₦airaland Forum

NEWS DIGEST – Senate President, Bukola Saraki has thrown a shot in his Democracy day speech. Mr. Saraki urged that while the Country must continue to respect Democracy as a system of Government, it must ensure that continued persecution of perceived enemies of Government must stop. In a series of tweet on his official Twitter page, Saraki said some persons have been behaving like they are above the law and this must not be allowed to thrive.
“I would like us all to remember that Democracy is not just about elections. It also involves the rule of law, following due process, respecting and nurturing institutions. It is also unity of purpose while being accountable when we are in positions ” “History will not be fair to us if we allow our complacency to jeopardize democracy. We must all be able to speak out with strong voices on issues that constitute a danger to democracy. #DemocracyDay”
“These include abuse of office in a manner that suggests persecution and oppression of perceived enemies, stifling of free expression, undermining of democratic institutions, and impunity on the part of certain individuals who behave as though they are above the laws of the land.”
He also sought for peace to ensure development in the Country. “We cannot be celebrating #DemocracyDay without canvassing for caution on some recent negative developments in our polity, particularly as we prepare for next year’s general elections. These are significant challenges we face, but with our current combined efforts, I believe that we will bring greater development to the country.”
Senate President may have been referring to the current face-off between the senate and the Inspector General of Police, Idris Ibrahim which has led to lots of drama with the Senate recently meeting with President Buhari over same.

https://newsdigest.ng/news/2018/05/29/saraki-democracy-day/

NEWS DIGEST -The House of Representatives has dashed any hope of reviving the Peace Corps bill which was earlier rejected by President Buhari.
The bill seeks to turn the Peace Corps, currently a non- governmental organisation, into a government para- military agency.
The bill was sponsored by Emmanuel Orker-Jev (APC, Benue). The bill, which had been passed by the National Assembly was rejected by President Muhammadu Buhari, who refused to sign it into law. Some lawmakers had planned to veto the president’s rejection.
However, on Thursday, the bill failed to pass the second reading at the House of Representatives.

https://newsdigest.ng/news/2018/05/24/peace-corps-buhari/

NEWS DIGEST – Indications have emerged that the Non- Teaching Staff in Nigerian Universities may commence strike action tomorrow owning to the alleged failure of the Federal Government to meet an agreement reached with Joint Action Committee (JAC) consisting of NASU, SSANU and NAAT eight weeks ago.
The NEWS DIGEST gathered that the workers through their leadership met in Gwagwalada, Abuja, on Tuesday to determine the next line of action, at the meeting the workers resolved to meet with the Minister of Finance (Kemi Adeosun) and Minister of Education(Adamu Adamu) today. This Newspaper also gathered that the meeting with the Government officials which will hold today will determine the faith of the Nigerian students, with the Union already vowing to commence strike if nothing comes out of the meeting today.
The NEWS DIGEST contacted the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities OAU branch head, Mr Ademola Oketunde who confirmed that a meeting is set to hold today, he also said that members of the Unions from various varsities are already getting impatient on the perceived negligence of the Government “It is true that a meeting is set between our leaders in JAC and the Federal Government today, the meeting will decide fate of students, we expect directions by tomorrow from our national office,” he said.
On what is contained in the new agreements with the Federal Government, Ademola said nothing new is in the agreements but major demands of the Union still remain same, in his words: “We are requesting that they pay us the arrears of earned allowance,it has been eigth weeks now and they have refused to keep their agreement,it is very painful that even as a chairman i cannot see my members well again without been accosted,they keep asking me what the latest is because they expect their money but all to no avail”.
He also decried that staff school workers have remained neglected: “We went to the Court to challenge that Staff school workers are not included in the payment structure despite been staffs of the Federal Universities and we won but our surprise remains that the Government still insisted that they wont pay but we reached an agreement without anything”.
Reacting to fate of Students he said, “We expect communication by tomorrow , whatever happens today may lead to strike action or may not, depending on if the olive branch extended by JAC works”.
It would be recalled that the Non-Academic Workers had decried the fact that despite reaching an agreement with it weeks back, the Federal Government has refused to act on the agreement, the workers vowed to go on strike if the situation persists.
The Non-Academic staffs are also contesting suspected bias in sharing earned allowance which according to reports was given out as 89%-11% between Academic Staffs Union of Universities(ASUU) and Non-Academic Staffs(NASU,SSANU and NAAT). A reported 23billion Naira was released by the Federal Government in 2017 for the purpose of allowance.

https://newsdigest.ng/news/2018/05/24/nigerian-universities-risk-shutdown/

NEWS DIGEST – The People’s Democratic Party(PDP) in Kwara state has said Senate President, Bukola Saraki will not be welcomed into their fold if there are plans by him to return to the Party.
The party’s Publicity secretary in the state, Mr. Femi Yusuf disclosed this in a chat with The NEWS DIGEST.
The party stalwart lamented that Saraki deserted the same party that brought him to limelight in 2003: ” Even though our party is open to everyone because it is a People’s party if he wants to return to the party, let me test his strength at new parties like Social Democratic Party(SDP), ADC and other parties”. He should not return to PDP for now”. This same party brought him to limelight and he has gone ahead to join another party, why should he return to the party”. He further said the travails of Saraki with the Nigerian Police is a self-inflicted injury. “Why is it that Saraki always allege conspiracy. Is he the only one? what is the big deal in him being indicted? if he is indicted, he should clear himself. He is only raising false alarm because he has something in his cupboard. If he doesn’t have anything in his cupboard, he should come out clean”, said the party spokesperson. He further said that “during the time he took over from former Governor Lawal, he was the same person that would arrest Lawal supporters and take them to Abuja for Prosecution, why is he now crying foul” he quipped. Mr Yusuf said the state has not been working all thanks to Mr. Saraki’s influence “This same Saraki did install the incumbent Governor and yet nothing is done under same Governor”. You can see that opposition is going on day by day in Kwara because people are fed up”.
There are rumors that Bukola Saraki may dump the ruling APC. The nPDP recently wrote a letter to the All Progressives Congress alleging marginalization, although the party met with the aggrieved members which includes Saraki, but the outcome of the meeting remains unclear.
Reports also say that APC in Kwara state which used to be a stronghold of the Senate President have been fractionalized. It would be recalled that The News Digest reported how a group in Kwara threw its weight behind the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, just as Saraki is alleging that the Police Chief wants to victimize him, a claim the Nigerian Police has continually dispelled as falsehood.

https://newsdigest.ng/politics/2018/05/23/pdp-shuts-door-saraki/

NEWS DIGEST – Unai Emery ended Arsenal’s strenuous
search for a successor to Arsene Wenger when it was
announced that the Gunners would be appointing him as their
new head coach.
The Arsenal job should be one of the most attractive
managerial positions in football. Instead, Emery inherits a
poisoned chalice from his predecessor. Has been tasked with
kickstarting the post-Wenger era and has a testing job on
his hands. Here are five issues he must address at the club:

1)DEFENCE
It is trite saying that defence wins you championships.
Former Man United Manager- Sir Alex Ferguson once said
“attack wins you games. Defence wins you championships.”
Legendary football coach Paul “Bear” Bryant also famously
said “offense sells tickets, defence wins championships”.
This same thought was echoed by former Milan director
Adriano Galliano who enthused “defense wins
championships”
Liverpool are not renowned for having a parsimonious
defence but what they lack in the rearguard, they make up
for it in the final third. However, what happens when you
have a shambolic defence without a Liverpool-like ruthless
attack to make up for it? You set an unwanted record for
Wenger as his first ever third round exit in the FA Cup after
a disgraceful 4-2 defeat to Nottingham Forest (a team that
would eventually finish 17th in the Championship table). You
have your pants pulled down by Man City in the Wembley
Carabao Cup Final. You get dumped out of the top four
hierarchy again because you have just finished the league in
a disgraceful 6th place and you were bundled out of the
alternative back door to the Champions League by Atletico
(who would do a world of good to lend you their defense
manual).
With a whooping 51 goals shipped in during the course of the
just concluded Premier League Campaign, Arsenal have the
third worst defensive record of all teams that finished in the
top ten. Burnley conceded 39 goals while Newcastle let in
47. When it gets to a nadir where minnows who just
returned from relegation in recent years can boast of a
better defensive record than Arsenal, then the scale of their
troubles at the back becomes more gargantuan than ever.
Petr Cech is way past his best years; Ospina is unreliable at
best; Konscielny has been ruled out for six months with an
achilles injury; Mustafi was named in goal’s worst team of
the season; Bellerin is inconsistent; Kolasinac started
brightly after his switch from Schalke but was soon
banished to the bench; Holding, Chambers and Mavropalos
are not experienced enough to be thrown into the heart of
defence in an unforgiving league, leaving Nacho Monreal as
the only good pick of the pathetic bunch. A major surgery is
required to fix Arsenal’s defensive woes.

2) DEFENSIVE MIDFIELD
Arsenal have needed a defensive midfielder for a while. It is a
horse that has been beaten to death for over 10 years and
counting. The current defensive midfielder in the team is
Granit Xhaka . This isn’t necessarily a piece to degrade his
utility and his quality, though that certainly plays a part.
Xhaka is a perfectly average player who does have some
useful traits, if pandered to correctly. Rather, the reason
Arsenal are in dire need of a good defensive midfielder is
because of the importance of the position.
Fernandinho. Nemanja Matic and N’Golo Kante. N’Golo Kante.
Nemanja Matic. Fernandinho. These are the players that have
played the defensive midfield position for the Premier League
title winners in the past five years, including the the just
concluded one. All are significantly better than Xhaka.
Similarly, Casemiro. Casemiro. Sergio Busquets. Xabi Alonso.
Bastian Schweinsteiger. These are the defensive midfielders
that have won the past five Champions Leagues. See a
pattern emerging?
The defensive midfield position is one of the most important
in the whole of football. It provides stability and security to
the structure of the team. It screens the defence, collecting
loose balls, winning tackles, breaking up counter attacks. It
dictates the tempo of the match with accurate, precise
passing. It initiates attacks from deep positions with time
and space to orchestrate and create. Xhaka is not good
enough. He’s not bad. But he’s not good enough.

