₦airaland Forum

US geneticists Jeffrey C. Hall , Michael Rosbash and Michael W . Young were awarded the Nobel Medicine Prize Monday for shedding light on the internal biological clock that governs the wake - sleep cycles of most living things .
“ Their discoveries explain how plants , animals and humans adapt their biological rhythm so that it is synchronised with the Earth’ s revolutions , ” the Nobel Assembly announced .
Life on Earth is adapted to the rotation of our planet . For many years , scientists have known that living organisms, including humans , have an internal clock that help them anticipate and adapt to the rhythm of the day .
Hall , 72 , Rosbash, 73 , and Young , 68 , “ were able to peek inside our biological clock and elucidate its inner workings, ” said the NobelAssembly .
The clock influences such biological functions as hormone levels , sleep, body temperature and metabolism .
It is what causes jetlag — when our internal clock and external environment move out of sync when we change time zones .
Using the fruit fly as a model organism , this year ’ s laureates isolated a gene that controls the daily biological rhythm .
“ They showed that this gene encodes a protein that accumulates in the cell during the night and is then degraded during the day , ” the Nobel team said .
“ Subsequently they identified additional protein components of this machinery , exposing the mechanism governing the self - sustaining clockwork inside the cell . ”
The trio will share the prize sum of nine million Swedish kronor ( about $ 1 . 1 million or 937 , 000 euros ) .
Last year , Yoshinori Ohsumi of Japan won the prestigious prize for his work on autophagy — a process whereby cells “ eat themselves ” , which when disrupted can cause Parkinson’ s and diabetes .
SOURCE: http://punchng.com/breaking-us-trio-wins-nobel-medicine-prize/

Fayose may not be a saint, but I prefer him to hypocritical APC and Buhari's led administration.

Whoever PDP presents in 2019 would defeat Buhari.

Inasmuch as I am not saying this your prophecy is farce, I will like to tell you that its uttered because of the current unrest-----restive situation in SE, Fulani herdsmen's carnage across the country, etc.

From the foregone statement, it is obvious to blind and audible to the blind that the nation's ship is heading towards the rock----almost capsize. We don't need any unscrupulous fortune teller to apprise us of this!

The United Labour Congress on Wednesday threatened that workers in the country would embark on an indefinite strike if the Federal Government failed to meet its demands by Friday ( tomorrow ).
The threat came barely two weeks after the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment responded to the workers through a letter , which the ULC said “ largely failed to adequately address the critical issues raised in our demands . ”
The union issued the strike threat after an emergency meeting of its National Administrative Committee , which was held jointly with the National Strike Committee in Lagos .
In a statement signed by the President , ULC , Joe Ajaero , the union urged Nigerians to take precaution and stock up necessities , saying, “The strike will be very effective as we hope to cripple all modes of transportation within the nation; ensure a total blackout nationwide ; cut off petroleum product supplies ; and disrupt banking operations, which will make life a bit more difficult for Nigerians .
“ We regret these consequences on all of us , but we hope that these measures will help us create a nation that is better governed for the benefits of Nigerian workers and Nigerian masses . ”
Ajaero said that the strike had become necessary having earlier issued a 14 -day ultimatum to the Federal Government as a result of the decision of the Central Working Committee meeting of the congress on August 22 , which expired on September 8 , 2017 .
He said that in view of the government ’ s rejection of the demands within the 14 - day ultimatum, the ULC ordered an immediate issuance of a seven - day final strike notice , which would expire on Friday.
He added , “This course of action , though very painful to us at this time , is the only alternative available to us as we have exhausted all known peaceful processes towards an amicable resolution of the dispute .
“ We , therefore , call on all genuine patriots to join hands in solidarity with us to urge the Federal Government and state governors to be kind enough to meet the demands of Nigerian workers and masses . ”
The demands of the union include the immediate payment of all arrears of salaries owed workers at all levels of government without exception .
Ajaero added that other demands were that “the Federal Government honours its 2009 agreement with university lecturers under the umbrella of ASUU quickly and commences negotiations with them on new issues so that our universities will re- open .
“ The roads leading to all the petroleum refineries and depots nationwide be repaired by the government to avoid the present carnage, wastage of products and properties on these roads .
“ That the government should demand that the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment set up a task force immediately to carry out factory inspections as most of our factories are death traps . ”
The workers are also demanding an immediate review of the privatisation of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria , among others.

