₦airaland Forum

Absolutely nonsense!!! Who can diffentiate betwn †ђξ functions of the minister of health and †ђξ SGF...the president has said the SGF will take care of the public health,,,wat has †ђξ minister of health bn doin all these while,private health?... Rubbish!!! The salary of the so-called SGF shld b channeled towardz health care system...Again,NMA shld luk 4 a beter demands 2 salvage †ђξ health sector in dis country....mitcheeeww...

Qch eva way dis reports were coming frm,†ђξ question is dis:y wld a whole gov of a state giv his wife a house arrest,wld not share his apartment wt his wife,y pschiatric involvemnt,,? I tink dsme repoter shld ask d gov n investigate if dis was tru bf publishing...den †ђξ so called 'human rights' shld equally ascertain τ̅нατ̅ †ђξ first lady of enug doesn't v any mental challenge...
A crious issue if u ask me...yess!!!

THE strike action embarked upon by University lecturers has assumed another dimension as the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has been dragged before the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) over the lingering strike action.

The suit, with the number NICW/Abj/242/2013 which also has ministers of labour and productivity, education, finance and justice, as well as secretary to the government of the federation as defendants, was instituted by the registered trustees of Golden Women of Integrity and Vision Association and Mrs. Florence Uche Ojieh.

In the suit, the claimants are asking the court to determine whether the strike action embarked upon by ASUU is not illegal and contrary to law and whether members of the union are not bound by the policy of ‘no work no pay’ and therefore not entitled to their salary during the period of the strike.

They also asked the court to determine whether members of ASUU are entitled to continue to retain their employment, having abandoned or deemed to have abandoned their work in the Universities; whether or not the union complied with the mandatory provisions of Section 4 and 5 of the Trade Dispute Act CAP T8 LFN 2004 before embarking on the strike; whether the union has complied with the provision of Section 8 of the Trade Disputes Act CAP T8 LFN 2004; whether or not the minister of education is not entitled to determine the employment of the union, same having abandoned or deemed to have abandoned their work in their Universities and whether or not the doctrine of collective bargain or the purported 2009 agreement can be the basis for the strike action by ASUU same not having been incorporated in their contract of employment between it and the federal government.

The reliefs sought by the claimants include a declaration that the strike action embarked upon by ASUU since July 2, 2013 is illegal, unconstitutional, null and void.

The claimants also sought a declaration of court that the strike action is unlawful and unwarranted in the face of the payment to the union by federal government of over N50 billion to meet ASUU’s demands from the government.

Other reliefs are an order of mandatory injunction directing the union to go back to work immediately and unconditionally; an order directing the union to return or refund all monies paid to it by the federal government in error or otherwise; an order directing ASUU to return to the negotiation table and a declaration that the strike action is illegal, unconstitutional, null and void.

Others are an order directing ASUU to refund all monies paid to its members as salaries, wages and allowances during the strike action; an order enforcing the no work no pay rule on the union; a declaration that the condition precedent to protest and or strike as provided by the Trade Dispute Act Cap T8 LFN 2004 has not been fulfilled; an order declaring the agreement on which the strike action is based as an extra-legal document which have no force of law; an order declaring any step taken or any further step to be taken in relation to the industrial action by ASUU, agents, privies, assignors, sympathizers, successors or any person whatsoever by whatever name so-called as illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional and an interim order restraining any other trade union and association from joining, participating and aligning with the ASUU strike.

President Goodluck Jonathan and seven aggrieved Peoples Democratic Party governors will today hold a crucial meeting that will determine the future of the factionalised ruling party.

Already, there are strong indications that the peace meeting may end in a stalemate.

The first indication came from the Presidency on Friday, when it said the President would not meet any of the demands of the aggrieved governors and other members of the New PDP.

Also sounding unyielding, the National Chairman of the New PDP, Mr. Kawu Baraje,  on Friday, said the aggrieved leaders of the party and the G-7 governors would give Jonathan a deadline at today’s  meeting.

Their demands include the sacking of the National Chairman of PDP, Dr. Bamanga Tukur; sticking to one-term tenure by the President by foregoing seeking re-election in 2015, and stopping the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission from further investigating the governors.