3) RESTORING THE CONFIDENCE OF AN UNCERTAIN
FANBASE
Seeing thousands of empty seats at the Emirates became
commonplace in recent months as Arsenal’s Premier League
campaign fizzled out in disappointing fashion. About one
third of all seats in the 59,000-capacity stadium gaped
empty for the 3-0 win over Stoke. The atmosphere during
the match was like a library, with the shouts of players and
managers easily audible. It was a similar story in the 3-0
loss to Manchester City following the team’s dismal defeat
in the Carabao Cup final. Arsene Wenger came up with a
variety of explanations for the poor turnouts – including
Easter and the snowy weather ahead of the Man City game.
But they were just excuses that could not buy him more time
as his fate was already sealed. Unai Emery must restore the
confidence of the Gunners fanbase and remember that the
empty seats at the Emirates in the second half of the season
helped seal Wenger’s fate.


4)THE OZIL CONUNDRUM
Mesut Ozil
Ozil’s numbers in the 2017-18 season are respectable if not
astonishing: He accumulated four goals and 12 assists in all
competitions. At times, he has been sensational to watch.
There was a period just after Christmas when he seemed to
playing with a purposefulness that has been largely lacking
during his time in England.
It was around that time that he put pen to paper on a new
long-term Arsenal contract. With Alexis Sanchez having left
the club to join Manchester United, Ozil’s decision to commit
was regarded as a huge coup for Arsenal. He was identified
as the player with the stature and the talent to lead Arsenal
into the new era, and he was rewarded accordingly.
The mercurial German has a tendency to go missing in games.
Since signing his new contract, the quality of Ozil’s
performances in the matches he has turned up for appears to
have dropped off significantly. Accommodating Ozil in a
successful team has arguably not happened thus far in his
five years in England. A team with Ozil at its heart is yet to
challenge seriously for the Premier League title.
Some pertinent questions will have to be answered by Emery.
Will Ozil continue to be afforded his favourite spot on the
pitch? Similarly, will his capacity to go missing within games
be tolerated?
One thing is clear: Jettisoning him is not an option. Arsenal’s
decision to make him one of the highest-paid players in world
football effectively priced him out of a move elsewhere. Ozil
will be at Arsenal for the foreseeable future. If Arsenal are
to be successful next year, harnessing his volatile talents
will be essential.

5) LOCATE A LEADER
Arsenal teams of old do not resemble this current side. Gone
are the days of Tony Adams and Patrick Vieira. The Gunners
have not had a commanding voice on the pitch since then.
Arsenal have a recent history of captains who cannot stay
on the field to actually captain the team. Mikel Arteta was
named captain in 2014, and played only sparingly over the
next two seasons. Part of this was due to injury, and partly
due to not being able to force his way into the team. After he
left, Mertesacker was named captain and promptly suffered
a knee injury. He did not start a match until the FA Cup Final
on May 27 2017. Laurent Koscielny is the current captain but
he is not a vocal leader and organiser, plus he is enduring a
lengthy spell on the sidelines. Having a vocal and respectable
leader on the field and in the dressing room would
strengthen Arsenal mentally. In the twilight of his career as
Arsenal manager, Emery may soon be looking to move that
responsibility on.

https://newsdigest.ng/sports/2018/05/23/emery-must-address-arsenal/

NEWS DIGEST – Today, 22nd May, 2018, marks the 45th anniversary of the National Youth Service Corps. “As NYSC marks its 45th anniversary, the scheme wishes to acknowledge and appreciate all tiers of government for their valuable support,” the body said this in a statement today. “Since 1973, Corps Members are all over Nigeria accelerating national development in health, education, agriculture and rural infrastructure among other areas. “NYSC management is also grateful to all other stakeholders. Happy 45th Anniversary.” the body said via her Facebook platform.
While the corps has gone ahead to congratulate all those who have participated in serving the Country over the years, the NEWS DIGEST brings to you a brief history of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
History, Facts about the Body The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) is an organization set up by the Nigerian government to involve the country’s graduates in the development of the country. There is no military conscription in Nigeria, but since 1973 graduates of universities and later polytechnics have been required to take part in the National Youth Service Corps program for one year. This is known as national service year. Ahmadu Ali served as the first Director-General of the NYSC until 1975. The incumbent Director-General is Brig. Gen. Sule Zakari Kazaure.
According to popular online dictionary, Wikipedia, Corps members are posted to cities far from their city of origin. They are expected to mix with people of other tribes, social and family backgrounds, to learn the culture of the indigenes in the place they are posted to.
This action is aimed at bringing about unity in the country and to help youths appreciate other ethnic groups. There is an “orientation” period of approximately three weeks spent in a military controlled boot “camp” away from family and friends. There is also a “passing out ceremony” at the end of the year and primary assignment followed by one month of vacation.
Nigerian Graduates are ineligible for employment in governmental establishments (and few private establishments) till they have completed the mandatory one year service. Graduates who are exempted from the service include those above the age of thirty (30) and those with physical disability, therefore completing the service year entitles one to employment. During the service year, Corps members have the opportunity of learning of the cultures of other people, an opportunity many Nigerians never get in their lifetime. The program has also helped in creating entry-level jobs for many Nigerian youth. An NYSC forum dedicated to the NYSC members was built to bridge the gap amongst members serving across Nigeria and also an avenue for corpers to share job information and career resources as well as getting loans from the National Directorate Of Employment.
Objectives of the scheme The objectives of the National Youth Service Corps Scheme are clearly spelt out in Decree No.51 of 16th June 1993 as follows To inculcate discipline in Nigerian youths by instilling in them a tradition of industry at work, and of patriotic and loyal service to Nigeria in any situation they may find themselves. To raise the moral tone of the Nigerian youths by giving them the opportunity to learn about higher ideals of national achievement, social and cultural improvement To develop in the Nigerian youths the attitudes of mind, acquired through shared experience and suitable training.


https://newsdigest.ng/news/2018/05/22/nysc-marks-today/

NIGERIAN UNIVERSITIES MERIT AWARDS


The organizers of the yearly Nigerian Universities Merit Awards hereby wishes to call for Nomination for the 2018 Edition of her yearly awards.

Nomination would be considered for activities done between October 2017- May 2018

*See the 2018 Categories below*

1)Most active Students Union in Nigerian Varsities
2)Best Editorial by a media outlet
3)Most active Departmental Association in Nigerian varsities
4)Most promising Nigerian University Student
5)Most influential Nigerian University Student
6)Most Fashionable Nigerian University Student
7)Most beautiful Nigerian Varsity Student (Male)
Nigerian Varsity Student(Female)
9)Student blogger of the year
10) Rookie of the year
11) Nigerian Universities best Journalist
12)Nigerian Universities best compere
13)Best writer in Nigerian Universities
14)Best clique in Nigerian Varsity
15)Event of the year
16)Best On-Air personality in Nigerian University
17) Varsity Student Icon of the year
18) Best Nigerian Varsity
19) Best University Vice Chancellor
20) Nigerian Varsity Money bag of the year

You can nominate someone or nominate yourself for any of the categories ;
*Send Name,Location,why the person deserves nomination and contact(Phone number/email) to nigerianunimeritaward@gmail.com*


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Contact :08164847752(Whatsapp) for enquiries.

©NUMA'18

NEWS DIGEST – Samuel Anako, popularly known as Excellon is an Abuja based artiste who has been doing music since 2011. The native of Anambra State sings different genres of music such as Afro-pop and Highlife. He also shares his thoughts on popular music act CDQ who he sees as a noise maker. In this interview with The NEWS DIGEST’s Dapo Okri, Excellon speaks on issues regarding his music. Read excerpts below:
News digest: Can we know more about you?
Excellon: my name is Samuel Anako. I am from Anambra state. I have lived in Abuja since I was born. However I attended The Polytecnic, Ife.
News digest: When did you start making music?
Excellon: I have been singing since I was a kid. I took music to a professional level in 2011. That was when I had my first recording with a group I belonged to known as young swags. I later left the group after some disagreement. News Digest: What are the challenges you have faced so far?
Excellon: pursuing music in Abuja is not easy. This is because majority of the record labels here always want to take their artistes to Lagos. So its very difficult doing music in Abuja
News Digest: Lagos seems to be the headquarters of music in Nigeria. Most upcoming artistes target Lagos when promoting their music. What are your thoughts on this?
Excellon: I would say its the mindset. Everybody is made to believe you have to be in Lagos to succeed as an artiste. So its something of mindset or mentality. Also, the presence of Alaba has a big influence. But then I plan to put Abuja in the map. Am working on this.
News Digest: what are you working on presently?
Excellon: I have a song am working on. It is titled Amarachi. Am going to release it soon.
News Digest: We have so many artistes in the Nigerian music industry. What do you plan on doing different to make you stand out?
Excellon: I would say my content. I strongly believe my content would make me stand out among the rest. News Digest: who is your role model?
Excellon: myself. I dont believe in copying somebody else. News Digest: Name your best three artistes in Nigeria?
Excellon: Davido, Willfresh (he’s an upcoming artiste) and myself
News Digest: How about your worst three? Excellon: Firstly, CDQ. He is too noisy. Second is Vic O. What he does is not art. It is foolishness. Lastly, Koker of Choc City. He sounds fake.


