₦airaland Forum

voltron:
These Egyptians are harsh Shaw oooh. For mere millions of $ dollars?! Abachas sons are still grooving. Otedola is a mega billionaire, IBB children are rub ci g the shiii in our faces and for mere-common millions $ Egypt is doing this

**sarcasm**

I feel he should have gotten more years than that. That's a system that works. Nigeria needs to learn from this and put all these thieves were they belong...

Former Egyptian president, Hosni Mubarak, has been sentenced to 3 years in imprisonment on corruption charges following a retrial in Cairo.

Mubarak’s two sons, Gamal and Alaa were also sentence for four year over embezzlement of millions of dollars in the space of 10 years.

Mubarak and his sons allegedly embezzled $14 million (£9.3m) meant for the renovation of presidential palaces.

AP reports that supporters of the 87-year-old autocrat shouted in anger as the judge read the verdict.

An Egyptian court had dropped other cases against Mubarak and ordered a retrial in the $17 million embezzlement case in January 2015.

The court also said legal procedures were not properly followed in the cases against his sons, therefore overturned their conviction.

The lawyer for the Mubarak family however said the new verdict can be appealed.

http://pulse.ng/world/hosni-mubarak-egypts-ex-president-2-sons-jailed-for-corruption-id3740173.html

wachakuta:
Ole!

If no be fear go d US nah

No mind am...using escape tactics...

dazdilijae:
English is nt our first language it's borrowed for communication sack, most sch teach with the native language. Hw come it's nt an issue if d Chinese or Zimbabwe's leader makes mistake but it is 1 wen it's a Nigerian leader?
We r losing our identity each passing day

Guy, what are you saying? Get the gist. It is not wholly about the grammatical blunder. It has more to do with the sense in what he says. You may commit a spelling mistake or put up a statement not well concocted but still make sense in the message passed across. In the case of GEJ, he is guilty of both. He doesn't make sense when he talks. SIMPLE!

Keneking:
See his face..just make a return trip to US ...

Someone that should have been parceled in a carton and ferried straight to US without VAT...thief claiming boss...

sinizia:
Silly excuse. You are a drug peddler. You'd be incarcerated in a Kirikiri Maximum prison, but instead you are a PDP chieftain. This country is a huge joke.

Strongly seconded...

This man must be drilled. His words seem to be filled with hollow lies...

Tecnonews24:
today an igbo man is the governor elect in Delta state, the Igbos also won various position they contested for in lagos state, though some fail to make it, Am sure they will try again, because That's what the igbo are known for, the never say die spirit. Now they have taking the Same spirit to the far away UK . they have continue to bring honors to this great Country Nigeria . I see a future were the igbo man becomes the face of pride and respect for Nigeria and Lagos is too small an empire to conquer by the igbos.

For your information, Am not an igbo man.

This is why you need to stop combining orijin and garri as breakfast...it impairs your thinking...

Senator-elect and a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ogun State, Mr. Buruji Kashamu, on Saturday, denied any past trip to the United States and ruled out any possibility of ever visiting the country in the future.

In an interview with Sahara TV, which was monitored by our correspondent, the PDP chieftain likened such a visit to leaping into fire.

Asked by the interviewer to clarify his alleged involvement in a United States criminal case as detailed in a popular prison memoir-turned-TV series by American, Piper Kerman, Kashamu refuted the claims.

He said, “I am a Nigerian. I am not running away from my fatherland. If anyone thinks he has a case against me, he should follow due process and we will take it up from there. I am not under any obligation to go to the US to answer the same charges after the true judgment of the British court has exonerated me of the same allegations.

“Asking me to take the next available flight to the US so as to clear my name is like asking me to jump in a fire-may the Almighty rescue me from it. If the US prosecutor could hide important evidence that later exonerated me in the UK court, only God knows what they will do in their country.

“I have done a lot of things to clear my name. I spent four years in detention at the hands of the US authorities to prove my innocence before I was eventually exonerated. This was also in the presence of the US prosecutors and other agencies in various countries, like the Republic of Benin, Nigeria. It was after a rigorous trial with pictorial and documentary evidence that I was discharged.”

Kashamu further explained that the case was taken to London and he was acquitted. He added that his accusers should follow legal process if they believed their claims held water.