Others are resolution of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum crisis and the recall of the Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, from suspension.

But the Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Ahmed Gulak, in an interview with one of our correspondents on Friday, insisted that Jonathan would not meet the governors’ demands.

Gulak said the decision was based on the fact that the demands were unconstitutional and the President would not identify with anything  strange to the nation’s extant laws.

The presidential aide added that it was wrong for any individual or group to give the President conditions.

He said, “Please note that no individual or group can give the President conditions.

“Let me say again that all the demands being made by these governors are unconstitutional. The conditions, be it the call for the sacking of Bamanga Tukur; be it the call for the EFCC to stop its work by not investigating them; be it the call on the President to abridge his rights under the law and not contest for second term; all the conditions are strange to the extant laws of this country.

“I have said it before and I don’t want to be repeating myself on this issue because our position has not changed on the matter. The conditions are unconstitutional.  The President will not meet them.”

Similarly, the National Publicity Secretary of the Tukur-led faction, Mr. Olisa Metuh, said Baraje had derailed from the path he was following while serving as the acting national chairman of the party.

Metuh, who spoke with one of our correspondents on the telephone, said while in office, Baraje insisted that the activities of the party must not be discussed in the media.

He said Baraje’s new stance was not in consonance with PDP’s constitution.

He  said, “It  is  unfortunate that the former acting chairman has derailed. He was a stickler for the rule of law while here; he insisted that the party’s matter must not be taken to the pages of newspapers and also said the party’s machinery must be used to settle party issues.

“Why did he change? Does he have any sinister motive?  But let me add that because we are talking about reconciliation, that is not a licence to give unnecessary conditions.”

Metuh appealed to members of the party to remain calm, assuring that the crisis would soon be resolved.

But one of the aggrieved governors, who spoke on the condition of anonymity,  said they would not abandon Amaechi, who they said the President would want them to abandon.

He said they would also insist on all the conditions earlier given for reconciliation.

The governor said, “We won’t abandon any of us, including Amaechi. That is a promise from me and my colleagues. We won’t yield to blackmail on this matter. We don’t want to be dubbed as betrayers on this matter because it is a collective matter.”

Jonathan and four of the aggrieved governors, namely Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers); Babangida Aliyu (Niger); Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto) and Muritala Nyako (Adamawa), had on Sunday met with the President at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The meeting was reported to have ended in a deadlock as the President rejected the governors’ demand for the removal of Tukur as the party’s national chairman.

The PDP was factionalised on August 31, 2013, when seven governors and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar walked out of the party’s mini-convention in Abuja to form  a faction.

And Finance minister is saying they don't v money 2 fund ASUU..interesting,isn't ?

The Chief Executive Officer, Gold and Co., United Kingdom, Amjad Ali, has told a United Kingdom newspaper, The Independent, that the Federal Government has ordered 53 gold-plated iPhone 5S mobile handsets  from his firm as part of the memorabilia for the nation’s 53rd Independence anniversary on October 1, 2013.

The gold iphones are said to worth £2.65m (about N682m).

Each of the gold-plated iPhones costs up to £50,000, said The Independent, in its report on Wednesday.

The minimum cost of basic models of iPhone in gold or rose gold is £3,000.

The 53 special phones are to be supplied by Amjad Ali, a Bristol-born owner of Gold and Co. based in Dubai.

Ali, who told The Independent that his firm was “fulfilling an order from the Nigerian government for 53 gold-plated iPhones, added, “We will engrave them with the coat of arms, a shield and two horses. “

However, he neither disclosed when he received the order for the item nor the Federal Government agency or ministry that contracted him.

Gold and Co supplies royal families, governments, and minted customers across Russia, China and the Middle East with special phones.

Some of its customers include the Saudi royal family, which, Ali said, ordered a gold iPhone studded with hundreds of diamonds, including a giant piece that serves as the device’s “home” button.

He explained that before such phones were delivered, “We strip them down and then plate them in copper, nickel and then pure gold.”

The company, according to him, has “limited units per region and each is numbered and placed in a handmade wooden box with a certificate of authenticity and wax seal.”

The Academic Staff Union of Universities on Wednesday said the alleged plan to purchase the iPhones showed the government’s insensitivity to the plight of its citizens.