See CDQ reply below

https://newsdigest.ng/entertainment/2018/05/22/cdq-koker-excellon/

NEWS DIGEST – A group known as Concerned Kwara Citizens has thrown its weight behind the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris as the crisis continue to brew between the IGP and Senate President Bukola Saraki. The NEWS DIGEST reported that Mr Saraki has raised alarm over the plot of the IGP Idris to implicate him and Governor Ahmad in a criminal case involving some cultists in Kwara. Meanwhile, the Kwara group passed a vote of confidence on the IGP Idris and also alleged that the arrested cultists are been sponsored by Bukola Saraki among-st other allegations. Read the full press statement sent to The News Digest Newspaper

STATE SPONSORED CRIMINALITY IN KWARA STATE Being the address of the COALITION OF CONCERNED KWARA CITIZEN on the controversy surrounding the case of some cultists that was transferred from Ilorin to the Police Headquarters Abuja for further investigations. Distinguished gentlemen of the press we welcome you to this press conference which is the first by coalition of concerned Kwara citizens. Ordinarily the issue for today would have been different but for the circumstances of fate. The trending issue in the affairs of our State Kwara today is the arrest of some cultists that have allegedly confessed to the killing of some Kwarans in the State and outside the State from 2014 till date. Ordinarily, this issue would not have been of great concern to the public but for the outburst of the Senate President on the floor of the Senate on Wednesday 16th of May 2018. Just because the suspects were transferred from Ilorin to Abuja for further intensive interrogation, the Senate President alleged that the Inspector General of Police was about to implicate him on the commission of the crimes by those arrested. Many see the outburst as an attempt to use the power of the Senate to intimidate the Inspector General of Police and thereby obstruct the thorough and proper investigation of the crime.

It is curious that the matter was so germane to the Senate that the whole issue has been made to look as an attack on the image and the integrity of the National Assembly. Therefore, a ten man committee was immediately raised to meet President Muhammmadu Buhari who perhaps might be told to ‘’call the IGP to order’’. It is either to persuade the president to compel the IGP to drop all the charges and free the suspects or to destroy any evidence linking the Senate President and the Governor of Kwara State to the alleged crimes. If the information against the Senate President is dropped, we assume that only the unfortunate boyswill be left to face the wrath of the law. Secondly, the State Governor convened an emergency security meeting and raised the alarm of the possible implication of him and the Senate President on the alleged crime committed. Thirdly, the Kwara State House of Assembly has passed a motion on the inappropriateness of the transfer of the suspect and the case to the Police Headquarters in Abuja. In solidarity with their sinking leader, the caucus of the Kwara State members of the House of Representatives has also risen against the transfer of the matter to Abuja. Some misguided youths have been poured into Kwara Streets chanting songs of solidarity in favour of their leader that may have aided murder of some Kwarans.
There is this genuine fear by the coalition of concerned Kwarans that if we fail to talk, the whole world shall have no option than to believe that Kwara is populated by criminals or cowards who are on the same page with the above motley assembly aiding and abetting crimes. Senator Saraki has for long thrived on blackmail to evade police investigation and prosecution. This is not the first time Senator Saraki and his supporters would use blackmail and insinuation to pervert the course of justice. In 2012, he was jumping and running away from police SFU invitation on account of his alleged involvement in some fraudulent issues in the affairs of Intercontinental Bank. We do not see anything special in the movement of culprits to Abuja for diligent investigation. It is only instructive to note that this is not the first criminal matter that would be transferred from Kwara to Abuja. In the wake of 2003 election that ushered in the administration of Senator Saraki as Governor spurious allegations were made against some prominent Ilorin indigenes on plans to bomb Senator Saraki’s National Pilot Office along the stadium road Ilorin. The case was investigated by a senior police officer in the rank of DIG from Abuja and the matter was subsequently moved to Abuja. Similar cases that were transferred to Abuja from Kwara include the Fulani/vigilante group crises in Alapa, Asa Local Government Area of the State, the Offa Poly Students/OPC and Oro-Ago Fulani/Farmers crises were examples of cases that were transferred to Abuja. The much that we know as people living in Kwara is that; cultism and violence could not have become the official emblem of Kwara State without enjoying the official seal of the power that is in the State. Some people that hold the leverage of political power; as if they are also cultists, must be behind the youths misguided into the life of violence in the State. All of them are well known and really do not have sound education or reasonable means of livelihood except the coverage and patronages they enjoy from the government. They are the big boys of Kwara and indeed live like kings. Recently, they were provided with Toyota and Lexus cars on which they proudly displayed the name of Saraki or APC as their plate numbers of identity. They are on the pay roll of the government and enjoy all forms of protection from the authority of the State. If indeed they have confessed to killing people and they are set free all the time, proper diligent investigation prosecution will certainly reveal their sponsors. We therefore urge that the best place to do proper justice to this case is Abuja. Though the DPP of Kwara State and the Deputy Chief Registrar of the Kwara State High Court have been enlisted to help the Senate President and his crony Governor on the need to transfer the case back to Kwara for prosecution; the two of them may not have the minds of their own as they are in the employment of the State government. We also believe that the two should know that the fact that the filing of the first information report (FIR) has been done, does not mean that the case cannot be compromised by the Government of Kwara State. The Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) can still decline prosecution through a spurious legal advice or even the Attorney General of Kwara State can at any stage of the trial enter a nolle proseque to terminate the trial. The best is to take this case from the hands of those that can compromise diligent investigation and prosecution. Abuja is the proper place of investigation even if the trial will be done in Kwara State. On the involvement of Kwara State Judiciary, we appeal to Judiciary not to allow itself to be used on matters that are outside its purview. We also call on Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) to caution the leadership of Kwara Judiciary not to dabble into matters that do not concern the Judiciary.

The Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki hates diligent prosecution. What he had done on his CCT trial by jumping from one court to the other is instructive. He loves frustrating the legal processes and certainly will not want to face trial when accused of any offence.
Just on the possibility of implication in a crime he said he had not committed, see the arsenal he has deployed within twenty four hours: the Senate, House of Representatives, Kwara State Government, Kwara State House of Assembly, misguided Kwara youths and the office of the State DPP etc. If really his hands are clean why is he running from pillar to post? This man sustains his hold on Kwara since 2003 through one act of violence or the other. Their method of operation with the cult boys is not used and dumped, it is used and kill. When they are done with them they kill them. The following people have indeed been killed through what still looks like State sponsored violence: Suri, Bayo Ajia, Alowonle, Akaje, Babalola. Others recently killed by the gangs are Bukola Ajikobi, Azeez Lawal, Lafeef, Jamiu, Segun, Wasiu Adanri, Musiliu, Lateef, Abbey a Student of Kwara Poly. The blood of these people must cry for vengeance. This case cannot be swept under the carpet. We have absolute confidence in the Inspector General of Police to properly and diligently investigate this case and ensure too that the case is diligently prosecuted and we implore the IG to ensure that all other members of this gang are arrested and brought to book. The people of Kwara State and indeed Nigerians are watching what becomes of this case. We would not relent in bringing justice to the matter. We shall go beyond the shores of this land to get and we shall do all within to ensure that Party Politics is not used to scuttle the course of justice
Thanks for listening.
Signed: Gbadeyan Olawale James Alhaji Tunde Muhammed Engr. Umar Sha’aba John Adegboye Comrade Abdulmumin Onagun.
Read more and Saraki's reply
https://newsdigest.ng/news/2018/05/21/saraki-throws-weight-igp/

NEWS DIGEST – Appointment has not been given to Senate
delegation to meet President Muhammadu Buhari over the
faceoff between Senate President Bukola Saraki and the
Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris.

Daily Trust reports that the Senate had last Wednesday
raised a 10-man delegation to meet President Buhari over
allegation by Saraki that the IGP was plotting to frame him
up in a criminal case.

Saraki told his colleagues that the police boss was plotting
to implicate him in a criminal case involving cultists in Kwara
State.

Saraki said: “In my own view, this plot is an act of
desperation, blackmail, intimidation, abuse of office and
crude tactics aimed at turning our country into a police state
where top officials cannot be made to obey the law ,follow
due process and subject themselves to constituted
authorities.”

Sequel to the alarm, a 10-man delegation was raised to meet
the President. Saraki is to lead the delegation.
Other members of the delegation are Ahmad Lawan, Godswill
Akpabio, Olusola Adeyeye, Danjuma Goje, Abduullahi Adamu,
Sam Egwu, Aliyu Wammako, Fatima Raji- Rasaki, Oluermi
Tinubu.

It was gathered that the delegation, which was mandated to
report back on Wednesday had not made an appointment
with the President.

A source told Daily Trust last night that appointment has not
been given to the delegation to meet Buhari.

“We haven’t gone to the Villa because appointment has not
been given to us. We can only go there on appointment,” he
said.

On whether the Senate has written the Presidency
requesting for the meeting, he said: “It is the office of the
Senate President that should do it and I don’t know if it has
done so or not.”

