayer at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. He was joined by some aides, ministers and senators to observe the raka'at jumaat prayer.

The president's Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina made it clear that the President does not have the plan of marrying a second wifr and that all videos going round the social media that the First lady was prevented from entering the Aso Rock were all false and perpetrated by opposition trying to destroy the home and government of President Buhari.

The evidence and materials from social media which shows President Muhammadu Buhari and Alhaja Sadiyya were getting married.



Source: https://ngg.ng/2019/10/11/presidency-talks-on-the-reported-marriage-between-buhari-and-alhaja-sadiyya/


cc lalasticlala

Having your hair cut is such an intimate thing, it’s almost like therapy. So, when I moved from Saskatchewan to Calgary in 2012, finding a good stylist was high on my to-do list. A friend recommended Troy and I liked him right away. After a quick consultation I said: “Just do whatever you like.” I know that’s unusual, but for some reason I trusted him instantly.

Every six weeks I was back, and soon we were friends. When you’re talking about hair, ethnicity often comes up. I told Troy about my Jewish and First Nations heritage, but that I couldn’t be sure of the exact details because my dad had been adopted. Troy had questions about his background, too. He had discovered, aged six, that the man he believed to be his birth father wasn’t. Over the next six years it was a subject that we talked about often.

In October 2018, I decided to take an at-home DNA test. I had grown up in a very stable home – my parents were still together and I have a younger brother – but I still wanted to check with my dad, who was then 75. “If I discover anything interesting, I’ll want to share it with you,” I said. I asked if he was happy for me to go ahead and he said: “Go for it.”

It turned out Troy was thinking about doing a test, too. In fact, he’d had one sitting in his desk drawer for four years. We both spat into our tubes and sent them off to the same company. He also sent his off to a second.

Logging in for my results eight weeks later was very exciting. Learning I was a quarter Asian came as a total surprise. “I guess that’s the big reveal,” I joked to my dad. I posted a screenshot of my results on Facebook. “Guess what?” Troy messaged. “My first results are back and I’m a quarter Asian, too!” We laughed at the coincidence.

I was also thrilled when my results linked me to an American called David, who shared a lot of my DNA. I got in touch and we figured out he was my half-uncle on my dad’s side.

Six weeks later I got a text. David had registered with two DNA sites and had found another connection, a man who had the same percentage match as me. “Great,” I replied. “Let me know how it works out.” Fifteen minutes later, another message. “You’re not going to believe this,” wrote David. “He lives in Calgary, too. He’s sent a photo and permission to forward it to you.”

It was Troy. I almost fell off my chair, shaking so hard I nearly dropped my phone. How was this possible? I dashed to my car, and a three-way phone call was set up between me, Troy and David. We were all freaking out, laughing and crying. It didn’t feel real.

Troy came to my house where we hugged and cried for what felt like for ever. Then we tried to solve the riddle. Were we somehow siblings, or cousins? To find out, we had to wait two weeks for Troy’s second set of results, from the same company I had used.

I spoke to my dad, who was baffled. There were rumours of a twin somewhere in his family history. Could that explain it? Troy is 15 years older than me, conceived before my parents had met. Dad wanted to give me answers but couldn’t remember anything.

It was all I could think or talk about. Troy and I texted multiple times a day and I would find myself happily welling up whenever I thought about him. So, when the second set of results confirmed that Troy was my brother, it didn’t feel momentous. I had already taken him as family.

All of us got together for a Chinese meal to celebrate. Looking through old photos and sharing stories, seeing my dad and Troy together, I felt an overwhelming wave of joy. Dad still had no memory of Troy’s mum, but there was no judgment. We were just family. It was as if some sort of magic had brought us together.

Now, Troy and I speak almost every day. It’s been amazing getting to know him as a brother. And of course, I have a hairdresser for life.

This experience has changed my view of the world and of family. There are 1.3 million people in Calgary, yet somehow the cool guy who cut my hair for six years turned out to be my brother. Now, I look at strangers on the street with new eyes. We’re all connected somehow. We don’t need a DNA test to prove it.