“I have cleared my name and myself in London. If anybody believes that they have any other case against me, they should come through due process. I am ready to challenge it. I am ready to face it without any problem.

“I have never in my life put my foot into the United States. I have never demanded for their sticker. I have been a businessman right from 18 years old. Up till today, I continue doing my business. My last submission is that I know nothing about what they are saying over there,” he said.


http://www.punchng.com/news/going-to-us-is-like-jumping-into-fire-kashamu/

The scarcity of the Premium Motor Spirit popularly known as petrol has yet to abate throughout the country as at Saturday.

Investigations by our correspondents showed that long queues of vehicles still swarmed the few fuel stations which had the product all over the country while outlets which did not have remained under lock and key.

Residents of Jos, the Plateau State capital and its environs are still witnessing long queues of vehicles as fuel scarcity enters its second week.

Most of the filling stations, in Jos, the Plateau State capital and environs, especially major markers remained without supplies throughout the week, as their independent counterparts made brisk business by selling fuel well above N200 per litre.

In Osun State on Saturday, motorists queued for hours at some of the very few fuel stations selling petrol at N87 per litre.

Our correspondent observed that in Osogbo, the state capital, filling stations sold a litre of petrol between N120 to N150 while many stations did not open to customers.

In Imo, the devastating effect of scarcity of fuel in the country has given opportunity to petroleum marketers in Imo state to hike their pump prices between N105 to N150 per litre.

The scarcity of fuel in Oyo State reached a new level on Saturday in Ibadan and other towns in the state as pump price of petrol hit N160 per litre in a few fuel stations that had the product.

In Rivers State, though petroleum products were not scarce, the price had gone beyond the N87 per litre official price.

While some filling stations sold petrol at N120 per litre, others sold between N110 and N115 a litre.

Independent petrol stations in satellite towns in Abuja sold fuel between N120 and N140 per litre on Saturday.

Only the major petrol stations like Conoil, Total, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, and a few others, dispensed fuel at the N87 per litre regulated price on Saturday.

In Enugu, though there was no scarcity, petrol sold on Saturday far above N87.

The fuel scarcity in Kwara State especially in Ilorin metropolis has started to abate. Long queues of vehicles have started disappearing in the capital city as many of the petrol stations that lacked the product few days had resumed sales of petrol to buyers.

http://www.punchng.com/news/scarcity-nigerians-buy-fuel-for-n200-per-litre/

An2elect2:
It should be banned here too.

How does washing away your colour make you more attractive? i don't get this craze at all.

Oh, men prefer them fair? puhlease tell us something else cos that's stale and lame.

Well I feel banning it won't change much and I also feel people should be allowed to do whatever they want to do to their body. However, what I am not coming to terms with is the fact that a lady will bleach all because she wants to look more appealing to a guy, forgetting that there is high probability that the guy might eventually mot end up with her.

Taylor86:
diaris more to bleach to attract a man

the problem is the man is black, marries u to complement his color...u were of black(carry-come)..and u ppl gav birth to black..knowing white sperm always dominate black


rubbish

no how wey woman go bleach i no go know


she no fit bleach her AN.US because d carry-come color no dey change

So true....

Taylor86:
women always trying to bleach brighter than their future

Hahahahahahhahahah.....so hilarious.
But you will be shocked to read people's comments few days ago on Nairaland as they try to justify why bleaching is required to boost their chances of getting a man.

If not shallow thoughts and stvpidity, why would a lady bleach all to suit a man, someone that might not eventually marry her...

Ivory Coast has banned skin-whitening creams because of health concerns, the health ministry says.

It says "cosmetic lightening and hygiene creams... that de-pigment the skin... are now forbidden".

Whitening creams have been popular for years among young women - and some men - across Africa, who believe they make them more beautiful.

But medical experts say they may cause cancer, diabetes, severe skin conditions and other diseases.

"The number of people with side-effects caused by these medicines is really high," Christian Doudouko, a member of Ivory Coast's pharmaceutical authority, was quoted as saying by the AFP news agency.

British consultant dermatologist Justine Kluk told the BBC the major concern was over unregulated products, which may contain ingredients such as mercury or excessive amounts of steroids.

"If one thinks about steroids being present in these products, they're often present in much higher quantities than we would prescribe," she said.

She said the creams can cause a variety of health issues, such as "acne, thinning of the skin, glaucoma or cataracts if applied near the eyes".