The spokesperson of the Senate, Sabi Aliyu Abdullahi did not
reply the text message sent to him on the matter.
The NEWS DIGEST recalls that Kwara State Ministry of
Justice has said that the suspected cultists arrested in the
state did not implicate anybody in their confessional
statement.


https://newsdigest.ng/news/2018/05/21/senate-meet-buhari-2/


lalasticlala, mynd44

NEWS DIGEST – The son of Kaduna State Governor, Bello El-Rufai and late billionaire Isiyaku Rabiu’s grand-daughter, Khadija Rabiu with Twitter handle (CookieeRabiu) engaged in war of words today on twitter with both parties attacking each other’s family.
From the conversation, the Governor’s son had attacked the mother of Cookie and in retaliation Cookie said Bello’s mother who is El-Rufai’s wife is sharing the Governor with other men.
The NEWS DIGEST reports that the fight got messier when Cookie said the death of one of El-Rufai’s son who is a brother to Bello can be linked to wine. Bello also accused Cookie of been happy about Billionaire Isiyaku Rabiu’s death while stating that she is obssessed with inheritance.

https://newsdigest.ng/metro/2018/05/20/el-rufai-isiyaku-rabiu-twitter/

NEWS DIGEST – In this report The News Digest takes a look at the 2013 NEEDS Assessment funds to Universities with a look at the accommodation crisis rocking Obafemi Awolowo University and the funds evidenced by document meant for constructing hostels.
The Obafemi Awolowo University has been shut down several times in recent years for the same recurring issue of inadequate residential facilities for students who have had to endure the living conditions in dilapidated hostels. In 2013, the Academic Staff Union of Universities embarked on a strike action demanding for an improvement in the academic and social standard of Universities in Nigeria. This led to the introduction of the “Needs Assessment Funds” with the Government reportedly setting aside 1.3trillion naira for this purpose with a plan spanning five years from 2013-2018.
According to Wikipedia: “A needs assessment is a systematic process for determining and addressing needs, or “gaps” between current conditions and desired conditions or “wants”. The discrepancy between the current condition and wanted condition must be measured to appropriately identify the need. The need can be a desire to improve current performance or to correct a deficiency.” Despite the needs assessment, accommodation crisis still rocks the revered OAU.
With major Universities in Nigeria meant to benefit from the 100 billion Naira first tranche reportedly set aside for the NEEDS Assessment funds, the Federal Government had warned that the procurement act of 2007, must be respected by the Universities.
The Part IV of the Public Procurement act of 2007, states the processes involved in procurement which includes accountability, following set processes and ensuring budgetary allocations enough to cover the projects being run.
HOW THE FUNDS CAME INTO OAU In 2013, a letter was addressed to the Vice Chancellor stating that an amount totalling 3.05billion naira was approved by the President for allocation to the University as first tranche of the Needs Assessment program. Our findings show that the money was budgeted to the University for various things which include building new hostels. A document obtained by this Newspaper and signed by one Professor Aderigbe, Chairman of the then Budget Monitoring committee set up by ASUU also corroborated our findings. The document was signed and sent to the Academic Staff Union of Universities, OAU branch congress on January 4, 2016.
FIRST TRANCHE OF FUNDS (PHASE 1) The fund meant for phase one of the total fund expected was distributed as 1)200million Naira(Hostel Renovation) 2)250million Naira (Lecture theatre renovation) 3)Construction of New Facilities-hostels-2,000,000,0 00(2billion naira) 4)New Lecture theatre(300million Naira) 5) Construction of new facilities-Laboratory and Library (300million naira) All the above totals, 3.05billion naira(Three billion and Fifty Million Naira). Included in the hostels meant for construction according to our findings and corroborated by the document obtained by this newspaper are, Post-Graduate Male Hostel,Post Graduate Female hostel, undergraduate Female hostel(Block A), Undergraduate Female Hostel (Block B) and undergraduate male hostel.
SECOND TRANCHE OF FUNDS(PHASE 2) In a letter dated 11th of February,2014, the Permanent secretary at the Ministry of Education sent a letter to the then Vice Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University ,Professor Bamitale Omole, informing him that the second tranche has been approved by the President. The letter referred to the earlier one in August that authorised the release of the 3.05bilion Naira. This second tranche which totalled the amount (2,617,407,407.22 billion naira ) was budgeted for the following; 1) labs/studios/libraries/workshops/teaching and research farm(685,531,321.53)Naira 2)Staff Offices (555,730,071.41), 3) Class rooms/seminar rooms /auditorium/lecture theatres (675,000,000naira) 4)Electricity/Water(400millionnaira) 5)Recreational facilities-(Football/Sports field)-101,146,014.28
6)Capacity Building /Staff training(200,000,000naira) A group known as Concerned Obafemi Awolowo University Staff had in a letter written to the Economic and Financial crimes Commission in October 2015 and titled “OAU Management ploy to sabotage the treasury account operation as directed by the Federal Government” accused the Varsity Management under former Vice Chancellor Prof Bamitale Omole of fixing the amounts meant for hostel building and repairs of hostel facilities in banks. The grouped named 1)First Bank Nigeria (Gbongan branch) with the name ‘OAU revitalization program. The account number of the fixed money is – 202365928 and 1,308,703,703.61 billion naira was said to have been fixed there. 2)Zenith bank account number (1013549122) with 1,525,000,000 fixed in the account according to the group The letter obtained by this newspaper was signed by Dr Ajumobib Ajifolarin, Ms Oyedun Christianah , Suleiman Jimoh Akinwunmi, Aderibigbe Samuel, Abdulahi Abdul Kareem.
GENESIS OF THE OAU ACCOMODATION CRISIS The crisis of accommodation in Obafemi Awolowo University is perennial and has been going on for years. The University boasts of over 35,000 students. In a Daily Sun Newspaper report, Students had named overcrowding as the major problem the students have to grapple with in the varsity hostels. This is in a bid to be their brothers’ keeper. Owing to the shortage of accommodation vis-a- vis, students’ population, each legal occupant in a room is compelled to squat a minimum of one person who is not officially entitled to school accommodation. “How many occupants are in a room on the average,” I asked. “Officially, we have three bunks allocated to a room, making a total of six persons in each room. But the reality is that you cannot have anything less than ten in a room. Everybody wants to be on campus because of proximity, safety factor and early morning lectures. As you already know, Ife/ Modakeke crisis is there. You also recall that last year, Yoruba and Hausa people had a crisis which led to the death of about 100 people. So, students feel safer and more secure being on campus than living in the town. Squatting has become the order of the day,” the spokesperson of the group responded, in a report published by Daily Sun Newspapers. Five Obafemi Awolowo University Students are currently been tried in court over issues that arose after the varsity forced out students from the Moremi hall in the varsity: The hostels in the varsity are; Awolowo, Fajuyi, ETF, Mozambique, Angola, Alumni, Moremi and Akintola hall of residences.
However, the newly appointed Vice Chancellor, Prof Eyitope Ogunbodede had said his administration will make efforts aimed at ensuring that living conditions of students are improved. He also announced that no squatter (those who don’t have a bed space ) will be allowed to sleep in the halls. This led to a number of issues owing to the large number of squatters in the halls of residence. It was reported that halls have more squatters than legal occupants. Although squatting in the institution dates way long back into many years. It is believed that bed spaces available in OAU’s hostels can only accommodate 30 per cent of the student population. According to statistics released by Dr Adesina (a former Vice Dean of Students Affairs in the University), 3,417 bed spaces in Fajuyi, Moremi, Awolowo, Education Trust Fund and Akintola halls were reserved for 5,241 final year students for the 2012/2013 Academic Session.
In an online interview, Dr Adesina said OAU could not accommodate all 5,400 freshers. He said there are less than 9,600 bed spaces in the school – not enough to accommodate all its students. “Yet, will we still accommodate other categories of students. The freshmen have been told that bed space allocations are on first-come-serve basis,” Dr Adesina said. NEW HOSTELS MEANT FOR LEASE Amidst this crisis as reported by The News Digest, the University would in the next three weeks from time of filing this report, complete a female undergraduate hostel in Parakin area of Ile-Ife from funds provided by the NEEDS Assessment funds. Of all hostels listed the female undergraduate hostel seems to be the only visible new hostel built by the varsity despite the funds allocated to it. The University however intends to lease it out to private companies.
WHY WE PLAN TO LEASE OUT THE HOSTEL Vice Chancellor The Vice Chancellor had said the varsity is broke and would have loved to give it out to students at giveaway rates. The normal rate for hostels in OAU is 3090 naira. The Vice Chancellor had revealed this during a chat with this Newspaper.
Public Relations Officer,OAU When contacted the Public Relations Officer of the University, Olarewaju Abiodun said students cannot compare the new hostel to the old one and suggested that Students may pay more for the new hostel, towing the line of his boss (the Vice Chancellor).
“OAU is the owner of the hostels. The hostels are not built outside the University campus. “Land upon which the hostels are built is OAU land. And are you aware that OAU land extends to Moro (a neighbouring town) where we have our Distance Learning Centre? So with this, we have the right, the entitlement to build any structure in any part of our land.
“So the school area you are talking about is not the only asset we have. So when we build hostel within the confine of our land, it is still within the school premises. “We are the owner of the land, we are the owner of the hostels and where it is built is not outside the OAU campus,” the PRO emphasized.
Speaking about the affordability of the new hostels as compared to the old ones of #3,090 per bed-space, Mr Olanrewaju told The NEWS DIGEST that, “it depends on what you mean by affordability. “Everything in life is affordable according to your purse and according to your budget. We can’t compare the affordability of the new hostel with what is obtainable with the old ones. “There are private hostels outside campus which go at the rates of #60,000, #70,000, #100,000, and the likes. There is a hostel along Ede road which is #200,000 per room for students, which we have some parents that have secured this accommodation for those children. So it depends on what you mean by affordability.”
ASUU REACTS The News Digest Contacted Academic Staff Union of Universities,OAU chapter chairman, Adeola Egbedokun, who said that although he could not react as he is not yet aware of the Varsity plan, the Union will not agree to such ; “I can state it that if the varsity really plans this, it won’t work, because we won’t agree to it”.
ASUU had fought for the fund but it was not clear if the agreement reached by the union was for the hostels to be leased out.
CONUA REACTS Congress of Nigerian Universities Academics, OAU also said they were not aware of developments, when reached for comment, promising to get back to us. Dr Oripeloye, who spoke with this reporter expressed shock at the reports promising to validate our report and get back to us.
This Newspaper tried to reach Professor Bamitale Omole former Vice Chancellor of OAU but his line failed to connect. THE SERAP REPORT ON FUNDS IN NIGERIAN VARSITIES A report by SERAP(Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project) in February 2018, showed that there is corruption going on unchecked in Nigerian Universities ” The report which used the University of Lagos and Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria as case studies identified other cases of corruption in the university system to include: “bribery to get a position; NYSC mobilisation before graduation; facilitating fake transcripts; short-circuiting employment procedures; auctioning university assets without authorisation; politicised disciplinary action; inflated contracts, admission irregularities and racketeering, result falsification; nepotism; sexual harassment; examination question leakages, abetting examination malpractices; and deliberate poor invigilation of examinations.”
SERAP said it also found cases of fund diversion and Certificate racketeering “We also found several unresolved cases of diversion of university funds for personal use; embezzlement, mismanagement, unmerited allocation of hostel accommodation, discrimination in the allocation of staff quarters; certificate/transcript racketeering; improper use of university assets; inflation of cost of contracts, award of contracts to friends or relatives; and admission racketeering by non-staff.”
Mr Femi Falana in a report published by PREMIUM TIMES in 2018, had stated that systematic corruption is allowed to thrive in the Nigerian Education sector. Femi Falana, a human rights lawyer, said over N200 billion was disbursed by TETFund to Nigerian universities in 2017. “Neither ASUU nor any of the campus unions monitored the disbursement of the funds.
” Mr. Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, said “Also, how many companies are paying two per cent of their annual profit to support our university system? The bulk of the funds meant to improve the universities end up in the pocket of the contractors. Three vice chancellors are currently standing trial for looting funds allocated for running the universities.” Mr. Falana also said, “Based on the 1992 FG- ASUU Agreement, the Federal Government was compelled to enact the Tertiary Education Trust Fund Act. The Act has established the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) as an intervention agency charged with the responsibility for managing, disbursing and monitoring the education tax to public tertiary institutions in Nigeria. Pursuant to section 1 of the Act, every company shall contribute education tax of two per cent of its annual profit to the TETFUND.”
Femi Falana went on to Lament that no Federal University or University has come out to declare how much they earn for conducting Post-UTME examinations.
IS THERE ANY OTHER VISIBLE HOSTEL PROJECT IN OAU? Our reporters in the University did a check in order to determine if there are ongoing hostel projects to corroborate the documented claim of money released by the Federal Government but we could not find any.