Source: http://punchng.com/labour-threatens-indefinite-strike-from-friday/

There are strong indications that activities in government hospitals may shut down if the Federal Government fails to meet the demands of the Joint Health Sector Unions and Assembly of Health Care Professionals .
This is coming as the strike embarked upon by the National Association of Resident Doctors enters its fifth day .
The group said on Friday that it would embark on an indefinite industrial action that would shut down operations in public hospitals due to the prolonged delay by the Federal Government in meeting its demands since 2014 .
JOHESU makes up about 95 per cent of health workers and health care providers in the country.
In a letter written to the Senate President , Dr . Bukola Saraki, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives , Mr . Yakubu Dogara , the body , on Friday, threatened that if the Federal Government refused to address its agitations earnestly , it would have no option but to shut down health care facilities nationwide .
In its letter titled, “ Looming nationwide industrial action : Request for audience , ” and signed by the JOHESU National Chairman , Joy Josiah , and the National Secretary , Ekpebor Florence , the body warned that the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives should grant it audience on September 13 and 14 respectively by 10 am or at any other date not later than a week before September 30 .
The letter read , “ We write on behalf of the leadership of Joint Health Sector Unions and Assembly of Health Care Professionals , a body which makes up about 95 per cent of health workers and health care providers , to seek for your intervention in the protracted demands and agitations between JOHESU and the Federal Government since 2014 by granting us urgent audience on Wednesday , September 13 , at 10 am or any other date not later than a week before September 30 .
“ We are compelled to seek for your intervention so as to avert indefinite industrial action in the health industry . We are aware of the sensitive and important nature of our service to human lives , hence our proactive measure in prevention rather than curative .
“ JOHESU is aware of your recent laudable role in intervening and resolving of the issues of the medical doctors while they were on strike . While thanking you for your kind approval to meet with us on September 13 , accept the assurances of our best wishes . ”
Patients in federal hospitals are already lamenting even as relatives have started moving some to churches, traditionalists ’ homes and private hospitals.
Those who resorted to taking their sick loved ones to churches and traditionalists ’ homes for treatment told Saturday PUNCH that they were doing so because they couldn ’ t afford the fees of private clinics .
Resident doctors had on September 4 began a nationwide indefinite strike after a meeting of its national leadership, saying they had to proceed on the action because the Federal Government failed to meet their demands.
NARD President , Dr . Onyebueze John , had said in a statement that the association resolved to reject the offer from the Federal Government and proceed on total and indefinite strike action until all items on its demand list for strike action were resolved .
When Saturday PUNCH visited the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital , Akwa Ibom State , some patients were seen being taken away by their family members to churches, traditionalists ’ homes and private hospitals.
For instance , at the Accident and Emergency Ward , Mr . Ubong Akpan and Mrs. Black Bassey , whose relatives were critically ill and needed urgent medical attention , said they had resolved to take them to their churches.
They did not , however , disclose the names of the churches they were taking their sick loved ones to when probed further .
“ At this juncture , I have to rely on prayers, which is why I want to take my ill sister to church . We don ’ t have money to seek care in a private hospital , ” Bassey said , pleading with the Federal Government to address the doctors ’ strike urgently so as to save the life of her loved one .
A relative of one of the patients at the hospital , Mr . Ita Etim , said his family couldn ’ t afford to leave his sibling to die in the hospital , hence he had come to take him to a traditionalist ’ s home .
“ My brother had an accident and had been here for some days , but due to the doctors ’ strike , we have to take him to a traditionalist’ s home for further treatment , ” Etim said .
One of our correspondents , who was at the hospital , observed that the Children ’ s Ward , General Outpatients Department , Accident and Emergency Ward , Antenatal Ward , among others, had been deserted . Offices and buildings occupied by the resident doctors were also under lock and key .