"Or if applied liberally to the whole body, [they can] cause high blood pressure, diabetes, osteoporosis, weight gain, mood disturbance due to absorption of large amounts of steroids," she said.

However, analysts say the ban may not stop people buying the products. They are still used in The Gambia despite a ban.

South Africa has the world's toughest laws against skin lighteners, having prohibited the most active ingredient - hydroquinone, but a University of Cape Town study found that more than a third of South African women still buy them.

The use of whitening creams in Africa is most widespread in Nigeria - where more than 75% of women buy them, according to a 2008 UN Environment Programme study.

http://m.bbc.com/news/world-africa-32628240

PassingShot:
Go back and read my post. You were too quick to quote me. Abi you dey stalk me?

Stalk you ke? When I never finish stalking Banke with big yan*sh wey dey live for my backyard..

PassingShot:
Why the title has to be "Buhari's ministers ...." is what baffles me.

Why this is the only thing you saw in this lengthy epistle baffles me...

Senators and members of the House of Representatives that will constitute the 8th National Assembly and ministers to be appointed by President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), will on assumption of office receive welcome perks amounting to N9bn.

The perks of office include the housing allowance which each of the incoming office holder is entitled to receive once a year, the furniture allowance which they are entitled to once in four years and motor vehicle loan which they are entitled to once in their tenure.

The perks are some of the non-regular allowances that the political office holders are entitled to as prescribed by the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission.

There are other allowances, both regular and irregular ones, but housing, furniture and motor vehicle are paid at the beginning of the tenure of the office holders to ensure that they settle down appropriately.

Housing allowance for the political office holders is 200 per cent of their annual salaries; furniture is 300 per cent and motor vehicle loan is 400 per cent.

The eighth National Assembly will be inaugurated by Buhari on June 5 after the expiration of the tenure and dissolution of the 7th National Assembly on the same date.

Membership of the eighth National Assembly include 109 senators and 360 members of the House of Representatives elected on the platform of different political parties from across the country.

Investigation by one of our correspondents showed that each of the senators would be paid N4, 052,800 on the assumption of office as housing allowance. They will also be paid the same amount every year because the housing allowance is on annual basis.

This means that 107 senators will be paid a total of N433, 649,600m as housing allowance annually.

The Senate President and the Deputy Senate President are not entitled to this allowance because their own accommodation is to be provided by the Federal Government.

Similarly, each member of the House of Representatives will be paid N3, 970,425 as housing allowance on assumption of office.

This means that the 358 representatives will be collecting a total of N1, 421,412,150 as housing allowance. Again, the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives are excluded from this allowance as the Federal Government is to provide their own accommodation.

Following the monetisation of entitlements of public officials, the lawmakers lost the right to occupy houses built and maintained by the government. Consequently, the Federal Government sold the houses previously occupied by the lawmakers to them.

The principal officers of the National Assembly also benefited from the sale of the houses. As a result, the Federal Capital Territory Administration is at present building new houses for the lawmakers that will emerge as the Senate President, the Deputy Senate President, the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker.

For furniture, each of the senators is to get N6, 079,200. The furniture for both the Senate President and his deputy are to be fully provided by the government. This means that 107 senators will get a total of N650, 474,400 as furniture allowance. Furniture allowance is paid once in four years

Each member of the House of Representatives will be paid N5, 955,637.50 as furniture allowance. This means that 358 representatives (excluding the speaker and his deputy) will collect a total of N2, 132,118,225 for furniture.

For vehicle, each of the senators is entitled to N8, 105,600 while each representative is entitled to N7, 940,850.50. This means that 107 senators will collect N867, 299,200 for vehicle while 358 representatives will collect N2, 842,824,479 for the same purpose.


The allowance for vehicle had been controversial. According to RMAFC, this allowance payable once in four years is a loan for any member that wants. This means that it is repayable.

In 2007, each senator had been given the loan to purchase vehicles. Few months after they had received the loan, the current Senate President, David Mark, demanded that the money totalling about N856m should be converted to grants for official cars.

Mark made the request in a letter addressed to the Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Allocation Commission.

In the letter dated November 15, 2007 and titled “Monetisation policy as it affects senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Mark said the senators were not properly briefed that the money was given to them as loan.