Source: https://ngg.ng/2019/10/11/experience-my-hairdresser-of-6-years-becomes-my-brother/

cc lalasticlala

Joyosen:
Mr Bassey Archibong, a 64 years old man who resides at No. 10 Kunle Dipo Street, Majidun, Owutu, In Ikorodu area of Lagos State has been charged for defiling four daughters between ages 12 and 20.

Information have it that Archibong had been having incestuous sexual relationship with the girls since 2016.

Archibong was arraigned on three counts of continuous sexual relationship with his daughters, failure to get their consent and involvement in an amoral relationship with the victims before the Ikorodu Magistrates’ Court 1, Lagos.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The prosecutor, John Iberedem, said Archibong used food as bait to get the girls to consent to his amorous desire.

Iberedem said whenever the children objected, he would refer to Lot in the Bible, who had sex with his daughters and was not punished by God.

The prosecutor also stated that the offences were punishable under Section 265 (2) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2019.

He said, “The defendant beat the children and starved them whenever they confronted him on why he was sleeping with them.

“He would tell them that intercourse between fathers and daughters were normal and approved by God.

“He told the children that God did not punish Lot, who had sexual intercourse with his children, meaning that He approves of the act.”

The charges read in part, “That you, Bassey Archibong, between the years 2016 and 2019 at No. 10 Kunle Dipo Street, Majidun, Owutu, Ikorodu, Lagos State, in the Ikorodu Magisterial District, did engage your four daughters between the ages of 12 and 20 in sexual activities by having carnal knowledge of them continuously without their consent, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 265 (2) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.

“That you, Bassey Archibong, on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned magisterial district, did have unlawful carnal knowledge of your 20-year-old daughter without her consent even when you knew that it was morally wrong, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 260 (1) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.”

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs F. A. Azeez, remanded the accused person in a correctional facility pending advice by the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The case has however been adjourned till 30th October, 2019.


Source: https://ngg.ng/2019/10/10/father-defiles-daughters-put-blames-on-god/

cc lalasticlala

Lalasticlala pls do the needful as this should be on Font Page

The Federal Government has said it is planning visa on arrival policy for foreigners wishing to visit Nigeria in order to encourage investment in the country.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama disclosed this on Wednesday in a statement by his Special Assistant, Media, Ms Sarah Sanda.

He said Nigeria and the Republic of Namibia have agreed to strengthen cooperation in areas that will be beneficial to both countries in particular and the African continent.

One of the major areas of cooperation strengthening is for Namibians wishing to obtain a visa to Nigeria can apply and will be considered as that was the case in the past once the requirements are met, such a person will be issued a visa.

It also applies to Nigerians wishing to go to Namibia,” Onyeama concluded.


cc lalasticlala

Source: https://ngg.ng/2019/10/10/nigeria-fg-plans-to-adopt-the-policy-of-visa-on-arrival/

Mr Bassey Archibong, a 64 years old man who resides at No. 10 Kunle Dipo Street, Majidun, Owutu, In Ikorodu area of Lagos State has been charged for defiling four daughters between ages 12 and 20.

Information have it that Archibong had been having incestuous sexual relationship with the girls since 2016.

Archibong was arraigned on three counts of continuous sexual relationship with his daughters, failure to get their consent and involvement in an amoral relationship with the victims before the Ikorodu Magistrates’ Court 1, Lagos.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The prosecutor, John Iberedem, said Archibong used food as bait to get the girls to consent to his amorous desire.

Iberedem said whenever the children objected, he would refer to Lot in the Bible, who had sex with his daughters and was not punished by God.

The prosecutor also stated that the offences were punishable under Section 265 (2) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2019.

He said, “The defendant beat the children and starved them whenever they confronted him on why he was sleeping with them.

“He would tell them that intercourse between fathers and daughters were normal and approved by God.

“He told the children that God did not punish Lot, who had sexual intercourse with his children, meaning that He approves of the act.”