The union, which spoke through its Ibadan zonal coordinator, Dr. Nassir Adesola, urged the Federal Government to first fulfil its electoral promises to the people before engaging in such an “extravagance.”

He said, “It sums up the insensitivity of the Federal Government. For the administration to think of doing this at a time the Minister of Finance is saying that the FG has not enough money to run the country is unfortunate. It seems that the government has gone to sleep and not in tune with the society, it is governing.

“The Federal Government should first cater for its citizens roaming the streets, and rehabilitate its collapsed industries before spending so much for phones. Any government that engages in such a frivolity and extravagance is not serious and its people should reject it.”

However, the Federal on Wednesday denied ever ordering 53 iPhones from the businessman or anybody in commemoration of the nation’s 53 independence.

The Special Assistant (Media and Communication) to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Sam Nwaobasi, told The PUNCH that the report by the foreign newspaper was a lie.

He said, “The Federal Government has not ordered for any 53 iPhones from any businessman anywhere. That is my answer to your question; it is not true, the Federal Government did not order, is not ordering for and has not ordered for 53 iPhones from anybody or anywhere,” Nwaobasi told one of our correspondents.

Hmmmm...not in a haste 2 comment,,still loading...

The Opportunity Cost Of Tompolo’s Private Jet

Last Updated on 08 September 2013 Hits: 1990

For those who haven’t heard, 43 year old ex-militant, High Chief Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo) on Monday 26th August 2013 received his Bombardier SE60 LearJet. The Jet according to aviation sources cost a whopping sum of $13.3 million (N2.12 billion).

The aim of this article is not to rubbish the person of Tompolo, [what is there to rubbish anyway] but to address inter alia; the scenarios that continue to play out in favour of his ilk, institutions and systems that perpetually endeavour to make his likes overnight celebrities. I would also analyse the opportunity cost of his latest toy.

The Man Tompolo

Tompolo was born Government Oweizide Ekpumopolo in 1970  into the family of Chief Thomas Osei Ekpempulo and Mrs Sologha Ekpemupol of Okorenkoko in Gbaramatu kingdom in Warri South-West Local Government Area of present Delta State. He attended Edah Primary School, Madagho and Kunpa Primary School, Kunukunuma before later proceeding to National Comprehensive College, Warri where he completed the SSCE in 1993.

After a brief stint as Managing Director of his father's family business, Tompolo Nigeria Limited, his militancy career began in 1997, during the struggle to ‘liberate’ the Ijaws from the dominance of its neighbours -- the Itsekiris. General Sani Abacha had then relocated Warri South Local Government headquarters from Ogbe-Ijoh to Itsekiri’s Ogidiben and thus, an Ijaw ‘Soldier’ was born.

After the struggle, he relocated to Oporoza due to threats to his life and there, he started the struggle against the oil majors and the federal government for what he perceived as injustice against ‘their land’–usually the rhetoric for Niger Delta militants.

True to his name, Government Ekpumopolo was an authority of some sort. Traditional rulers, local council men, lawmakers, governors differ to him. To show the power Tompolo wields, during the visit of then Vice President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan to his terrorist headquarters at the notorious Camp 5, he instructed all the Vice President’s entourage, security details, and other officials to stay outside the camp, allowing only Dr. Goodluck Jonathan in for ‘consultation’ (I wonder what they must have agreed in secret).

He led several ‘successful’ guerrilla attacks against Shell, almost crippling their production capacity in the Niger Delta. The company had no choice but to start paying some sort of ‘security fees’ to the warlord.

Tompolo started consulting in security matters for the oil companies, the Federal Government and the Joint Task Force to maintain some level of peace. Things got out of hand after his men beheaded 11 military men comprising of 1 officer and 10 rank and file of the Nigerian Army. That development forced the Chairman of the Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta, Brig. Gen. Sarkin Yaki Bello to declare him wanted, dead or alive.

 

His Entrance Into The Nigerian Billionaires Club

When the late President Musa Yar'adua took oath of Office in May 2007, he promised to bring an end to the Niger Delta insurgency, offering them a state pardon for all their criminal atrocities.