He said if senators had known that the money was loan, they would have had the opportunity to exercise the choice of refusal.

He therefore requested that the money should be converted to official car allowance although according to the monetisation policy of the Federal Government, only the President of the Senate and his deputy are entitled to official cars. The funding for cars for other lawmakers had been built into their salaries which are paid on monthly basis.

RMAFC insisted that the money was a loan and could not be converted to a grant as the lawmakers’ benefits had been monetised. It is not clear how the matter ended as both parties refused to respond to media requests on the issue.

On the executive side, each minister that will serve in the cabinet of Buhari is entitled to a housing allowance of N3, 915,160.

There are indications that the President-elect will shrink his cabinet by doing away with the ministers of state. However, there is a limit to how far he can reduce the cabinet positions. Constitutionally, each state of the federation must be represented in the cabinet.

This leaves him with at least 36 ministers as against the 42 ministers in President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration. Cumulatively, the ministers are to receive N140, 945,760 as housing allowance.

Each minister is also entitled to a furniture allowance of N6, 079,200. Cumulatively, this comes to N218, 851,200. Each of them is also entitled to a vehicle loan of N7, 830,320. This comes to a total of N281, 891,520.

When put together, the housing, furniture and vehicle allowances payable to the lawmakers and ministers will amount to about N7.3bn. The remaining N1.7bn will cater for other perks of office such as motor vehicle maintenance, fuelling, and others.

Apart from these irregular allowances, there are other regular perks of office that are paid to lawmakers on a monthly basis. These include motor vehicle maintenance and fuelling. This is pegged at 75 per cent of their monthly salary.

Others are personal assistant, 25 per cent; domestic staff, 75 per cent; entertainment, 30 per cent; utilities, 30 per cent; newspapers/periodicals, 15 per cent; wardrobe, 25 per cent; house maintenance, five per cent; and constituency, 250 per cent.

There are other entitlements that they do not receive direct payments for but are provided and paid for by the government. These are special assistants, security and legislative aides. What this means is that those engaged in these capacities are paid directly by the government as the allowances cannot be claimed by political office holders. These allowances apply to senators and members of the House of Representatives.

Medical expenses are also borne by the government when they have need for them.

The lawmakers are also entitled to tour duty allowance, estacode (when they travel) and recess allowances. For a senator, the tour duty allowance is N37, 000 per night; the estacode is $950 per night and the recess allowance is 10 per cent of their annual salary.

For a member of the House of Representatives, the tour duty allowance is N35, 000 per night; the estacode is $900 per night and the recess allowance is 10 per cent of their annual salary.

The allowances for ministers vary slightly from those of the lawmakers. The allowances of the ministers include motor vehicle fuelling and maintenance – 75 per cent of their salaries. Others are personal assistant, 25 per cent; domestic staff, 75 per cent; entertainment, 45 per cent; utilities, 30 per cent; monitoring, 20 per cent and newspapers/periodicals, 15 per cent.

Their security personnel, medicals and special assistants are also provided. The tour duty allowance is N35, 000 per night; the estacode is $900 per night and the leave allowance is 10 per cent of their annual salary.

Special Advisers and Special Assistants to the President to be appointed by the president are also entitled to housing and furniture allowances, special allowances and motor vehicle loan but it is not certain how many of these advisers Buhari is going to appoint.

The housing allowance of a special adviser is N3, 885,750; furniture – N5, 828,625; motor vehicle loan N7, 771,500.

The regular allowances of a special adviser include motor vehicle fuelling and maintenance – 75 per cent of their salaries; personal assistant – 25 per cent; domestic staff – 75 per cent; entertainment – 45 per cent; utilities – 30 per cent; and newspapers/periodicals – 15 per cent.

Again, their security personnel, medicals and special assistants are also provided for. The tour duty allowance is N25, 000 per night; the estacode is $800 per night and the leave allowance is 10 per cent of their annual salary.

Severance allowance is paid to each of the office holders at the end of their tenure in government.

Our correspondents had reported that President Goodluck Jonathan, Vice-President Namadi Sambo, non-returning federal lawmakers, ministers and aides to the President will collect N3.24bn as severance allowance.

Although political office holders in the country are among the highest paid government officials in the world, our correspondents also reported that the worry of many Nigerians is not what they earn officially but what accrues to them through self-appropriation and corruption.