A patient at the General Outpatient Department , Mrs. Elizabeth Umoren , lamented that she had been unable to see the doctor assigned to her , adding that she would have to seek medical care at a private hospital .
At the Federal Medical Centre , Yola , Adamawa State , which has about 60 resident doctors , one of our correspondents who visited the facility on Thursday observed as several patients were seen unattended to due to the doctors ’ strike .
Only a few of the patients were being treated by consultants , who complained that the burden of taking care of the sick was becoming too much for them to bear .
The Head of Clinical Services at the hospital , Dr . Joel Yohanna , who is also a consultant, said his colleagues and other senior medical personnel who had stepped in to cover for the absence of resident doctors were being overworked , but would , however , continue to attend to patients who could wait patiently.
Saturday PUNCH observed as some people came to take their sick loved ones from the facility.
For instance , Umar Bello, whose son was hit by a car and had started receiving treatment at the Accident and Emergency Unit of the hospital before the strike started , said he would have to take his son to a traditional healer until the strike was called off .
In Ondo State , findings by Saturday PUNCH also showed that relatives had started taking their sick family members out of federal hospitals and relocating them to churches, private hospitals and elsewhere .
When one of our correspondents visited the Federal Medical Centre , Owo , relatives of some patients were heard discussing where to take their sick loved ones to for continuation of their treatment .
A man , who identified himself simply as Musa , said that since the doctors ’ strike began , the condition of his father (a patient at the hospital ) had got worse , hence the decision by family members to move him to a private facility .
“ We are planning to move him to a private hospital in the town because since the strike began , we have yet to see any doctor attend to him . Only the consultants have been around , but they are only attending to very few patients, ” he said .
A woman, whose cousin was also in the hospital , Mrs . Olusola Ajao , said the family had decided to move her to her church , where they believed she would “receive healing ”.
“ Attention is not being paid to her ( the patient ) in the hospital because of the strike and the family cannot afford to take her to a private hospital now . But we believe that she would receive healing in the church because there is nothing God cannot do , ” Ajao said .
In Kwara State , investigations revealed that many patients were now flooding private hospitals and the state ’ s general hospitals.
Some persons , who have patients at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital , said they couldn ’ t afford to wait anymore for the few consultants attending to many patients .
The doctors ’ strike has also mounted pressure on consultants at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital , Cross River State . However , the specialists were being assisted by young doctors undergoing their housemanship at the hospital .
Despite that , a member of the hospital ’ s Medical Advisory Council , who craved anonymity, said the workload was beginning to have its toll on the consultants .
The official said , “ There is a difference between a medical officer and a resident doctor . These people ( trainee doctors ) cannot do what the resident doctors can do , but we have to manage them due to the situation. ”
One of our correspondents observed that the male and female surgical wards of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital , Bauchi , were deserted .
A member of staff of the hospital , who confided in one of our correspondents , said that the hospital ’ s consultants , nurses and ward attendants were having a tough time treating and managing patients with the absence of the resident doctors .
He said many patients have been moved out of the hospital to other private hospitals and clinics but “ we ’ re doing our best to manage the situation. ”
At the Paediatric Medical Ward, a patient , Mrs. Janet Onyi , said although consultants were attending to them, their services were inadequate .
“ A health worker attended to my son in the morning , but it is 4 . 30 pm now and no one has come to check on him again . Only one ward attendant came to check us , ” she said .
Abdullahi Usman told Saturday PUNCH that he had to move a family member , who was an emergency patient , to a private hospital because of the strike .
“ We had to rush an accident patient to a private hospital (name withheld ) for treatment because of the strike . It’ s not fair for government to allow doctors go on strike because it is causing so much suffering for people. And the big problem is that the cost of treatment in private clinics is so high ; we have no choice now but to look for money and pay the bills , ” he said .