The charges read in part, “That you, Bassey Archibong, between the years 2016 and 2019 at No. 10 Kunle Dipo Street, Majidun, Owutu, Ikorodu, Lagos State, in the Ikorodu Magisterial District, did engage your four daughters between the ages of 12 and 20 in sexual activities by having carnal knowledge of them continuously without their consent, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 265 (2) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.

“That you, Bassey Archibong, on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned magisterial district, did have unlawful carnal knowledge of your 20-year-old daughter without her consent even when you knew that it was morally wrong, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 260 (1) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.”

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs F. A. Azeez, remanded the accused person in a correctional facility pending advice by the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The case has however been adjourned till 30th October, 2019.


Source: https://ngg.ng/2019/10/10/father-defiles-daughters-put-blames-on-god/

cc lalasticlala

[quote author=Joyosen post=83006253]Italy's parliament has voted to cut the number of representatives in both houses by more than a third.

The lower house approved a law to reduce the number of MPs from 630 to 400 and senators from 315 to 200.

The reform was a manifesto promise of the populist Five Star Movement, the main party in Italy's governing coalition.

They say it will streamline parliament and save hundreds of millions of euros in salaries and expenses.

However, critics say the move will weaken democracy and increase the influence of lobbyists. The new law is potentially subject to a confirmatory referendum as it makes changes to the Italian constitution.

"It's done! Promise kept" a blog post from Five Star said after the vote in the lower house on Tuesday.

In a post on Twitter, Five Star said the bill - which was supported by almost all parties - would save the country €1bn (£897m) over 10 years

"It's the day we've been awaiting forever," Cabinet Secretary Riccardo Fraccaro said, according to Ansa.

"After almost 30 years of broken promises, the cut in MPs and senators is a reality. A new political season is starting, now the citizens are at the centre."

The new law should come into effect after the next elections which are due in 2023.

A governing coalition between Five Star and the far-right League party broke down in August. Last month Five Star entered into a new coalition with the centre-left PD and made the new law a condition of its alliance.

The government's other main objective is to pass a budget to block a rise in VAT (sales tax), which is set to kick in on 1 January if the government fails to reach its debt-reduction target.


Source: https://ngg.ng/2019/10/10/italy-reduces-size-of-parliament-to-save-e1bn-in-a-decade-how-far-nigeria/

cc lalasticlala


Rochas Okorocha sponsored such last two weeks but up till now, nothing more has bn said or done about this

Italy's parliament has voted to cut the number of representatives in both houses by more than a third.

The lower house approved a law to reduce the number of MPs from 630 to 400 and senators from 315 to 200.

The reform was a manifesto promise of the populist Five Star Movement, the main party in Italy's governing coalition.

They say it will streamline parliament and save hundreds of millions of euros in salaries and expenses.

However, critics say the move will weaken democracy and increase the influence of lobbyists. The new law is potentially subject to a confirmatory referendum as it makes changes to the Italian constitution.

"It's done! Promise kept" a blog post from Five Star said after the vote in the lower house on Tuesday.

In a post on Twitter, Five Star said the bill - which was supported by almost all parties - would save the country €1bn (£897m) over 10 years

"It's the day we've been awaiting forever," Cabinet Secretary Riccardo Fraccaro said, according to Ansa.

"After almost 30 years of broken promises, the cut in MPs and senators is a reality. A new political season is starting, now the citizens are at the centre."

The new law should come into effect after the next elections which are due in 2023.

A governing coalition between Five Star and the far-right League party broke down in August. Last month Five Star entered into a new coalition with the centre-left PD and made the new law a condition of its alliance.

The government's other main objective is to pass a budget to block a rise in VAT (sales tax), which is set to kick in on 1 January if the government fails to reach its debt-reduction target.


Source: https://ngg.ng/2019/10/10/italy-reduces-size-of-parliament-to-save-e1bn-in-a-decade-how-far-nigeria/

cc lalasticlala

Olusharp:
Former Chelsea and Arsenal goalie, Petr Cech has signed a new contract with Ice Hockey team, Guildford Phoenix.