Senators-elect want pay cut extended to all arms of govt

Some senators-elect have supported the call for the cut in salaries and allowances of the National Assembly members.

The lawmakers, in separate interviews on Friday with Saturday PUNCH, said that such reduction must be extended to all tiers and arms of government.

The Senator-elect for Ekiti North Senatorial District, Mr. Duro Faseyi, expressed support for reduction in cost of governance.

Faseyi, in a telephone interview with one of our correspondents on Friday, said the reduction must cut across the tiers of government.

He said, “I am in support of reduction of cost of governance because we have to look at the Internally Generated Revenue and the state of economy.

“The executives and judiciary must also be in support. The executive, especially, should agree so that we can use the money for what will benefit the common man.

“I support whatever would make life meaningful and improve the living condition of people, but it should be for the benefits of the common man.”

Also, the senator-elect representing Rivers South-East, Chief Olaka Wogu, expressed the need for a review of the salaries or recurrent expenditures in every sector of the economy.

Wogu, however, cautioned that funds meant for constituency projects should be increased.

The senator-elect explained that the current economic situation in the country would not be able to sustain the huge cost of governance.

He added that rather than reduce funds for constituency projects, focus should be on recurrent expenditure.

Wogu said, “Funds for constituency projects must not be reduced. They represent the projects that are done on behalf of the representatives in their constituencies and they are executed by the executive. They are not executed by the members.

“I have not been to the Senate and I don’t know their salaries. But when I say all sectors should not be isolated in the review of salaries, I mean all sectors. So, if I go to the Senate, I want to attract projects for my senatorial district. I intend to ensure that projects come to my district. So, the volume of funds available for that should go up.

“But the earnings of senators and all functionaries of government, including the senators should go down; that is cost of governance. Our economy cannot carry it today. Our pay as representatives can go down, but cost of public good must go up. That, in itself, will promote development. It will also lead to a better economy. Our problem today is that we spend too much on recurrent and too little on capital expenditure.”

But the Senator-elect for Plateau South Senatorial District, Lt.- Gen. Jeremiah Useni, said he would not be able to comment on the slash in the cost of governance until the inauguration of the eighth National Assembly.

‘It is unnecessary’

The All Progressives Congress member representing Zamfara Central Senatorial District, Senator Kabiru Marafa, described as unnecessary, the calls for the reduction in the salaries and allowances of federal lawmakers.

Marafa, in an interview with one of our correspondents, said those making the demand were ignorant of the actual amount accruable as salaries and allowances to each senator or member of the House of Representatives.

He described as untrue, media reports that a senator earns a monthly salary of N29m and promised to resign as a senator if anyone could prove that his salary per month was up to N1m.

Marafa, who said his salary was not up to N1m a month, said the call for salary reduction could only be justified if members of the public could determine the actual amount that a federal legislator is being paid a month.

He said, “What Nigerians need to know about these allowances is that they should be educated properly about what a senator or House of Representatives member earns. The figure being branded as allowances and salaries of federal lawmakers all over the place is incorrect.

“Not quite long ago, some figures were posted on the Internet and they came up with a figure of about N29m per month but if you look at the rundown, you will see there are severance allowances there which they claimed formed certain percentage of the total salary per month.”

http://www.punchng.com/news/buharis-ministers-lawmakers-to-get-n9bn-housing-furniture-allowance/

Eggcelent:
Lack of foresight & appropriate mentors are contributory factors. I've seen many girls who had dreams of great professional accomplishments but got sidetracked cos there was no one to keep them on track

I'm not sure if they truly need to be kept in track before realizing they need to own a career. The trend is changing anyway but you will be amazed to see a chunk of ladies out there that do not see any reason to consolidate on their career, rather they believe in being spoon-fed for every single meal...

Now you've seen it...

So hilarious...

Shortyy:
why would i deliberately forfeit my career? even by circumstance, i wouldn't dare. i'll achieve my goals no matter what..

Well, there are ladies out there are just looking for a guy to depend on for daily upkeep...shoes, bags, monthly allowance just as we saw in a post here on nairaland yesterday...

Nowadays, it is so true that this situation plays out but to what extent do you agree with this? Do you think ladies DELIBERATELY forfeit careers by choice or by circumstance? Have your say...