In June 2009 when the implementation of the amnesty programme started, thousands of youth surrendered their arms and ammunitions, with a report stating that Tompolo along with 1,500 militants handed in a cache of weapons that included general purpose machine guns, grenades, rocket propelled grenade launchers, explosives and a large number of assorted weapons.

Unfortunately, President Yar’adua who originated the idea died of some ailment and Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, the Vice President as it then was, took the reins of power.

In what seemed like an opportunity-comes-but-once-so-lets-seize-it-and-settle-the-boys-bigtime-kind-of-contract, the Goodluck administration through NIMASA, headed by Ziadeke Akpobolokemi (said to be Tompolo’s candidate for the NIMASA job), awarded a contract worth $103.4million (N15billion) maritime surveillance contract to Tompolo’s company--Global West Vessel Specialist Limited (GWVSL). The contract stated that GWVSL will provide security for oil pipelines, repel pirates and oil thieves, guard the nation waterways and also (wait for this), COLLECT LEVIES ON BEHALF OF NIMASA. The agency said about N124billion is expected to be generated by GWVSL for the federal government.

In a memo dated 9 November, 2011 with reference number PRES/99/MT/61 and titled Award Of Contract For The Strategic Concessioning Partnership With NIMASA To Provide Platforms For Tracking Ships And Cargoes, Enforce Regulatory Compliance And Surveillance Of The Entire Nigerian Maritime Domain, President Jonathan approved the contract and it was rubber stamped by the Federal Executive council in one of its weekly contract awarding bazaars on 5 January, 2012.

The contract will run for 10 years, though President Jonathan through NIMASA has promised not to renew the contract after the expiration of its present term. But to show how desperate Jonathan was in securing the contract for his friend and personal confidant – Tompolo – he wrote to the National Assembly, withdrawing an earlier similar proposal submitted by his predecessor which sought to create a coast guard comprising of all the security agencies to man the country’s maritime domain. But why should he not, when NIMASA presently pays Tompolo’s GWVSL N49m weekly for vessel hired by the agency?

 

The Nigerian Debacle

We have heard over and over how the Nigerian system rewards honest labour with hardship and award criminal endeavours with the juicy contracts and patronage which only feather the nest of cronies.

Fellow militants who didn’t labour (killed) as much as Tompolo weren’t rewarded as much. I pity men of the Nigerian Military who daily sacrifice their lives for nothing. I hope Abubakar Shekau will not be given the same ‘heroic’ welcome whenever he leads his comrades-at-arms to accept the amnesty proposals of the Jonathan-administration.

Nigerians must realize that voting for Jonathan come 2015 is a vote for more money in the hands of those who have wronged and robbed Nigerians of our God-given resources.

Despite the huge amount being paid to Tompolo, Nigeria’s Maritime Domain has been less secure. Crude oil theft has reached an all-time high, threatening Nigeria’s income. Coordinating minister of the economy last July, lamented the alarming rate at which Nigeria’s income from oil was being depleted due to oil theft and bunkering. Tompolo’s militant colleague, Asari Dokubo has threatened to destroy Nigeria and march his opponents’ bullet for bullet, bomb for bomb, and missile for missile if Dr. Goodluck Jonathan isn’t re-elected in 2015, because only his stay in office will guarantee Tompolo's business which will in turn guarantee continued oil bunkering and theft in the Niger-Delta.

This is the right time to revoke the Tompolo’s contract. Only a fool employs a man with a history of dubious character (though forgiven) into a position of trust, he will always stay true to who he is.

 

 

The Opportunity Cost Of Bombardier 60SE Learjet

Economist define opportunity cost as the alternative forgone. It is the cost of an alternative that must be forgone in order to pursue a certain action. Put another way, it is the benefit you could have received by taking an alternative action. In layman’s terms, opportunity cost is the other product that would rather have satisfied your want.

An Example: If you need a Plasma Television and an iphone; and you divert your limited resources to purchase the iphone, the opportunity cost (i.e. what it is costing you) is a Plasma Television set.

Investopedia cites this vivid example: if a gardener decides to grow carrots, his or her opportunity cost is the alternative crop that might have been grown instead (potatoes, tomatoes, pumpkins, etc.).

In both cases, a choice between two options must be made.