Source: http://punchng.com/johesu-threatens-strike-vows-to-shut-down-hospitals/

Martinez19:
Unilag initially, I latter left for USA but things didn't pull true my aunt wanted to use me so I came back. Planning on joining next section this February for basic clinical sciences. Anatomy, physiology and biochemistry.

You should have finished here before going there. Are you now in part one?

Martinez19:
I have this hunch that you are a 400 level student at idi araba. I am just there.

No. I am a great Ife!
What of you?

Martinez19:
the day people will say they have had enough, that want to live life instead of survive it, that is when things will change for the better and the politicians who loot this country into the mess it is will be done away with. What sort of country is a biochemistry graduate working in a bank instead of lab? Not everyone is destined to be an artisan, you know? Not everyone is destined to be an entrepreneur. Imagine if Einstein, Magnus Carlsen, Bobby Fischer and Mozart were born in this country, do you think they would make it in the profession they are known for? That is to show you how devoid of opportunities and useless this country is compared to others. A country where graduates have to turn to handiwork to survive rather than bloom in their profession and choosen passion, is that one a country? A country that has over 160 million people but no chess grandmasters, sporting legacy or stable power supply given our resources.

By the way, are you a medical student given your moniker?

Yes. Clinical1 student.
What of you?

Eniola Akinkuotu , Abuja
The National Association of Resident Doctors on Thursday refused to call off its strike despite holding a 13 - hour meeting with representatives of the Federal Government.
The meeting, which held at the Federal Secretariat in Abuja , ended in the early hours of Thursday , had in attendance the Minister of Labour , Chris Ngige ; the Minister of Health , Prof . Isaac Adewole ; and the Minister of State for Health , Dr . Osagie Ehanire .
According to a statement by the Ministry of Labour , the strike would continue until at least Friday when the doctors are expected to meet to review the offer by the government on their demands including payment of salary arrears owed.
” The meeting agreed that NARD national officers will present the outcome of the re- negotiated Memorandum of Terms of settlement to an emergency meeting of its members by Friday September 8 , 2017 with a view to suspending the strike once there is evidence of payment of the mandate as presented to the meeting , to the affected institutions, ” the statement noted .

Source: http://punchng.com/breaking-doctors-refuse-to-call-off-strike-despite-13-hour-meeting/

This is how it should be!
I loathe those people that only know how to take selfie for likes on Facebook, Instagram etc..

I love industrious ladies that are independent. They have my respect and those of the other sensible guys out there. The only set of people that find them narcissistic are the guys with low self-esteem.

Truth is bitter! Because of this, I won't refrain from speaking the truth.

If truly your friend graduated five years ago and he has not been able to find something meaningful to do, he is indolent.

If I may ask you, the artisans around you, I mean in your environment, who employ them? They employ themselves. That your friend is a graduate, does not mean they owe him a job.

Tell your friend to hustle and stop using unemployment as the excuse to resort to illegality. Internet fraud is a crime! Tell him not to do it! A word is enough for the wise!

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige , has berated members of the National Association of Resident Doctors for embarking on strike, accusing them of breaching the constitution.
Ngige said this at a mediation meeting which is ongoing at the Federal Secretariat , Abuja.
The minister said he was hopeful that the current strike would be the shortest in the history of Nigeria , urging them to immediately call it off.
He said , “ Once conciliation starts by the government , no employer has the right to embark on strike.
“ By going on strike you have breached Section 18 of the Trade Dispute Act of 2004 . ”
Apart from members of NARD , others present include the Minister of Health , Prof . Isaac Adewole ; the Minister of State for Health , Dr . Osagie Ehanire ; the leadership of the Nigerian Medical Association; representatives of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation among others.
The interested parties have instructed journalists to leave so they can have a private deliberation .

Source: http://punchng.com/you-broke-the-law-ngige-lambasts-striking-doctors/

Humans are evil!
How would someone, because he wants to get rich, threat his fellow human with death? This man's story touched my heart.
I pray God heal you totally and return all your losses

These celebrities we have can do anything to get publicity from the masses. I pity those that don't know this is a publicity stunt.

v

PDP is corrupt, we all know that. The issue I now have is the APC hypocrisy. APC is no party of saints as they are portraying themselves to the public.

This current administration led by Buhari has succeeded in dragging Nigeria back. It will take the glory of God to clean the Augean's stable create by this ineptitude, inefficient and venal cabals called APC.

Langbasa:
Brother may you live long for this your comment, I've been trying to let people know that love doesn't exist,you can only like someone for sometimes most especially when you are not living together but once both of you starts living together there is a possibility that the ''likeness" will fade.

NB: All this I typed was not from experience. I am just a person that study my environment with keen eyes. I have not been in any relationship before, but I have been betrayed by acclaimed friends.

Ishilove:
Pained? That's laughable.

Your comment is odd because of its cynical, negative and utterly depressing tone. I am surrounded by pure love, so when I see someone who says love doesn't exist, I am genuinely baffled. It makes me wonder at the kind of people and experiences you have been involved with.