Sweetguy25:
I doubt if the PIB will be passed this year. I'm not deceived

Sincerely, that bill will be till thy kingdom come...I don't just understand these reps at all....

socialmediaman:
Getting busy now that Buhari has won election?

What do you expect? Everybody is now forming busy, all to seek the good face of GMB.

The battle for re-election to the 8th House of Representatives stalled the consideration of the report on the Petroleum Industry Bill by the House months after the document was laid before the House, The PUNCH learnt on Wednesday.

But the House Deputy Leader, Mr. Leo Ogor, confided in our correspondent on Wednesday that the PIB would be reconsidered by members of the House of Representatives on Thursday next week.

The 23-member Ad-Hoc Committee on PIB had produced its report on March 12, 2015, more than two years after the Speaker, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal, inaugurated it on November 15, 2012.

The committee was chaired by the Chief Whip, Mr. Ishaka Bawa, a Peoples Democratic Party lawmaker from Taraba State.

But investigations showed that rather than give priority attention to the report, members kept it aside to focus on the 2015 polls.

The National Assembly and the presidential elections were held on March 28, while governorship poll took place on April 11.

Members reportedly rationalised that the elections were too close at hand for them to sit in Abuja and do any serious legislative duties as of the period the report was laid.

“The PIB is a serious bill. You will recall that a lot a controversies surrounded the first and second reading of the bill.

“There were issues bearing on the powers of the minister and the reservations expressed by oil majors, among others.

“This was not a bill we could rush in the midst of campaigning for re-election,” a senior National Assembly official told The PUNCH in Abuja.

It was gathered that, with the elections won and lost, most members were now putting the polls behind them to round off their session in the weeks ahead.

The PUNCH learnt that the Deputy Speaker of the House, Mr. Emeka Ihedioha, whose duty it was to preside over the Committee of the Whole to consider reports on bills, was also away in his home state, Imo, for the governorship poll.

“Recall that many reports were rescheduled in the days after we reconvened from the elections, not only PIB.

“The Deputy Speaker contested the governorship poll in Imo and had to stay behind for the supplementary elections.

“Now that he is back, the pace of work regarding pending reports for consideration will be fast,” another official added.

Findings showed that Ihedioha, on resuming work on Tuesday, directed that copies of the PIB be made available to all members before Thursday next week.

“The Committee on Rules and Business is already working on it. It is hoped that by next week the consideration will start,” the source said.

The House Deputy Leader, Mr. Leo Ogor, confirmed, when he was contacted, that elections delayed the report.

“Politics played a major role. Everybody was campaigning and running up and down for the elections. You will appreciate that it was not the desire of members to delay the bill. But, now we are set; by next week the consideration will be in progress,” Ogor told The PUNCH.

The report, among others, recommended that the President should be stripped of his discretionary power to grant petroleum licences and leases to operators in the country’s oil and gas industry.

http://www.punchng.com/news/fraudsters-dupe-people-with-my-name-says-el-rufai/

President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday marked five years since he took over the mantle of the nation’s leadership.

It will be recalled that Jonathan was on May 6, 2010 inaugurated as the President by the then Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu.

That followed the death on May 5, 2010 of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua who he served for three years as Vice President.

The nation’s constitution recommends that the Vice President automatically takes over upon the death of the President.

After completing Yar’Adua’s tenure, Jonathan contested and won the 2011 presidential election but lost his re-election bid in 2015.

The President however marked the fifth anniversary of his Presidency in a low-key manner.

As the day coincided with the weekly meeting of the Federal Executive Council, he only asked two ministers to pray according to the Christian and Islamic injunctions.

That was a clear departure from the past when the second stanza of the National Anthem was always used as the opening prayers during the council meetings.

The Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo; and the Minister of State for Finance, Ambassador Bashir Yuguda, took turn to render special prayers for the President, his family and the nation.

Jonathan took the council members by surprise when he arrived the Council Chambers and announced that a member was celebrating his birthday.

When members could not identify the celebrant, the President came to their aid, saying it was the anniversary of his Presidency.

They all clapped to the admiration of Jonathan.

“Today, we will not say the national prayer. Somebody is celebrating birthday, so we will offer special prayers for him. Two very godly people will pray, Nebo and Yuguda. Do you know the person (celebrating)?” the President had asked.