https://newsdigest.ng/news/2018/05/20/oau-accomodation-crisis/

NEWS DIGEST – Senator Dino Melaye has actively returned twitter this morning after his case was adjourned indefinitely till his health gets better.
Dino Melaye who is known to be a critic of the President Buhari administration marked his return to the social media platform by mockingly congratulating his party on the emergence of 72 party state chairmen after yesterday’s ward congresses.
Through his twitter handle, Senator Dino Melaye @dino_melaye said “Congratulations to the 72 new State Chairmen of APC. Every where na double double. What a blessed party!!!! “.
The ruling party had a crisis filled state congresses yesterday as many states witnessed emergence of parallel chairmen. States like Kwara State, Lagos State, Oyo State and several other states had the crisis of parallel chairmen emerging.
Although the party spokesman, Bolaji Abdullahi had told THE NEWS DIGEST that the National Working Committee will only recognize the congresses that had the presence of the National working committee delegates.
Dino Melaye is currently been tried on allegations of sponsoring criminal activities in Kogi State and attempting suicide amidst other charges.

https://newsdigest.ng/metro/2018/05/20/dino-melaye-returns-twitter/

Armed gunmen are currently raiding one of commercial banks
around popular Unity/challenge area of Ilorin.
Unity area is located in Ilorin-Central and its a home of so
many banks.

The NEWS DIGEST learnt that banks in the area are already
shutting down operation in order to avoid attack.

https://newsdigest.ng/state-news/2018/05/18/armed-robbers-ilorin/

NEWS DIGEST – The national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Uche Secondus, has threatened that Nigeria may go into extinction if the July 14, Ekiti governorship election is rigged.
He said this at the PDP’s local government election campaign in Rivers state, the opposition leader said his party would resist any attempt to thwart the will of the people. He alleged that the All Progressives Congress (APC) rigged the Kaduna local government election, where his party won four LGAs, while APC swept 14.
“The forthcoming Ekiti state election is going to be a litmus test. We warn that if you attempt to rig Ekiti, it will be a recipe for crisis and we don’t know whether there will be Nigeria or not,” he said.
“We are bold to say it because you cannot take the peoples rights, you cannot deny them of their votes and we are saying and we want APC to say the same that it will be ‘one man, one vote’, ‘one woman, one vote’, ‘one youth, one vote’. “We will never allow an evil individual to destroy this nation or to destroy our state. If you like wait for us, we refuse to be intimidated. We saw all that happened in Kaduna last Saturday. PDP won in all local government areas, but they over-turned the results.”
Secondus said that with the help of Nigerians, PDP is united to take over from the APC in 2019.”
He said his party would provide the leadership that will create platforms of the unity for Nigerians. President Muhammadu Buhari had earlier during a meeting with the South West Caucus of the APC urged the members of his party to take the mission to rescue Ekiti from PDP seriously.
The battle will be between Olusola Eleka and Kayode Fayemi.

https://newsdigest.ng/politics/2018/05/18/secondus-ekiti-guber-poll/

The NEWS DIGEST has obtained a Video that shows the
Inspector General of Police, Idris Ibrahim talking without a
speech after a mild embarrassment that occurred with his
prepared speech.

The IGP in a trending video can be seen repeating the word
“transmitting transmission” but in a second video obtained by
the NEWS DIGEST, the IGP could be seen talking without a
speech.

This second video suggests that the earlier circulating one
may not have been doctored.

In the second video which appears to be the concluding part
of the speech, the aide that came to his rescue was not
there ,the IGP was talking without a speech which would
have been unusual for an event of such magnitude.

download video below



https://newsdigest.ng/news/2018/05/17/igp-idris-reading-without-speech/

NEWS DIGEST – Following series of complaints about lack of adequate hostel accommodation in the Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, student’s community of the institution were recently thrown into jubilation on learning that the University management was building a multi-million Naira hostel for them. The students’ perceived jubilation was, however, met with a growing concern over the affordability of such ‘private’ hostel as a majority of the students interviewed by The NEWS DIGEST believed that the hostel was built under Public-Private partnership. According to the students, such arrangement automatically renders the hostels when completed expensive beyond the reach of the ‘ordinary’ students of the institution. But, the NEWS DIGEST learnt that the new hostels which are yet to be named are funded with the Needs Assessment of Nigerian Public Universities (2013 special presidential Intervention phase-1). Furthermore, documents obtained by The NEWS DIGEST showed that the University got N2billion from the federal government for building new hostels including the purchase of new facilities for the hostels.
Aside from that, the document also shows that in 2013, the Federal Government released money for the following projects: Rehabilitation/Renovation of hostels for N200million, Rehabilitation/Renovation of lecture theatres and lecture rooms for N250million.
However, when contacted, the OAU Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Olarewaju, said the hostel was built on the University land but was silent about the PPP arrangement. Affirming to the ownership of the under-construction hostels, Mr Olanrewaju said “OAU is the owner of the hostels. The hostels are not built outside the University campus.
“Land upon which the hostels are built is OAU land. And are you aware that OAU land extends to Moro (a neighbouring town) where we have our Distance Learning Center? So with this, we have the right, the entitlement to build any structure in any part of our land.
“So the school area you are talking about is not the only asset we have. So when we build hostel within the confine of our land, it is still within the school premises. “We are the owner of the land, we are the owner of the hostels and where it is built is not outside the OAU campus,” the PRO emphasized.
Speaking about the affordability of the new hostels as compared to the old ones of #3,090 per bed-space, Mr Olanrewaju told The NEWS DIGEST that, “it depends on what you mean by affordability.
“Everything in life is affordable according to your purse and according to your budget. We can’t compare the affordability of the new hostel with what is obtainable with the old ones. “There are private hostels outside campus worth of #60,000, #70,000, #100,000, and the likes. There is a hostel along Ede road which is #200,000 per room for students, which we have some parents that have secured this accommodation for those children. So it depends on what you mean by affordability”
The Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof Eyitope Ogunbodede also said the University will lease the building out to private companies as he said he varsity is broke “We will lease the hostels out as we dont have money to complete its building, we planned to complete it before resumption but we cant meet up again, after we get money from the company and lease it out,we will then get it back from them”. However, one of the security men attached to the hostel construction site told NEWS DIGEST under a condition of anonymity that the building, which has been in construction for like three years ago, will possibly be completed in three weeks’ time.
He added that it’s only the interior and some petty works that are still holding the completion.
It will be recalled that The NEWS DIGEST reported weeks ago about the hefty plans by the school management of the university to facelift the horrible state of the old hostels of the four male hostels and other four female hostels of the institution.
Students who spoke with The News Digest said the development is worrisome.
“Truly, it is a very worrisome development. If we have students complaining about accommodation and such money is invested, we all know the hostel won’t be really affordable, it is very saddening,” a student who identified himself as Segun said.
Another Student, who spoke under anonymity, said such hostel would have been better if it were going to be affordable.
“The hostels cannot be really affordable, they were not allocated and only God knows who will stay there,” the student lamented.

https://newsdigest.ng/news/2018/05/17/oau-builds-private-hostel/

fynestboi

NEWS DIGEST – The National President of the Academic Staffs Union of Universities (ASUU), Prof Biodun Ogunyemi had said that the Federal Government is underfunding Education in an exclusive chat with The News Digest. He also said that Universities still charge indirect tuition fees. The News Digest in this report takes a critical appraisal at the budget for Education in Nigeria over the previous years and its impact in the Nigerian Education sector including how strike actions and seeming underfunding has affected it. When Tunde (not real name) got admission into his University, he had dreams of ending his Bachelor of Science Educational pursuit within four years in Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile- Ife, South West Nigeria. But five years down the line, he is not sure of when he will be done as strike action has delayed his dream of becoming an Accountant. Recently, the Federal Government declared that it is illegal for Universities to charge tuition fees but can charge other forms of levies.
Every Year, the Nigerian Budget for Education which is the responsibility of the Ministry of Education to discharge raises eyebrow due to the level of budgetary allocation percentage Education gets.