To begin with, inter alia that I would have liked to pen down, I am not a cynic nor that I am depressed. What I was trying to let you know is that love can only be shown and given by disciplined folk--- not everyone that shout I love you really do; they are just doing it because of interest.

Why do you think couple get bored of each other after some period of time? It is because the said interest has waned. Why do you think a man that just got married will leave his wife at home and start chasing women around? It is because he has developed another interest on another person. All this that I have said can only be resisted through discipline and self denial---- not all can do this, but I can!

cheers
I love you!

Ishilove:
You sound very depressed,

Depressed? No, not at all!
I think you are pained because of your 'Ishilove' username. Don't be crossed with me if I have offended you by saying the pure truth.

What can I say?

I used to say one thing that the word 'love' does not exist. How can someone convince me that love exists when adultery and infidelity abound among spouses that once proclaimed heaven and earth for one another?

There is no true love! There is no true friend! We only have people that feign being in love with us and being friends with us because of the word 'interest'. There is only interest, no true love no true friend.

g

At least N136 . 5 bn has been spent on Hajj in 2017 by state governments and individuals despite the current recession in the country, Saturday PUNCH investigation has revealed .
According to the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria , no fewer than 91 , 000 Nigerians had arrived in Saudi Arabia out of the over 1 . 7 million foreign pilgrims in the country to perform this year ’ s Hajj . Meanwhile , the average Hajj fare approved by NAHCON to states for each traveller is N1 . 5 m.
For example , information made available by NAHCON showing the approved 2017 Hajj seats and fares per state disclosed the package for travellers from Nasarawa State as N1 , 544 , 659 . 85 ; Niger , N 1 , 525 , 483 . 30 ; Ondo, N1 , 485, 096 . 07 ; Katsina , N1 , 498 , 502 . 70 ; Bauchi, N 1 , 523 , 122 . 41 ; Plateau , N1 , 529 , 036 . 80 ; Sokoto , N1 , 521 , 461 . 65 ; and Kwara, N1 , 501 , 571 . 27 , among others.
Therefore , at an average fare of N1 . 5 m, 91 , 000 Nigerians would have spent a minimum of N136 . 5 bn on the exercise , with part of it coming from public purse provided by state governments .
Although going on Hajj at least once in a lifetime is one of the five pillars of Islam , the Quran described it as a religious obligation that is meant for the faithful who can afford it. Meanwhile , visiting Jerusalem for pilgrimage is not an obligation for Christians. However , state governments have been sponsoring people to Mecca and Jerusalem for pilgrimage and Saturday PUNCH has information that Katsina , Bauchi , Plateau and Sokoto states had sponsored people on pilgrimage this year .
For instance , Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State recently disclosed that his administration had been subsidising Hajj exercise for Muslims with N1 bn annually .
Masari , while inaugurating an 18 -member board for the Katsina State Pilgrims ’ Welfare Board , had said no amount spent on religious activities could be considered as too much and described pilgrimage to Mecca as “ neither a picnic nor a holiday , but an act of worship , as enshrined in the Holy Quran and the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad . ”
Similarly, the Bauchi State Government spent over N 262 , 650 , 000 as subsidy on the state’ s Muslim pilgrims to this year’ s Hajj .
Governor Mohammed Abubakar had disclosed this while delivering his farewell address to 3 , 090 pilgrims , where he boasted that the state could afford the sponsorship despite economic recession .
“ Despite the economic hardship situation, this administration has continued to fund the operation of the state Pilgrims Welfare Board , both at home and at the holy land , so as to guarantee your comfort and satisfaction.
“ We have also subsidised the cost of your accommodation in Mecca , upon which the government had to pay at least the sum of 850 Saudi Riyals ( N85 , 000 ) for each of you so that you will be accommodated in a beautiful edifice close to the Haram , ” Abubakar had said .
Also this year, the Plateau State Government went back on its 2015 decision to no longer sponsor both Muslims and Christians on pilgrimage due to the dwindling economic fortune of the state .
It was reported that the state government had sponsored 616 Muslims for the 2017 Hajj , with the state governor, Simon Lalong , saying at a farewell ceremony for the pilgrims from the state that the state government was willing to make the “ sacrifice as a result of the relevance of holy pilgrimage to the citizens of the state . ”
The Sokoto State Government had spent N91 m to sponsor 90 Islamic clerics to the lesser Hajj in June .
The state Commissioner for Religious Affairs , Alhaji Mani Katami , had also announced that each of the benefiting clerics was entitled to a Basic Travelling Allowance of N250 , 000 .
State governments’ sponsorship of pilgrimage has been going on for long . Last year, the Executive Secretary , Taraba State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board , Alhaji Umar Leme , said the state government had released N288 . 5 m to sponsor about 166 persons on Hajj .
In 2014 , the Borno State Government said it had spent about N500 m to secure good accommodation and welfare for 2 , 645 pilgrims to Mecca , and that 300 Saudi Riyals ( N30 , 000 ) were given to each of them to enable them to slaughter rams during Hajj .
The Niger State Government in 2013 said it had spent about N5 . 1 bn in the previous six years to subsidise Muslim and Christian pilgrimages to Mecca and Jerusalem respectively .
In his defence of the expenditure , the then governor of the state , Babangida Aliyu , had described the sponsorship as the only avenue through which some people would benefit from the government .