This comes after his 20 years of playing as a profession football.

An excited Petr Cech made this known via his social media handle on Wednesday night, where he said,

"Some people seem to think I've changed my job. No I didn't.

"Luckily my job at Chelsea doesn't stop me in my spare time from playing the game I loved as a kid and which I've been playing for years. While being a professional footballer I couldn't play the game for obvious reasons. Now I can."

According to the reports, he will be the Phoenix's third-choice keeper, and will train when his Chelsea schedule allows.

He is also likely to make his debut this weekend.

Guildford Phoenix have also confirmed the contract as they disclosed that they are happy to have signed Cech, who they consider to be hardworking.

https://ngg.ng/2019/10/10/after-20-years-of-professional-football-petr-cech-signs-for-ice-hockey-team-guildford-phoenix/

cc lalasticlala mynd44

Wetin him wan play again na? This man wan just comit suicide oo... Na technical adviser e be for Chelsea... E no do am

Remember yesterday ngg.ng reported the seriousness of the riots resulting from protests by Ecuador nationals. These riots led to the President relocating his government from Quinto to Guayaquil where there has been less unrest. The matter worsened today.

Ecuador has been paralyzed by a national strike as the president, Lenín Moreno, refused to step down or overturn austerity measures that have triggered the worst unrest in a decade.

Streets were empty of traffic and businesses were closed from early in Quito and other cities during the shutdown, in Latin America’s latest flare-up over unpopular structural reforms.

Security forces fired teargas to break up hundreds of protesters marching near the presidential palace in downtown Quito, the highland capital.

Violent demonstrations erupted in the Andean nation of 17 million people a week ago when Moreno cut fuel subsidies as part of a package of measures in line with a $4.2bn International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan.

“What the government has done is reward the big banks, the capitalists, and punish poor Ecuadorians,” said Mesías Tatamuez, head of the Workers’ United Front umbrella union.

The main indigenous group Conaie, which has mobilized about 6,000 members to Quito from outlying areas, said Moreno’s government was behaving like a “military dictatorship” by declaring a state of emergency and setting an overnight curfew.

Protesters again barricaded roads on Wednesday morning with debris, while security forces themselves blocked a major bridge in the coastal city of Guayaquil to thwart demonstrations.

Moreno, 66, who succeeded the leftist leader Rafael Correa in 2017, has relocated his government to Guayaquil where there has been less unrest than in Quito.

He has defied calls to quit.

“I don’t see why I should if I’m making the right decisions,” Moreno said late on Tuesday, arguing that Ecuador’s large debt and fiscal deficit necessitated belt-tightening reforms.

For days, protesters have been marching and barricading roads with burning tires. Masked youths have hurled stones at security forces, who have responded with teargas and water cannons.

“Our flag is red, like the blood of the working class!” chanted marchers in downtown Quito, where anti-Moreno and anti-IMF graffiti covered walls.

“Moreno out!” and “Police murderers!” some shouted.

Authorities have arrested nearly 700 people in a week of unrest, and dozens of police officers have been injured.

Moreno has accused his former friend, mentor and boss Correa of seeking a coup with the help of his fellow socialist President Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela.

Moreno served as Correa’s vice-president during his decade-long rule, but broke with him after winning election and moved economic policies to the right.

From Belgium where he lives, Correa has been applauding the demonstrators but scoffed at accusations of seeking a coup. Maduro, himself immersed in economic crisis in Venezuela, also denied involvement in Ecuador.

Moreno has support from the business elite and the military appears to remain loyal, but his popularity is less than half of what it was two years ago and Ecuadoreans are mindful that indigenous protests helped topple three presidents before Correa.

“I feel betrayed by Moreno,” said printer and father of eight Luis Calvopina, 53. “I don’t want him to quit, but I do want him to reverse this stupidity that he has done.”