The Nigerian budget for Education is expected to cater for 36 federal universities, 25 federal polytechnics, 22 federal colleges of education and 104 federal unity schools. In 2017, President Muhammadu Buhari released a budget of N7.298t with the Ministry of Education expected to gulp N398.01b in recurrent expenditure. Besides, under capital expenditure, it was stated in the budget that the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) will get N92 billion and Education N50billion. Overall, a total of N540.01bn will be expended on education sector in 2017.

Trends of Nigerian Education budget from 2017 shows; N540.01bn(2017) and N369.6bn(2016). From ,2011 it moved to N306.3bn to N400.15bn in 2012, to N426.53bn in 2013, to N493bn in 2014, to 492bn in 2015.

When in 2011 ASUU went on strike and grounded the activities of Nigerian Universities, media reports suggested Psychologists as stating that the strike action would have negative effect on the Students Some of who may be destabilized. However, a bigger showdown was awaiting the sector.
In 2013, ASUU embarked on a five months strike as disagreements spread on the issue of funding the Education sector with many Students reported to have traveled out of the country due to frustration caused by the strike action. Polytechnic students had their fair share when in 2014 Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) went on strike for over one year on similar circumstances to protest issues on salaries.
ASUP were demanding the implementation of CONTISS 15 Migration for the lower cadres in the polytechnics and the release of the White Paper on the visitations to federal polytechnics more than one year after the exercise, as well as the failure of the federal government to commence a Needs Assessment for Nigerian polytechnics.
Also, ASUP demanded an end to the HND/B.Sc dichotomy. Although years after, the HND and BSC Dichotomy has been resolved on paper and not in practice. The Punch Newspapers reported the agony faced by Business personnel and Students during one of the recent strike actions.

“We are suffering because of the strike called by the Oyo State schools. Now that a bigger strike is ongoing, I am not so sure of our chances of recovery from the losses that we have incurred. It could go on for many weeks unless the issues leading to the action are quickly resolved,” a business owner lamented.
In 2016, ASUU also embarked on another strike action, although a one-week warning strike.
In 2017, ASUU embarked on a five weeks strike before calling it off on a conditional note.

Stakeholders are unanimous that strike is caused by underfunding of the Education sector.

Time Line of ASUU National Strike Between 1999-2017 1999 -→ 5 months 2001 -→ 3 months 2002 -→ 2 weeks 2003 -→ 6 months → (ended in 2004) 2005 -→ 3 days 2006 -→ 1 week 2007 -→ 3 months 2008 -→ 1 week 2009 -→ 4 months 2010 -→ 5 months and 1 week 2011—3 months started in December (ended in 2012) 2013 -→ 5months and seventeen days 2014-None 2015-None 2016-One Week 2017- Five weeks
In all, ASUU alone has gone on strike for 38months and two weeks since 1999 till 2017 with ASUU speaking on another possible strike action in 2018.
ANY UNIVERSITY RANKED AMONG THE TOP 1000 IN THE WORLD? Checks by The News Digest show that despite the incessant actions and the continuous under-funding, only University of Ibadan is ranked among the best 1000 University in the world with other Universities far below. Commentators who spoke to The News Digest suggested that disruption in academic activities and lack of facilities must have been responsible for this development.
University of Ibadan secured a spot in the top 978 ranked universities in the world. In the ranking released by the Times Higher Education, Nigeria’s premier university was ranked 801 alongside several others. UI was also the only Nigerian university to make the list. Earlier in 2016, the Academic Ranking of World Universities (AWRU) and the Center for World Universities Ranking (CWUR) released a list of the top 500 and 1000 world universities respectively and no Nigerian university was on the list. CWUR said that Nigerian universities were not considered for the ranking because of lack of quality research.
Universities like Obafemi Awolowo University, University of Lagos amongst others failed to meet the cut-off mark. CORRUPTION IN THE SYSTEM A report by SERAP(Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project) in February 2018, showed that there is corruption going on unchecked in Nigerian Universities
“The report which used the University of Lagos and Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria as case studies identified other cases of corruption in the university system to include: “bribery to get a position; NYSC mobilization before graduation; facilitating fake transcripts; short-circuiting employment procedures; auctioning university assets without authorization; politicized disciplinary action; inflated contracts, admission irregularities and racketeering, result falsification; nepotism; sexual harassment; examination question leakages, abetting examination malpractices; and deliberate poor invigilation of examinations.” SERAP said it also found cases of fund diversion and Certificate racketeering.
“We also found several unresolved cases of diversion of university funds for personal use; embezzlement, mismanagement, unmerited allocation of hostel accommodation, discrimination in the allocation of staff quarters; certificate/transcript racketeering; improper use of university assets; inflation of cost of contracts, award of contracts to friends or relatives; and admission racketeering by non-staff.”

Mr Femi Falana in a report published by PREMIUM TIMES in 2018, had accused that systematic corruption is allowed to thrive in the Nigerian Education sector Femi Falana, a human rights lawyer, said over N200 billion was disbursed by TETFund to Nigerian universities in 2017. “Neither ASUU nor any of the campus unions monitored the disbursement of the funds,” Mr. Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, said “Also, how many companies are paying two per cent of their annual profit to support our university system? The bulk of the funds meant to improve the universities end up in the pocket of the contractors. Three vice chancellors are currently standing trial for looting funds allocated for running the universities.” Mr. Falana also said, “Based on the 1992 FG-ASUU Agreement the federal government was compelled to enact the Tertiary Education Trust Fund Act. The Act has established the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) as an intervention agency charged with the responsibility for managing, disbursing and monitoring the education tax to public tertiary institutions in Nigeria. Pursuant to section 1 of the Act every company shall contribute education tax of two per cent of its annual profit to the TETFUND.”
Femi Falana went on to Lament that no Federal University or University has come out to declare how much they earn for conducting Post UTME Examinations.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday, March 30, 2017 had arraigned the duo of the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Professor Adebiyi G. Daramola, and the Bursar, Emmanuel Ayodeji A. Oresegun, before Justice W. R. Olamide of the Ondo State High Court, Akure on a 9-count charge bordering on obtaining money under false pretense, abuse of office, misappropriation of funds and conspiracy to steal to the tune of N156,984,455.33 (One Hundred and Fifty Six Million, Nine Hundred and Eighty Four Thousand, Four Hundred and Fifty Five Naira, Thirty Three Kobo). Prof Adebiyi’s case is one among many corruption cases in Nigerian Universities. Recently an Audit report indicted the University of Ibadan of been financially culpable for having inconsistent reports. The News Digest had reached out to the Vice Chancellor, Prof Idowu Olayinka who denied any wrong doing stating that the administrative issues are being resolved.
Our investigation has shown that most Nigerian Universities cannot boast of Lecture theatres to accommodate their students comfortably. Many also lack research facilities and thus one of the reasons why they can’t compete at the world level.
A Lecturer in one of the Federal Universities who spoke to The News Digest under anonymity said, “You cannot expect same quality when nothing is funded in our Education sector, even teaching is tasking”.
To confirm these developments, the News Digest visited the University of Abuja and Obafemi Awolowo University. In University of Abuja, except for the New Hostel being built, the University boasts of poor accommodation while in Obafemi Awolowo University, students groan under absence of lecture theatres enough to accommodate them. In Obafemi Awolowo University for instance, Students now receive lectures at the varsity Amphitheatre meant for shows and programs due to lack of facilities. ASUU REACTS ASUU President, Prof Biodun Ogunyemi had told this Newspaper that underfunding of the Nigerian Education sector remains a major issue arguing that the Union does not voluntarily go on strike “There is the issue of funding. We don’t usually take pride in going on strike. It is when they don’t listen to us that we act” he said. He suggested that the Federal Government should fund the Education sector more. The ASUU President at one time told this reporter that the Union is not against the accountability in the universities but only if there are structures on ground. Nasir Faggie, former ASUU President has said that universities need 1.3trillion in 2016 to reposition Nigerian varsities. WAY FORWARD Many stakeholders who spoke to The News Digest opined that more funds be pumped into the Education sector, but more monitoring should be done to see how the funds are spent instead of leaving them without monitoring. A lecturer, Mr Segun said “If there can be more sincerity in the Nigerian Education sector things will be better. It is not about funding alone, it is beyond that. Much things still needs to be done” he told this Newspaper.

https://newsdigest.ng/news/2018/05/16/education-sector-nigeria/

NEWS DIGEST – Protesters have stormed major parts of
Kwara State to protest against what they termed as
victimization of Senate President,Bukola Saraki by the
federal Government.
Recall that the Senate President in the ongoing Senate
Meeting said there are plans by the inspector General of
police to intimidate him.

A faction of the All Progressives Congress called New PDP
had also alleged harassment before now
Saraki is a former member of the PDP.


https://newsdigest.ng/state-news/2018/05/16/pro-saraki-kwara/

NEWS DIGEST – The Senate president, Bukola Saraki has
raised alarm over the plot of the Inspector General of Police,
Ibrahim Idris to implicate him and Kwara state governor,
Abdulfatah Ahmad in criminal case involving some cultists
case.

Saraki who raised the alarm during today’s plenary said the
IGP has ordered for the transfer of some cultists arrested in
Kwara to Abuja.

