ASUU strike: Media reports orchestrated; FG added no dime, no improvement – Union

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has accused theFederal Government of sponsoring media campaign to force it to end the ongoing industrial action.According to the union, its indefinite strike which started on July 2, still stands, irrespective of the move by government to discredit its leadership.Chairman of ASUU, University of Abuja chapter, Clement Chup, had on Sunday in an interview with DailyIndependent, also denied a purported meeting at the State House, Abuja, with Vice President Namadi Sambo, where it was claimed that government further shifted grounds on the demands of the Union.An online news medium had reported that there was an appreciable progress in the ongoing negotiations between ASUU and the Vice President, particularly on the controversial earned allowances for the striking lecturers.In the report, government was alleged to have further shifted ground on the demands made by the Union, by agreeing to add N10 billion to the N30 billion initially provided for the settlement of earned allowances, making it N40 billion.It was also reported that government had shored up the N100 billion meant for infrastructure to N150 billion with apledge to periodically inject more funds into the system in line with the Needs Implementation Committee chaired by Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswan.Chup in his reaction, said “I read the mischievous report online myself, but I am telling you authoritatively that there was no such meeting.“Government is only trying to use propaganda and cheap blackmail tomake us call off this strike, but it will not work.“Our strike is still very much on course, in fact, ASUU will soon release a position paper on these developments, we are used to this kind of blackmail from government,” Chup said.On his part, Chairman of the Ambrose Alli University chapter of ASUU, Fred Esumeh, attributed the strike to failed leadership on the part of government, saying over 53 letters urging government to implement the 2009 agreement were transmitted prior to the strike.“As I keep saying, this strike is a product of failed leadership on the part of government; this is because we had series of dialogue to reach an agreement.“An agreement reached since 2009 that has not been implemented up till now, obviously it is a product of failed leadership, before this time that we commenced strike, there have been over 53 letters, not to talk of several meetings with the House and Senate committees on education to intervene.“I do not think ASUU is loosing public sympathy, because what we see in our electronic media and perhaps few print media is sponsored protest.“Like the one organised by the market women, that one is laughable, you could see that it is government sponsored.“Then of course, the guy that parades himself as NANS President,Yinka Gbadebo, a diploma student in OAU, who was rusticated from Ekiti State University.“A diploma student cannot even contest to be an SUG president and to be a NANS president, you must be from SUG presidents all over thefederation, so we know these people are sponsored by government,” Esumeh said....source-dailypost

ASUU strike: UNIABUJA student attempts suicide, says it was a better option

The ongoing strike of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU took a different turn on Saturday at the Dutse-Alhaji area of Abuja when a female student of the University of Abuja made to hang herself in protest of the nearly four months old strike.The female student identified as Jane Okoro had already hanged herself, but fell off theceiling while struggling, apparently because the rope she used was not strong enough.Jane had sent her two youngerbrothers on an errand, just a way of sending them out of the house to be able to carry out the abominable act, but one of the brothers returned after 15 minutes and saw her on the floor with a rope tied round her neck while another rope dangled from the ceiling fan. The 15 year old boy raised the alarm, thinking thathis sister was dead, attracting neighbours and other onlookers into their compound. However, it was discovered by those who got there first, that Jane was alive as it was only a suicide attempt.The boy, who was identified as Andrew had told our correspondent that the sister was behaving so strange throughout that morning. He said, ” She was to go to the market with my mum, but said she was not feeling too well. While we were at home with her, she refused to talk. She was always on her Blackberry. Shortly after she had her bath, she sent us to First-Gate (market), but I left some money I wanted to use to buy my personal stuff at home, so upon return, I saw her on the floor of our parlour. I even thought she was dead, so I shouted.”Meanwhile, the mother who returned from the market immediately after the news got to her had told our correspondent in tears that, her daughter must have attempted to commit suicide because of the ongoing ASUU strike. She said, I will ask her questions on why she wanted to do this to us. She has been complaining to me about this ASUU strike. She said, at her age, she should have been done with school, and begin to take care of the children and I. Her father is late. I know that only this week, she had complained to me up to 6times on how frustrating this strike has been. I know other things may have contributed, but ASUU strike may have contributed the most; but for whatever reason, it was devilish for my daughter to have attempted suicide.” She said.Asked what she was going to do about the situation, she said ” I will take her to my Pastor this evening. She needsprayers. We need somebody to talk to her. God will do the miracle for me. I didn’t do anything to anybody. I must not suffer for nothing. She is already in her third year in school. What would I have done if this had happened?”Attempt to speak with Jane failed as she could not respond to questions from our correspondent. The only statement she muttered was ” It was a better option”.The mother had later asked our correspondent to leave her to rest. She said ” she will talk to you after we see our Pastor. She will give the testimony herself.”However, a female friend of Jane who had pleaded not to be mentioned showed our correspondent her recent conversation with Jane on her Blackberry. She said ” my last chat with her was on this very ASUU strike. See what she posted, ” I tire for these ASUU peopleoooo” She showed our correspondent the chat.