A bombardier SE60 cost $13.3 million (N2.12 billion), a N2.12 billion we could have invested into other productive ventures had the contract not been awarded to Tompolo in the first instant.

The opportunity cost of Tompolo's private Jet are enormous, I have defined what opportunity cost is, please fill up the comment section with your suggestions of public goods we could have purchased with our collective N2.12 billion in the hands of an ex-militant.

Kikiowo Ileowo is the editor of The Paradigm and a public commentator. Engage him on twitter via @ileowo4ever

A delibrate act I must say...hence her body suit..so wat r we talkn abt n who is deceiving who...mitcheeeeww.

Absurd programm....BBA b born again...Mitcheeeeeeeeeewwwww..

@tellwisdom,y r u taken it personal..itsnt mandatory u donate..bu ur prayer will go along way..afterall,it was other person's donation τ̅нατ̅ brought †ђξ baby 2 τ̅нατ̅ level,wt God....
God bless all †ђξ donnors:financially n spiritually...
She wl make it in Jesus name,,Amen.

Hmmmmm,,,wonder wat †ђξ judges were luknn at...congrats sha,,

Say No to TV shows without values.†ђξ question is dis;wat r †ђξ aims/purposes of dis show Reality shows where immorality is celebrated n rewarded at †ђξ end of †ђξ day is absurd friendz,yes!!!my humble submission... God help us...

OMG!!! Whr is God's anger??

G̲̣̣̣̥ø̲̣̣̥ø̲̣̣̥ƌ̲̣̣̣̥ one,,,if †ђξ accessible roads r in place...kudos!!!

†ђξ story is clearer now,,,its realy a pity τ̅нατ̅ nig police still shoot at students,,,'†ђξ killer has tried so mch...wats he waiting for,he shld b deployed to maiduguri immediately...nonsense!!! Na naija we dey...y dd †ђξ VC run 2 abuja?? She shld v stayed n wait 4 her own death,,coward!!!!

†ђξ story is clearer now,,,its realy a pity τ̅нατ̅ nig police still shoot at students,,,'†ђξ killer has tried so mch...wats he waiting for,he shld b deployed to maiduguri immediately...nonsense!!! Na naija we dey...y dd †ђξ VC run 2 abuja?? She shld v stayed n wait 4 her own death,,coward!!!!

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm,,,,,,is dir any fire wt out a smoke Ok,,let's com dis way: hw did it even happn in †ђξ 1st place? Hw dd she speak †ђξ grammer,in effik or ibibio or ibo?? Who dd †ђξ whole translations τ̅нατ̅ led to dis BIG GRAMMAR τ̅нατ̅ dey r nw speaking Lwkmd....abeg mke I go c my patients,,I Ω̴̴̩̩̩̥̩̩̩̥̩σ fit shout!!! let's not b deceived frnds ...

Pls do u still deal on penis enlargemnt pills...?

...But if a child or wife caught perpetrating same act,dnt tink †ђξ Law wl spare him/her..Y̶̲̥̅̊ε̲̣̣̣̥α̇̇̇ !!

U see,τ̅нατ̅ mkes him a true legend...Y̶̲̥̅̊ε̲̣̣̣̥α̇̇̇ !!!

Jenny abeg go 2 ur normal self,u luk horrible here..GOooossshhhhhh...

Mama-gee pls watch ur mouth...qch source dd u get ur info,cos since ur post till now,same has nt bn heard frm any oda corner,,,emebor!!!

[b][/b] Abeg mke una live †ђξ guy alone oo...freedom of dressing,,​L̃̾Õ☺Õ̾Ô=D=))ÕÔ☺ÔÕ̾L̃̾. =)),.dis economic meltdown can compell ppl 2 go xtra mile.....u Ω̴̴̩̩̩̥̩̩̩̥̩σ weda na sch fees em wan pay wt †ђξ 20k??I dey feel †ђξ guy die...lwkmd...

[b][/b]0[co00
lor=#990000][/color][color=][/color][color=#990000][/color]Dis is wonderful 2 behold,,,,and he never knew he was goin 2 b a legend...

:So someone ie not in lagos should not apply...can't †ђξ person relocate 2 lagos after employment?