“On May 6, exactly five years today, I was sworn-in as substantive President,” he explained later.

http://www.punchng.com/news/jonathan-marks-five-years-in-office-with-prayer-2/

I still don't understand why a lady would bleach her skin all to the satisfaction of a man who might not eventually end up with her. It goes a long way to show why some ladies only follow the masses. They need someone else to think for them.
Susan Maxwell or whatever she is called was only trying to justify her terrible actions and it was no surprise when I read some comments on nairaland posted by sympathisers.
If you like, pour a bucket of hot water to bleach, if a guy will dump you, there's no escaping it.
From my own point of view, nothing is as good as natural. When they now marry and after two or three months when the whole artificial setups fade off and away, you will suddenly notice a change in the guy's attitude and probably go ahead looking elsewhere, when all the lies that served as foundation for that marital home has been eroded.
What do you want Ghanaians to do if you think bleaching helps your chances of attracting men?
Be it dark or blue or yellow, there is always someone for everyone. No point peeling your skin to suit a man that may even have no plans for you.

People just keep saying all sort of rubbish...

The Federal Government has said it cannot at the moment guarantee the safety and security of air travellers using the Asaba airport in Delta State.

As a result, the government on Tuesday barred the airport from being used for commercial flight operations.

It said the airport’s safety and security alert was due to the failure of the Delta State Government to fix the key infrastructure at the facility.

It said the state government refused to comply with directives from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority mandating it to fix some of the airport’s facilities such as repairs of the undulating runways, perimeter fencing of the facility and other issues.

The Ministry of Aviation, in a statement made available to our correspondent in Abuja, stated, “The Federal Government has downgraded the Asaba airport over the failure of the Delta State Government to put in place measures that will guarantee the safety and security of passengers using the airport.

“With the downgrading, which takes immediate effect, the airport will now be allowed to accommodate the operation of only Dash 8-Q 400 aircraft or its equivalent until all the safety issues are addressed.”

The Dash 8 or Q series aircraft are twin-engine, medium range and turboprop airliners delivered in four series and cannot carry up to 80 persons, hence are not often used for commercial flight operations in Nigeria by the major carriers.

The Federal Government, according to the statement, stated that it had, through the NCAA, raised several safety concerns over undulations on the airport’s runway, lack of the required strip, perimeter fencing, drainage as well as lack of adequately trained technical personnel.

It said several talks with the Delta State Government to fix the airport yielded no concrete result, stressing that the facility was a huge security risk to travellers.

“It has, therefore, become a matter of serious concern that despite a series of meetings with, and assurances given by the operators of the airport, the Delta State Government, no concrete step has been taken to address the issues, which are capable of compromising the safety of flight operations and, of course, the passengers,” the ministry added in the statement.

The ministry said the Federal Government had also drawn the attention of the state government to the fact that it had, through its inability to address the issues, violated the Compliance with Safety Standards as stipulated in the Nig CARs Part 12.6.2 and 12.6.3.

“The violations are in respect of the airport runway and its associated facilities as well as adequately trained personnel,” it added.

Explaining why a decisive action was taken against the operators and owners of the airport, the Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, was quoted as saying, “The downgrading has been carried out in the public interest because the Federal Government places very high premium on the safety and security of air passengers and will never compromise set standards for whatever reason.”

The minister, however, gave an assurance that the airport would revert to its previous status as soon as all the safety concerns were adequately and satisfactorily addressed.

http://blog.avacubes.com/fg-says-asaba-airport-not-safe/

Medley:
was it the total prerogative or fiat of the president to approve the budget,when it was passed since last year what were they expected to do? Why the late alarms

Politics at its peak...

seunfly:
I believe Muazu is saying the truth because what he and olisah metuh are saying is what most sensible Nigerians have been saying for long.
The praise singers turn Jonathan to a demi god who can do no bad and you can't croticis him neither can you correct him hence their demigod missed road and got lost in the bush no wonder they compared him with Jesus, Mandela and Obama.

Quite agree. Let Fayose tender his evidence if he truly has one. He is just barking unnecessarily.
Fayose is one of those that have made GEJ invincible when truly he is just a naive leader. His jabs against GMB did not help matters as well.
Mu'azu only revealed the truth. You cannot reap where you did not sow. The perception of gej was definitely very low in the north and I couldn't have imagined where how he thought they could have won in the region. Fayose is an element of discord...