ASUU to meet over strike, saysnot under pressure

THE National Strike Coordinating Committee, NSCC, comprising of principal officers and Zonal Coordinators of Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU will be meeting Saturday to take stock of the ongoing strike embarked by the union that is entering the fourth months.Meantime, ASUU said that it was not under any pressure to call-off the strike despite what it called sponsored protests and rallies against the union, stressing that before the union decided to embarkon the strike, it holistically took objective assessment of the situation.One of the branch Chairmen of ASUU and member of NSCC who spoke exclusively to Saturday Vanguard on the condition of anonymity said that the meeting willtake place in Ondo state and that there would be a situation report including the meeting representatives of ASUU had with the Federal government last week’s Friday.He said,”We are meeting tomorrow,National Strike Coordinating Committee. Tomorrow is arrival. Our Principal officers and Zonal Coordinators met with government last week Friday, one week today, sowe want to discus the outcome of the meeting, after that we will now meet.”Commenting on the plethora of protests by different groups over the strike which could be mounting pressure on the union to call off thestrike, he said that “There is no pressure on us. We look at things objectively and remember that evenme as I am talking we cannot suspend the strike.“We have to get inputs from the branches that is why our strike is always very tight, because before we declared the strike, we have collected inputs from all branch officers in the universities in Nigeria, we collated it, discussed it extensively for two days before we declared the strike.“And if there is any offer made by government, we have to look at it, that is the principal officers ten of them in number, the zonal coordinators who take over functions of NEC during the strike, so, they will look at what government has offered, brief us the branch chair persons then it is at this point we will now know whether to convene an emergency NEC to look at it holistically.“By the time they are briefing us, they will also ask us to brief our committee members and take the issue to the congress, it is not a oneman show, all these ones they are talking about politics it is not true, the process right from the least of all the lecturers to the highest that is the professor from each branch, we collate all their responses, it is only when they advice us to suspend that we suspend, it is not just one man show.”He explained that during strike situation, the National Strike Coordinating Committee comprising of principal officers andzonal coordinators always take overthe functions of NEC, adding, “everysingle week, the zonal coordinators will take the information to the various branches who will now takethe information to congress, collating information from congress, the branch chairman will take it back to the zonal coordinator, the zonal coordinator takes it back to NSCC, the reason is that NEC has the larger component,we are many.”He said that the reason behind allowing the smaller number of officers to meet during strike situation was to cut cost.“Why NEC cannot meet during the strike is because of cost, we are more in number. In NEC we have over 100 people, but NSCC will be between 10 and 20, so it is manageable, we have a channel of communication.”All attempts made to call the National President of ASUU, Dr. Nasir Fagge failed as he neither picked calls put across his GSM linenor replied the text message sent tohim.

ASUU Strike: Government Blinks, Agrees To Spend N200b Each For Four Years To Bring Nigerian Universities Up To World Standard

Towards ending the ongoing ASUU strike, the Federal Government has committed to spending N200 billionin the 2014 budget on the universities as well as on each of the next three-four years until the universities are brought to world-class standard. This is in addition to the N100 billion dedicated and already made available for 2013.The government has also increased to N40 billion as a first installment, funds for the payment of earned allowances to the striking lecturers, an improvement from the N30 billion previously released.This information is contained in an internal Federal University of Otuoke statement by Professor Bolaji Aluko, its Vice-Chancellor, seen on Wednesday night by SaharaReporters.On the earned allowances, he explained, “Government will top it up with further releases once universities are through with the disbursement of this new figure of N40 million, so Vice-Chancellors areurged to expedite this disbursement within the shortest possible time using guiding templates that have been sent by the CVC,” the circular said.Professor Aluko said the development followed meetings on September 19 and Oct 11 of representatives of the Association of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, led by CVC Chairman, Prof. Hamisu of ATBU and ASUU Representatives led by its President,Dr. N. Fagge with the Vice-Presidentof the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Arc. Namadi. Sambo, Minister of Education Barr. N. Wike and others.Of great interest to stakeholders, Vice-President Sambo, appealing to ASUU to call off the strike, apologized for the "take-it-or-leave-it" comments credited to the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala at the onset of the strike. The Minister did not seem tohave been involved in either meeting, perhaps as the government’s way of soothing the feelings of the university teachers.Other points of agreement at the meetings include the following:*.Project Prioritization: Universities will now be allowed to determine their priorities and not be “rail-roaded” into implementing a pre-determined set of projects with respect to the NEEDS assessment. Decisions are not to be centralized.*.TETFund Intervention: Government assured that the operations of the TETFund will notbe impaired, and that the regular TETFund intervention disbursement to Universities will continue, unaffected. So the NEEDS assessment capital outlaysare in addition to regular TETFundintervention.*.Project Monitoring: A new Implementation Monitoring Committee (IMC) for the NEEDS Assessment intervention for universities has been set up to take over from the Suswan Committee. The new one is under the Federal Ministry of Education and chaired by the Honorable Minister of Education. In addition,to build confidence and ensure faithful implementation and prevent any relapse as before, theVice President will meet quarterly with the IMC to monitor progress.*.Blueprint: ASUU was mandated tosubmit a blue print for revitalizingthe Universities to the Vice President.Prof. Aluko further stated that a signed document will soon be issued to itemize the full issues on which the consensus he had outlined here, as brokered by AVCNU, was reached.