Source: https://ngg.ng/2019/10/09/ecuador-paralyzed-by-national-strike-and-protests-as-leader-refuses-to-step-down/


cc lalasticlala

Bonatheripper:
But the president iis a fake graduate

Or u wanted to say, primary school drop out? Lol

Bonatheripper:
But the president iis a fake graduate

O u wanted to say primary school drop out lol

The organisers of Big Brother Naija, Multichoice Nigeria, has said that the multi-purpose house, which hosted the show got the ratings as the biggest and best from the parent company.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Multichoice Nigeria, John Ugbe, made the revelation during the presentation of the top five BBNaija housemates and the winners of the 2019 contest, Mercy Eke.

Ugbe said that the patent of Big Brother, Endemol, gave the reality show the best ratings so far.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Endemol is a Dutch-based media company that has the global franchise of the Big Brother show production and distributed multi-platform entertainment content.

The Multichoice CEO said that many hard works had gone into making the most popular reality show in Nigeria a reality.

“A lot has gone into the BBNaija show. We had a dream to have a house in Nigeria after a multi-purpose one built outside the country.

“I think it’s such as miracle to have another one ready in Nigeria within the six months of conception. It appears impossible to us, but just like Nigeria’s spirit, we can do anything.

“We threw everything at the BBNaija house and it was completed. The parent company, Endemol needs to inspect and certify it before commission so they came to Nigeria and inspect,” he said.

Ugbe said that Endemol not only gave the organisers a clean bill of health but also got the highest rating as the biggest and best in the world.

“After the inspection, the feedback is that, one, we have the biggest house in the world and this is an official statement from Endemol.

“The second rating is that if the biggest does not translate to best, we are also certified best in the world.

“There is no better facility in the world than BBNaija, so I am really proud because away from the negativity, and wrong reasons, this is a right reason.

“The show also broke so many records ranging from having the largest traffic on twitter, to largest inmates. We have the record of over 50 million votes in the final week of the season,” he said.

Ugbe also said that away from the negativity surrounding the reality show, it has been able to bring out African culture and the spirit of bonding in the housemates.

“We have had moments, memorable ones in the house; we have seen the housemates performing tasks within a short time. This is hard to come by.

“I have not had a better Independence Day celebration than what I had during the show, and we have also seen men engaging in cooking and so many positives,” he said.

NAN reports that the top five housemates of the reality show were also in attendance with sponsors such as Bet9ja, Heritage Bank, Innoson Motors and others.


Source: https://ngg.ng/2019/10/09/bbnaija-house-rated-worlds-biggest-best-organisers/

The University of Ghana has banned two of its lecturers implicated in sex scandal in the BBC’s sex-for-grades documentary.

The two lecturers, Professor Ransford Gyampo and Dr Paul Kwame Butakor were interdicted by the university on Tuesday.

The two lecturers from the University of Ghana were shown in the BBC’s documentary and accused of engaging in sexual harassment on campus.

According to statement issued by the University, the lecturers were being banned as part of investigations into the allegations.

The statement signed by the Director of Public Affairs, Stella  Amoa said the decision to interdict Gyampo and Butakor, was to allow for further investigations into the matter.

The statement said in line with University regulations, the two lecturers would be invited by the Anti-Sexual Harassment Committee in the next few days to assist with further investigations into the BBC documentary.

It said while the University of Ghana believed sexual harassment was fundamentally about exploiting power imbalance and voicelessness, it also understood the harmful impact it had on individuals, families and institutions.

The university said it was for this reason that the University had taken steps to encourage students and employees to report any form of sexual harassment and misconduct, and that it had also instituted measures to punish anyone found guilty of the offence.

“In all instances where the University has been provided with information and/or evidence of sexual harassment or misconduct, our Anti-Sexual Harassment Committee has investigated the matter, interviewed the parties involved, and after making a determination, we have applied the appropriate sanctions as outlined in the policy, including dismissals. The University will prosecute the current matter under investigation, in addition to all outstanding cases before the Committee.