“ They do not benefit from electricity , housing , roads and other infrastructure; they only benefit directly from the government through subsidy on pilgrimage , ’’ he had said .
It was also learnt that even the Federal Government in 2016 subsidised the cost of pilgrimage for 65 , 167 persons with a concession of N121 . 9 for a maximum of $ 1 , 000 per person . The pilgrims enjoyed a concessionary rate of N197 to a dollar as the official exchange rate was N318 . 9 to a dollar .
Meanwhile , the Executive Chairman of NAHCON , Alhaji Abdullahi Muhammad , on Friday commended the Saudi Arabian authorities for providing all the necessary logistics support for pilgrims at the Jamarat , the place where pilgrims perform the symbolic stoning of the devil .
He also commended the authorities for placing sprinklers at strategic locations for pilgrims , saying it would go a long way in reducing the effects of the hot weather being experienced in the country .
He , therefore , appealed to Nigerian pilgrims to maintain good behaviour while in the country as they had done so far .
But the sponsorship of pilgrimage is increasingly becoming a subject of controversy with the dwindling economic fortune in the country and the subsequent resolution by some states including Niger, Lagos , Kaduna and Kano to abolish it.
However , not all states that claimed to have stopped the sponsorship of pilgrimage have been able to fully commit to the resolution.
Even though , the Governor of Kano State , Abdullahi Ganduje, said in September 2016 that the state government had abolished sponsorship of Hajj , he added that it had not stopped sponsoring clerics and medical personnel on Hajj and had spent N 3 bn that year .
“ So , the services we are providing and the Pilgrims Welfare Agency officials we are sponsoring , the medical ( members of ) staff and all the medication , if you add all together , you will see that we spent over N3 bn, ” he had said .
“ So , during our last administration , we cancelled it ( sponsorship of pilgrimage ). In fact , I was the one who made the announcement and some people thought heavens would fall because we cancelled it. And when I came in , we did not have any problem because people are used to it. So , the only people we can sponsor are stakeholders, medical team, the Ulamas who are preaching here and the civil servants from the Pilgrims Welfare Agency . ”
The Kaduna State Government has also cancelled the annual sponsorship of pilgrims to Mecca and Jerusalem and feeding of Muslim faithful during Ramadan , with the state governor, Nasir el - Rufai , saying the government could no longer afford such luxury.
Stressing the financial burden of such sponsorships on the state, el - Rufai had in 2015 said that in the previous year alone , the state government and the state ’ s 23 local government areas had sponsored over 2 , 000 pilgrims to Hajj and 800 others to Jerusalem at a cost that was “ nearly N1 . 5 bn. ”
The Executive Chairman of CACOL , Mr . Debo Adeniran , described the state sponsorship of pilgrimage as a form of corruption, which must be stopped.
He said , “ There are so many atrocities various administrations have been committing, including the sponsorship of pilgrimage . Such atrocities start from lowering the exchange rate for pilgrims . There is no government that has the authority to spend public funds on frivolities like religious tourism. Nigeria doesn ’ t have any religion, so any public fund spent on religious activities, building religious worship places and so on are resources wasted , misspent, misappropriated .
“ Every public office holder who has funded any religion has misappropriated resources and they are liable to be charged for misappropriation of funds . So the amount that is being expended on Hajj would have been able to fix some dilapidated roads , educational facilities , and so on . What is the country benefiting from religious pilgrimages and all that ?
“ We are only improving the economies of countries such as Saudi Arabia and Israel while we are spending our resources unwisely . This is wasteful , unnecessary and reprehensible. Nigeria should stop it once and for all and that should be the focus of the present administration because putting money in things that are not right is misappropriation of funds . It is corruption and should be stopped. ”
The President of the Muslim Congress , Nigeria , Dr . Lukman Abdurraheem , also described state sponsorship of the Hajj exercise as fraudulent .
He said it was wrong to use taxpayers ’ money to send people on pilgrimage , adding that most states were using the exercise to steal state resources .
He said , “We believe that state sponsorship of Hajj is a fraudulent practice . If you go by what the Holy Quran says , we should only visit Kaaba (a building at the centre of the Sacred Mosque in Mecca , Saudi Arabia) if we have the means to do so .
“ The government doesn ’ t have to sponsor Muslims on Hajj ; its role is to provide good roads , electricity , potable water and other social amenities . States are only using pilgrimage sponsorship to steal money . Any religious person will tell you it’ s wrong to use taxpayers ’ funds to send people on pilgrimage . That ’ s why I commend states like Lagos for stopping it . ”
Chairman , Osun State Board of Traditional Medicine , Chief Kayode Esuleke , also condemned the situation, saying it shows bias against the traditional religion worshippers .
“ We are misappropriating public funds by sponsoring some people on pilgrimage . What the Quran says is that Muslim faithful should visit Mecca once in their lifetime if they can afford it, and not that they should be sponsored with taxpayers ’ money .
“ Is it right that our collective money should be used to sponsor Muslims and Christians on pilgrimage? It shows bias towards some religions . The money spent by states to sponsor pilgrims will solve some of the problems we have with infrastructure, ” Esuleke said .