He said Kwara state governor told him last night that the
IGP ordered for the transfer of the suspects to alter their
statement and implicate him.
Debate on the issue is on at the senate.

https://newsdigest.ng/featured/2018/05/16/saraki-igp-idris-implicate/

Mynd44

NEWS DIGEST – Jesse Garba Abaga popularly known as Jesse Jagz is a singer, songwriter and producer who has been active in the Nigerian music industry for over a decade. The 33 year old rapper who grew up in Jos, Plateau state has been described as Nigeria ’s Kanye West because of his flirtatious experimentation with different genres of music from R&B to roots, reggae to pop all built on a predominantly hip hop foundation. In an interview with The News Digest’s Dapo Okri, Jesse Jagz spoke on issues regarding his music, life and family. Read excerpts below:
News Digest: How have you impacted youths with your music?
Jesse Jagz: well I have been able to encourage the youth to keep building. Just to keep dping what you believe in. Grooming your brand, you know. How you can come from nothing to something. I have been able to do all these with my music.
News digest: what plans do you have on growing bigger in the industry?
Jesse Jagz: I am already big.
News Digest: (cuts in) But there is never a limit.
Jesse Jagz: okay. Well am working on an album presently. I have been in the studio all day.
News Digest: what is the title of the album?
Jesse Jagz: J-Town Legacy. You know, all about J-Town
News Digest: What artistes would you have on the album?
Jesse Jagz: Wizkid, Tiwa Savage, Harry Song, MI Abaga, Ice prince…
News Digest: When should we expect the release?
Jesse Jagz: Two months
News Digest: Where are you based full time?
Jesse Jagz: Jos full time. This is my home. This is where i grew up. J-town in home. I have a daughter who schools here.
News Digest: What class is she?
Jesse Jagz: she is in JSS3. Oh! I forgot to tell you she raps also. She is on my album. Infact she is the first name on my album.
News Digest: surprising!
Jesse Jagz: I am serious. She raps well. She raps better than MI. News Digest: Tell us more about this?
Jesse Jagz: Yes, she raps better than MI. You can ask him. (Laughs)
News Digest: So what are the challenges you have faced in the industry?
Jesse Jagz: I would say no proper structure. Everything is scattered you know. Also the difficulty in getting songs on radio. I would just say the challenges are the “collective f*ck up” of everyone in the industry.
News Digest: What other rappers do you respect in the industry?
Jesse Jagz: I would give you a list of my top five rappers. 1) Jesse Jagz 2) My brother MI Abaga 3) Ice Prince Zamani 4) Mode nine 5) ruggedman
News Digest: What are your thoughts on the way rappers switched from music oriented to commercialized rap in Nigeria
Jesse Jagz: Mention names now. At least give me one name.
News Digest: Okay, Olamide.
Jesse Jagz: Well, I will just say it is their time. Olamide is enjoying his time you know.
News Digest: What are your thoughts on shows?
Jesse Jagz: So many shows. But i don’t really do shows. I do my thing my way.
News Digest: Thanks for your time
Jesse Jagz: You are welcome
Share your views in the comments section below.

https://newsdigest.ng/entertainment/2018/05/15/mi-abaga-jesse-jagz/

NEWS DIGEST – The former Governor of Ekiti State, Segun Oni has been tipped to replace the current Minister of Solid Minerals, Kayode Fayemi who is flagbearer of the All Progressive Congress in Ekiti State.
News Digest recalled that Fayemi polled 941 votes to beat Oni, who polled 481 votes at All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary in the state on Saturday. Sequel to that, a source close to Mr Oni told the News Digest that the permutations going on suggest that arrangement has been concluded within the APC leaders in the state to nominate Mr. Oni as a replacement for Mr Fayemi who is resigning in the next 14 days.

See also: Ekiti 2018: Fayemi Resigns as Minister According to the source, Mr Oni stands as the only candidate in the APC to replace Mr Fayemi considering his loyalty to the party and his pedigree as a former governor. It would be recalled that Mr Oni had pledged loyalty and maximum support to Mr Fayemi, after his emergence as the flagbearer of the APC in the upcoming state gubernatorial elections.
Mr Fayemi had recently also paid a visit to Segun Oni in Ekiti in continuation of their romance. However, Mr Oni, alongside other contestants, had said the election process was faulty but after intervention of party elders like Olusegun Osoba and Bola Tinubu, the election that produced Mr Fayemi held
Understandably, the replacement may cause another rift between the Ekiti camp of the APC and the presidency especially with Governor Ayodele Fayose already stating that the Presidency should retain the FEC seat for Mr Fayemi who he claimed would lose again in the upcoming elections.

https://newsdigest.ng/politics/2018/05/14/oni-replace-fayemi-minister/

NEWS DIGEST – The President of the Academic Staffs Union
of Universities, Professor Biodun Ogunyemi has spoken to
The News Digest on why the lecturers Union may go on
strike.

In this Interview with The News Digest’s Olanrewaju Oyedeji,
the ASUU scribe spoke about the low funding of the
Education sector and lots more.

News Digest : What is your take on the recent statement of
the Federal Government that Federal Universities should
stop charging tuition fees?

ASUU President: I must say we are not impressed,if the
Federal Government is just coming now to state that, it is
not impressive at all.

News Digest : Do you think that the statement meets the
current reality in our Universities?


ASUU President: The Government should stop been
hypocritical ,they should face issues, there is no money
anywhere and they are not funding the sector,yet they say
no tuition fee should be charged. ASUU supports that no
tuition fee should be charged but the Vice Chancellors have
found their way around it, if we have a case in which hostels
go for as much as 40,000naira, do we still call that one
free education? The Universities still charge indirect tuition
fee and until the Federal Government faces the reality, it
may be another talk.

News Digest: But you have not done anything despite your
claims on under-funding, what steps have you taken?

ASUU President: You cannot say we have not done anything
at all, we have been meeting with them for one year and we
are still negotiating but until we see insincerity we cannot go
for confrontation.

News Digest: How soon are we likely to see confrontation?

ASUU President: I cannot state that categorically, very soon
we will come out to tell Nigerians to prevail on the Federal
Government to do the needful through funding,it is only
when they don’t meet up that we can act.


News Digest: So are we likely to see another strike action?


ASUU President: I cant speak on that basically but if the
Federal Government proves that they are really insincere, we
may talk about confrontation soon. We just rose up from a
National Delegates meeting, so we have all our heads on
improving things.


https://newsdigest.ng/featured/2018/05/13/strike-again-ASUU/

cc lalasticlala

NEWS DIGEST – President Muhammadu Buhari has returned
to Nigeria after four days of medical treatment in London,
United Kingdom.
His flight touched down at Abuja Airport 7PM.

The official Twitter handle of Nigerian Presidency announced
his return few moments ago Presidency Nigeria

@NGRPresident President @MBuhari is back in Abuja. He
arrived this evening from London. President Buhari returned
after a four day medical trip in London.
More details later!


https://newsdigest.ng/featured/2018/05/11/buhari-arrives-nigeria/

NEWS DIGEST – Following President Muhammadu Buhari’s 4-day medical trip to the United Kingdom, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), UK chapter has revealed that the President is on his way back to Nigeria.
The development was announced in a tweet by the APC, UK branch via @APCUnitedKingdom verified twitter handle. The News Digest recalls that president Buhari left the country on Tuesday, May 8 to meet with his doctors fora routine medical checkup and as scheduled is expected to return to the country today, Friday, May 11.
Before he departed, the president was visited by members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) UK branch.


https://newsdigest.ng/news/2018/05/11/buhari-departs-uk-for-nigeria/
cc lalasticlala

NEWS DIGEST – Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai
has reiterated that the three Senators from his state are
cursed despite public condemnation that followed his earlier
statements.

El-Rufai had last Friday said the three senators: Shehu Sani
(Kaduna Central), Suleiman Hunkuyi (Kaduna North) and
Danjuma Laah (Southern Kaduna) were “useless’, accusing
them of hindering a $350m loan request by the Kaduna
State Government.

The three Senators had stood against the World bank loan
at the National Assembly
In a post on Facebook , El-Rufai quoted verses of the Holy
Quran and said:

” FRIDAY REMINDER: To the Cursed Kaduna Senators, the
Enemies of the people of Kaduna State and their co-
travelers
– the Words of Allah: – Surah Al-Baqarah (2:9-12)
2:9 “They [think to] deceive Allah and those who believe, but
they deceive not except themselves and perceive [it] not.
2:10 “In their hearts is disease (of doubt, hypocrisy,
arrogance and disbelief), so Allah has increased their
disease; and for them is a painful punishment because they
[habitually] used to lie.
2:11 “And when it is said to them, “Do not cause corruption
on the earth,” they say, “We are but reformers.
2:12 “Unquestionably, it is they who are the corrupters, but
they perceive (it) not.””

News Digest recalls that Senator Shehu Sani had written a
letter to the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Kaduna
asking that Nasir El-Rufai be checked for mental issues.
Sultan of Sokoto had called for caution in the way politicians
address each other after the first outburst of Governor El-
Rufai.

https://newsdigest.ng/state-news/2018/05/11/el-rufai-senators-cursed/

NEWS DIGEST – Olawale Ashimi also known as Brymo
released his debut studio album Brymstone, in 2007. His
second studio album TheSonOfaKapenta was released in
2012; it was supported by two singles; “Ara” and “Good
Morning”. His third studio album Merchants, Dealers &
Slaves was released on 20 October 2013; it received
generally positive reviews from music critics and was
preceded by two singles; “Down” and “Eko”.
Tabula Rasa was released as the singer’s fourth studio
album on 30 October, 2014; its lead single “Fe Mi” was
described as a “soft traditional ballad”. On 8 December 2015,
Brymo released an eight-track compilation album titled
Trance. He signed an international distribution deal with Tate
Music Group in 2015. Brymo released his fifth studio album
Klĭtôrĭs on 9 May 2016. It comprises 11 tracks and was
preceded by the lead single “Happy Memories”.
In this Interview with the News Digest, Brymo shares his
love for alternative music and the inspiration behind his new
Album, Oso.