“We would like to state emphatically that the University of Ghana does not and will not shield any employee or student found to have engaged in sexual harassment or misconduct. No member of the University is considered above the law,” the statement said in a report by Graphic online.


Source: https://ngg.ng/2019/10/08/sexforgrade-university-of-ghana-bans-two-lecturers/

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Lagos, Nigeria — Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari said Tuesday his government is pushing for a quick amendment of fiscal terms in existing production sharing contracts between foreign oil producers and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, which could see tax credit received by the foreign companies scrapped and royalty payments increased.

Buhari, while submitting a budget proposal of Naira 10.73 trillion ($33.8 billion) for 2020 to the parliament, said the review of the PSCs had become necessary to shore up government revenue that has been hit by the decline in oil output and the slump in global crude prices.

The 2020 budget which was based on oil production of 2.18 million b/d -- compared with a target of 2.3 million b/d for this year, the president said -- was adopted as a more realistic projection after Nigerian output has averaged only 1.86 million b/d so far this year.

The government's bid to earn more revenue this year from proceeds from restructuring its equity interest in joint ventures with foreign partners also failed to materialize, Buhari added.

Nigeria previously announced in 2015 it wanted the PSCs law, which applied to deepwater oil operation. According to Buhari however, lawmakers failed to conclude deliberations on the bill when it was submitted in 2018.

"I will re-forward to the National Assembly very shortly, the Deep Offshore Act and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contracts Act," Buhari said. "I seek your support to pass it into law as soon as possible."

The president said Nigeria expects to earn an additional $500 million from the review of the taxes on the PSC in 2020, rising to $1 billion in 2021.

Nigeria introduced the PSCs in 1993 to help solve NNPC's inability to fund its share in joint-venture oil operations. Output from the PSC fields, including Bonga, Erha, Agbami, Akpo, Usan and Egina, have sustained Nigeria's oil output, in the face of decline from fields jointly owned with foreign partners due to unrest and attacks on facilities.

Buhari indicated the government would continue with the amnesty program for repentant militants in the Niger Delta, home to key oil infrastructure, saying Naira 65 billion has been provided for this in the budget.

GASOLINE SUBSIDIES

The president was, however, silent on the provision for subsidies on gasoline imports, fueling speculation the government may abolish fuel subsidies that have been a drain on its finances.

The government had provided $1 billion to subsidize gasoline imports in 2019.

Nigeria had capped the pump price of gasoline, which is bought on the wholesale market on a dollar-denominated basis, at Naira 145 ($0.40) per liter since 2016. The government then pays a subsidy, which is the difference between the landing cost and the regulated pump price.

But private fuel marketers, who have stopped importing the fuel into the country, have demanded that the government abolish the subsidy and allow free market prices.

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Source: https://ngg.ng/2019/10/08/nigeria-to-increase-taxes-on-deepwater-oil-production-president-buhari/

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has called for a thorough investigation and appropriate sanction for lecturers indicted in the alleged “Sex for Grades” scandal to sanitise the university system.

ASUU University of Lagos (UNILAG) Branch Chairman, Dr. Dele Ashiru, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos that the union was against all forms of unethical practices, including sexual harassment.

Ashiru was reacting to a viral British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) investigative video which showed some lecturers of Universities of Lagos and Ghana sexually harassing female students.

“As a union, we are against all unethical practices among colleagues, including sexual harassment and even abuse. The development is very disturbing and unfortunate. We have appealed to colleagues to understand that as lecturers, we stand in ‘loco parentis’ (in the place of a parent) to these students and must not be perceived in any way of not being protective” he said.

“We condemn this act of shame in its entirety and want the matter to be thoroughly investigated and appropriate sanction carried out on all those found culpable,” the ASUU Chairman told NAN.

This ASUU call comes after concern Nigerians took to social media to make their voices heard with regards to ASUU's silence on the Sex For Grades trends transversing between lecturers and students in the various universities in Nigeria and Africa shortly after BBC released a video which implicated a suspended Unilag lecturer Professor Boniface Igbeneghu.