Source: http://punchng.com/despite-recession-states-others-spend-over-n136-5bn-on-hajj/

pauljumbo:
but after reading and developing yourself you still need to brand yourself and look good

Have you seen me dressed up before? If you haven't, don't assume what you don't know. If you see me, I swear to God who made me, you will be salivating.

Why on earth will I stress myself because I want people to see me handsome? No. I can't waste my time posing in front of camera because of mere 'likes'.

I would rather work on my brain--- increasing my knowledge by studying books, learning skills, helping my sister, or playing indoor or outdoor games with my friends than taking and uploading boring pictures every second With a view to garnering 'likes'.

s

sz

If it were Nigeria, having Buhari as the president, the judges would be ordered to affirm the election result or being subjected to all forms persecution, pursued by DSS, EFCC etc., or being sacked before the delivery of the judgment.

If he allows the judgment to come into fruition, it would serve as another good precedence to all African nations' leaders second to the way Jonathan let go in 2015.

The Ekiti State Governor , Ayodele Fayose , has said it is too late for Nigeria to break up , calling for dialogue to resolve various agitations in the country .
Fayose said this while reacting to Wednesday ’ s meeting the governors of the South- East states had with the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra , Nnamdi Kanu.
He said the meeting had provided a veritable platform , which all Igbo must key into otherwise they would remain guinea pig in Nigeria .
The governor, who appealed to the Federal Government to allow political solutions to agitations by Nigerians as against the use of brute force said , he remained “ committed to the call for full and total restructuring of Nigeria through dialogue and negotiation because it is too late for Nigeria to disintegrate . ”
According to a statement issued in Ado Ekiti on Thursday by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media , Lere Olayinka, Fayose said he was “ particularly glad that South - East governors have come to the realisation that they cannot ignore their own in times like this as agitation is normal and must not be ignored , although the approach should be handled with caution . ”
Fayose blamed the actions and utterances of President Muhammadu Buhari for the agitations going on in the country.
“ The father figure of this country is President Buhari and if his language does not represent unity, there will be agitations like we are witnessing now .
“ A father figure rallies even the bad boys in his house . The utterances and actions of Buhari when he became President were against the unity of this country.
“ How can a president say that he will only attend to the needs of those who gave him 97 per cent vote and neglect others who didn ’ t vote for him ?
“ For Nigeria to move forward and in unity; there must be no sectionalism , there must be no oppression and there must be justice and equity. ”
The governor commended the northern leaders for standing up to ensure that the Arewa youths ’ quit notice against the Igbo in the North was resolved and withdrawn without necessarily arresting and detaining anyone .
Saying that the same could be achieved by the Igbo leaders , he warned that arresting or re- arresting Kanu “ may be counter - productive as it may be perceived as vilification of the entire South- East geopolitical zone , not necessarily Kanu as a person . ”