New Digest: Tell us about your music and your love for
alternative
music?


Brymo: My music is a summary of my views, experiences,
and ideology. From the get-go I wanted to be able to paint
pictures with words, and although I couldn’t pull it off on my
first two albums, I started to grow into it.
Nowadays I am more proud of my new works than those
from way back. My love for ‘alternative’ music as it relates
to western music hails from a period around 2009-2010
when I had discovered John Mayer. His soft rock pulled me
in, and then I found Coldplay and a number of other
alternative rock artistes, their joint influence helped me find
a way to fuse local folk music with foreign concepts.
In Nigeria, ‘alternative’ is more than a genre. The system
here made it too hard to get any kind of music that was not
club/dance oriented to the public… so with my experience
from the days when I was also in the popular scene I was
able to do things differently, using the same tool the
mainstream would use to push my work, but without being a
part of the structure there.
So here at home, ‘alternative’ is a pet project for me, a
journey to success via the road less travelled. ‘Alternative’
here is a whole different system of creating and sharing
music that is almost completely different from what is known
in the Nigerian music industry; and my love for it is deeply
rooted in the great possibilities that it presents for me, and
for the music scene at large.


News Digest: What inspired your new album?


Brymo: OṢÓ is typically me, but my understanding of my
own ideology was clearer on this project than on ‘Tabula
rasa’ or ‘Merchants,Dealers & Slaves’ before it. The new
album was proof that one would naturally evolve through
repetitive behavior, and breaking of the cycle of redundancy,
because I took a slight bend and made an album that leaned
more towards pop in 2016 called ‘Klĭtôris‘, OṢO sounds so
fresh because I had taken a break from and had missed the
confessions and the politically incorrect utterances that was
BrymO’s way of writing, the break helped me see myself and
my surroundings more
clearly.


News Digest: What is your thought on state of the Nigerian
Music Industry?


Brymo: Nigerian music has always had its appeal but has
also always struggled to find balance between its art and its
business.
Currently Nigerian artistes might not be putting up a great
performance as expected for an industry of its supposed
reputation of success and grandeur, but worse than the
artistes are the Nigerian businessmen.
The music is garnering a fan base, but the business solutions
are barely sufficient. I believe that improving the price of
records, organising the royalty system, and tackling piracy
are the first and most important moves to improve the
business atmosphere of the industry.. of course
‘transparency’ must be the keyword through the entire
landscape.


News Digest: Many of your fans want to know what you
have in plans for them especially with the hot album trending
now,what should we expect?


Brymo: They do??… I didn’t make any plans… lol I have a
few concerts lined up for the rest of the year. Those in
Europe and more precisely the UK can find me at the O2
Academy Islington on the 29th of September, and Lagos will
host Organised Chaos on the 1st of October at Freedom
Park. Other dates will be announced through my social media
handles and the terrestrial media. People can also visit
theosoproject.com for concert tickets and more.

News Digest: Many persons say they expected you to win at
Headies,are you moved about not winning at the awards?


Brymo: The awards are the final playgrounds for the music
industry. They are where everyone get to decide who did
good, and who needed improvement, yearly. Awards are
important, and so I would naturally want to win some.
I am not moved about not wining, I have probably won three
or less major awards in all, from 2008 till date, but I have
numerous nominations. The Nigerian music industry must
evolve into an entity that celebrates artistic excellence over
tribal, class, business or even personal affiliations. The
industry’s respect and eventual success on the global stage
depends on it.


News Digest: How do you plan to grow alternative music
more in Nigeria?


Brymo: The plan is to continuously practice within the ethics
of the business, also to continually share my experience with
the public and colleagues.. I cannot help anyone if I don’t
help myself first.


News Digest: What is the biggest challenge you think the
Nigerian market offers you?


Brymo: Other than the general issues mitigating against
profit margins, the only challenge here is finding the niche for
the project I am trying to push. When the target market is
identified, success is usually almost certain.


News Digest: What’s your best song on your new album and
your advice to Nigerian youths out there who want to
emulate you.


Brymo: My best song on OṢÓ is ‘God is in your mind’ … I
hold the opinion that Black africa will do better when its
people start to think for themselves, when we start to
embrace the God that resides in our minds… currently we
pray and wait for solutions while making newer mistakes,
the song was made in the hopes that many will hear it and
realize that we usually play a part in how the story of our
lives go, especially as adults. the aim is to identify those
roles and play our part to the hilt!…. so the youth must
ignore the temptation to play blame games with their
parents, if something is not working, get up and make the
effort to fix it for yourself, then demand remuneration/
recognition when
others seek to adopt your methods.


Read more on his belief and why he thinks his previous album didnt really succeed via link



https://newsdigest.ng/entertainment/2018/05/11/exclusive-brymo-opens/

The Nigerian Senate has declared Inspector General of Police,
Idris Ibrahim as an ‘Enemy of Democracy’.
This decision was reached at the ongoing senate plenary
session today.


The IGP Idris had snubbed the senate summon for the third
time in a month. He was expected to answer questions on the
arrest of a lawmaker, Dino Melaye, and killings across the
country.


Earlier Senators had expressed dismay on the refusal of the
Inspector General to appear before the Senate.
Senator Enyinaya Abaribe said: “What is happening today in
Nigeria shows that democracy is dying bit by bit and also
shows the abuse of power and office by the IG. What the IG
is doing in the eyes of the world, shows that there is no
respect for the law”.


Senator Isah Misau also condemned the IG’s action, in his
words: “What the IGP is doing is not against the Senate but
against the presidency that appointed him into office, it’s
unfortunate.The IG is not competent to be in the office” –
Senator Isah Misau.
Senate Leader Ahmad Lawan said this action is that against
the country and a worldwide disgrace.



“It is very unusual for a public servant to act like this. I have
never see this before anywhere in the world, we need to take
a decision because this affects security in the entire
country.” – Senator Ahmad Lawan, Senate Leader
Commenting Senate President Saraki said:
“Senate in a closed session deliberated on the non-
appearance of the IGP to the senate to the plenary after a
series of invitation. The Senate noted that this has been a
gross disrespect to our constituted authority and to also
know that his earlier refusal to appear before investigative
committee was overruled by competent court of jurisdiction
just in April this year.”


“The Senate therefore views this persistent refusal is a great
danger to our democracy and hence the Senate resolved to
declare IGP as an enemy of democracy and not fit to hold any
public office within and outside Nigeria. The leader of the
Senate would also mandate to
look into the matter for further necessary action,” Mr Saraki
said.


Mr Idris was summoned by the Senate to answer questions
on the arrest of a lawmaker, Dino Melaye, and killings across
the country.


https://newsdigest.ng/news/2018/05/09/enemy-of-democracy/

NEWS DIGEST – The Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, Kolapo Olusola, is the Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate for the July 14 governorship election. Mr Olusola scored 1,190 votes to defeat the former acting spokesman of the PDP, Dayo Adeyeye, who polled 771 votes. In the primary election, 2,086 were accredited for the election; but only 1,968 were eligible after others were disqualified.

https://newsdigest.ng/state-news/2018/05/08/fayose-deputy-pdp-ticket/

NEWS DIGEST – The wife of popular Kannywood actor, Sani Idris Moda has denied that her husband is dead contrary to wide spread rumors on his death. According to his wife, the person that died in the hospital wasn’t Moda but rather his bed-mate but the hospital made a mistake of announcing the actor’s death. “Moda Is Still Alive Receiving Treatment In The Hospital, He Still Needs Our Prayers.” the statement from the family through Mr Sani’s wife read. Sani Moda is said to be at Barau Dikko Hospital Kaduna state and is running a battle with Diabetes.
https://newsdigest.ng/entertainment/2018/05/08/kannywood-sani-moda/

Omo-Agege: Pro-Buhari Senator to be expelled from Senate NEWS DIGEST – Senator Ovie Omo-Agege representing Delta central, will be expelled from the senate. The Detail reports that the senate committee on ethics and privileges had recommended his expulsion from the senate, and his prosecution. On April 18, Omo-Agege was alleged to have led thugs into the senate chamber and seized the mace. He was said to have led the thugs into the chamber while a plenary session was in progress. The thugs allegedly assaulted some national assembly staff before getting away with the mace. The mace was later recovered under a bridge in Abuja. The lawmaker had been, a week before the incident, suspended for alleged anti-legislature claims. Omo-Agege had alleged that the election sequence re- ordering bill was targeted at President Muhammadu Buhari. The senator was arrested but released a few hours after the attack. Omo-Agege, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), when expelled will be the first senator to be so removed in 12 legislative years.

https://newsdigest.ng/news/2018/05/08/omo-agege-expelled-senate/

NEWS DIGEST – Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) has been reopened for activities after its tax evasion issues that led to its shut down were resolved. The News Digest reports. Confirming this development, the Public Relations Officer of the University,Olanrewaju Abiodun said work has officially started: “We have resumed and we are in the office already” he told The News Digest. News Digest recalls that the Special Adviser, Tax Matters to Osun State government, Mr. Gbenga Akano had told Vanguard that the OAU management informed him that a sum of N25 million had been paid from the backlog. It would be recalled that Osun state government had last week shut down the university alleging that a sum of N1.8 billion deducted from the institution’s staff salary as withholding tax was not remitted to the government.

https://newsdigest.ng/news/2018/05/08/oau-reopens-after-shut-down/