Source: https://ngg.ng/2019/10/08/sexforgrades-ASUU-calls-for-in-depth-investigation/

I resident Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday presented the budget for the 2020 fiscal year to the joint session of the National Assembly.

The president while presenting the Budget described it as a budget of Fiscal Consolidation to strengthen Nigeria’s macroeconomic environment to be invested in critical infrastructure.

President Buhari said the 2020 budget is based on the new VAT rate. The increased revenues will be used to fund education, health, and infrastructure.

The increase in the budget also reflects the new national minimum wage.

The budget proposal was prepared based on the following assumptions: Benchmark of $57 per barrel, daily oil 1.86million barrel per day.

At the end of the presentation, the president was given a resounding and rousing applause by the lawmakers.


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Source: https://ngg.ng/2019/10/08/breaking-buhari-presents-budget-2020-tagged-it-fiscal-consideration-2020/

Ecuador’s president, Lenín Moreno, has said he has moved his government from the capital in Quito to the coastal city of Guayaquil amid violent protests over the end of fuel subsidies.

Images from Quito showed protesters hurling petrol bombs and stones, ransacking and vandalising public buildings as well as clashing with the police in running battles late into the night.

“[This] is not a protest of social dissatisfaction faced with a government decision but the looting, vandalism and violence show there is an organised political motive to destabilise the government,” Moreno said in televised address on Monday, flanked by the vice-president, defence minister and military top brass.

Moreno, 66, who has moved away from the leftwing policies of his predecessor and one-time mentor Rafael Correa, has said he will neither tolerate disorder nor overturn the scrapping of fuel subsidies as part of a package of austerity measures.

Moreno accused political opponents of orchestrating an attempted coup and blamed associates of Correa of infiltrating the protests as part of a plot to topple his government, without providing evidence.

In a tweet, Correa said Moreno was “finished” and called for elections.

The president faces a stiff challenge from indigenous groups and others who blocked some roads for a fifth day from Monday morning with stones, tyres and branches. Indigenous-led protests brought down three presidents in the years before Correa’s rule.

Rioters in Quito forced their way into the comptroller general’s office and vandalised the assembly building on Monday. It followed days of violence in which protesters burned military vehicles, destroyed dozens of rose farms, a dairy and an oil production facility. The outnumbered security forces have been unable to prevent much of the destruction.

The vandalism was an “attempt to take over the seat of parliament”, Ecuador’s congress said afterwards.

The petrol and diesel subsidies had cost the country close to US$1.4bn (£1.1bn) annually, according to official sources. They were lifted last Tuesday as part of a US$4.2bn loan deal with the International Monetary Fund reached last year that hinges on belt-tightening reforms.

The move sparked nationwide protests as prices rose overnight by about a quarter for petrol and double for diesel. A state of emergency was imposed on Thursday. Lorry and taxi drivers forced a partial shutdown of Quito’s airport and roadblocks have paralysed trunks roads across the country.

As of Monday, 477 people had been detained. Two dozen police officers have been injured and a man died when he was hit by a car but an ambulance was unable to reach him due to the demonstrations, said the government.

Moreno was shot in 1998 in an attempted robbery and thereafter has used a wheelchair. He was elected in 2017 as the candidate for Correa’s centre-left party but has since moved to the right. Though he enjoys the support of business and the military, Moreno’s popularity has sunk to under 30%, compared with 70% in 2017.

As well as ending fuel subsidies, the government is reducing the state workforce and planning some privatisations.

In a tweet, Juan Guiadó, Venezuela’s self-proclaimed interim leader, accused a “group financed by [Nicolás] Maduro’s accomplices” of fuelling unrest, echoing conspiracy accusations against Guiadó’s socialist rival for the Venezuelan presidency made by Moreno.


Source: https://ngg.ng/2019/10/08/ecuador-relocates-government-out-of-capital-as-violent-protests-rage/

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