Source: http://punchng.com/too-late-for-nigeria-to-disintegrate-says-fayose/

The Federal Executive Council on Wednesday approved the contract for the engineering work of the Mambilla Hydro Electric Power Plant in Taraba State in the sum of $ 5 . 792 bn.
The Minister of Power , Works and Housing , Mr . Babatunde Fashola ( SAN ) , disclosed this to State House correspondents at the end of the weekly meeting of the council presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa , Abuja .
Fashola said the construction would take approximately six years because of the extensive nature of the scope of work.
The minister said the work would include the construction of four dams, one of which is expected to be 150 metres high ; two others will be 70 metres high while the smallest dam will be 50 metres in height .
He said , “ Several efforts have been made to bring the project to reality since 1972 , which is about 45 years ago , but I am happy to announce to you that this government approved the award of the contract today through a joint venture with a Chinese civil engineering company for the engineering contract , including civil and electromechanical works , for $ 5 . 792 billion .
“ The construction should take about 72 months, which is roughly about six years . The scope of works are very extensive . It requires the construction of four dams: one of them is a 150 metres in height, intermediate two are 70 metres in height and the smallest of them is 50 metres in height.
“ The 150 metres one is essentially the size of a 50 - storey building because you have approximately 3 metres per floor .
“ The intermediate one is higher than a 20 - storey building . It also includes 700 kilometre of transmission line . It will be in Taraba State , in the area called Gengu . It will involve a lot of preparatory work and resettlement .
“ It will really unleash the potential that have been reported about Mambilla : agriculture , tourism and also for energy .
“ It will also help Nigeria to strike a big blow on the climate change issue and fulfill its commitment under the Paris agreement because this is going to be renewable energy , coming also at a relatively competitive cost. This was approved by council today . ”

Source: http://punchng.com/fg-awards-5-8bn-mambilla-power-plant-contract/

The President , Association of Resident Doctors, University College Hospital , Ibadan chapter , Dr . Olusegun Olaopa , on Wednesday said resident doctors in the hospital would commence an indefinite strike on September 4 .
Olaopa , in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Ibadan , said the decision was in line with a directive from the National Executive Council of the National Association of Resident Doctors.
He said members of the association in UCH had been mobilised to commence the industrial action until the Federal Government accedes to the demands of the national body .
Olaopa said the national body of the association had, in a statement , directed all members to begin indefinite strike as from Monday , September 4 , 2017 .
“ The association has resolved to proceed on an indefinite industrial action from Monday , September 4 , 2017 , until all these issues are permanently resolved .
“ So , in compliance with this directive , all resident doctors in UCH will join their counterparts in Nigeria to embark on an indefinite strike , ” he said .
Olaopa said the strike notice was signed by Dr . John Onyebueze and Dr . Aneke Emmanuel , the National President and Secretary, National Association of Resident Doctors of Nigeria , respectively .
According to him , neither the federal nor the state government has shown commitment to the resolution of issues at stake , nor have they honoured the previous agreements with the doctors .
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that among issues being agitated by NARD include persistent shortfall and unpaid arrears of salaries in both federal and state tertiary health institutions.
Another issue raised was the enrolment of resident doctors into the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System since 2003 .
The doctors are also complaining about the stagnation of promotion and non - promotion of members who have met the requisite criteria ; and non -implementation of adjusted House Officers ’ Entry grade level equivalent since 2014 .
NAN also reports that resident doctors in UCH had, on January 6 , 2017 embarked on a day ’ s protest rally over nonpayment of their November and December 2016 salaries .

Source: http://punchng.com/uch-resident-doctors-to-join-nationwide-strike-on-monday/

When will federal government wake up to its number one priority---- securing the life and property of all Nigerians?

Nigerians have been hoodwinked by APC guile. It's only God that can save this nation from the hand of this ineptitude administration.