Asari-Dokubo establishes university, names it after KingAmachree

According to new reports, former Niger Delta militant and current leader of the Niger Delta People’s Volunteer Force, Asari Dokubo, is now a proud owner of a university in Benin Republic...FromPremium TimesThe leader of the Niger Delta People’s Volunteer Force, NDPVF, Muhajid Asari-Dokubo has joined the swelling rank of private university proprietors with his establishment of a university in theneighbouring Republic of Benin.Mr. Asari-Dokubo, who already owns a soccer academy in the West African country and another one in Abuja, said the university, which will be known as King Amachree African University, KAAU, had already been accreditedto commence degree programmes beginning September 2014.He told PREMIUM TIMES in an interview in Abuja that the proposed university, named after his ancestor, was a product of his two existing institutions in Benin Republic, namely King Amachree Automobile/ICT Royal Academy and King Amachree Arts Academy. Both of them, he added, currently award Diploma to their students.Mr. Asari-Dokubo said he chose to establish the institutions in Benin Republic because he does not only live there, but has adopted it as hiscountry.“What we have now, we are awarding only diploma now. “By next September, Insha Allah, the university will start,” Mr. Asari-Dokubo, who dropped out of University of Calabar, he said.“For now we have King Amachree Automobile/ICT Royal Academy and King Amachree Arts Academy. Two of them were merged. We have merged the two of them into king Amachree African University.“King Amachree is my great ancestor. He was king of the Kingdom of new Calabar.”On his soccer academy, the 50 yearold Mr. Asari-Dokubo, an indigene of Rivers State, who refused to be tagged a former militant, said it was established to train the youth in soccer free of charge.“We plan to engage the youths. It isfree. We have a soccer academy in Abuja and we have another one in Republic of Benin,” he said.More Nigerians are forced to go to Benin Republic, Ghana, Togo and other neigbhouring countries to acquire education due to the incessant labour disputes and industrial actions within the Nigerian university system as well as the deplorable state of education in the country.Currently, students of both the federal and state universities in Nigeria are at home due to the strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, over the refusal of the Federal Government to honour its 2009 agreement with the union.Other unions within the education sector, including the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, have also embarked on solidarity strike whilethe Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, and Non-Academic Staff Union, NASU, are reportedly on theverge of doing towing that path.Students of the over 50 private universities in Nigeria, whose fees can only be afforded the rich, are however, in session.Mr. Asari-Dokubo is, like former Niger Delta militants enjoying massive patronage from the current administration, believe to be very wealthy but his source of income is largely unknown.There were speculation he made his fortune stealing crude oil in theNiger Delta. But he denied engaging in such practices, telling PREMIUM TIMES he had never been part of any act capable of endangering the Delta.

ASUU strike: FG stops salaries of lecturers

Federal Government has resolved to stop the salaries of protesting universities lecturers over the ongoing strike of the its Academic body, ASUU. The decision to invoke the “no work, no pay” rule was said to have been officially taken yesterday, eventhough some universities had earlier complained of no salaries since August.It was gathered that the government has passed a directive to the various universities governing councils to stop payment of salaries of the striking lecturers forthwith.The ASUU Zonal Chairman in Abuja, Mr Clement Chup confirmed the development yesterday after a zonal conference of ASUU, University of Abuja chapter, which took place at the Gwagwalada campus to review the nationwide strike.He said his colleagues were yet to receive their September salaries.According to him, “we have resorted to other welfare strategies to cope with the effect of the strike, particularlyto contain the various attempts by government to break the resolve of the union.The Federal Government has through the National Universities Commission, directed universities to stop the payment of our salaries effective September this year, and since then our salaries have not been paid.“Part of the welfare strategy, involved distributing food items, giving out soft loans and cash advances to members.”He urged members of the public to ignore the rumour that the strike has been called off.He said: “Nigerians should disregard rumours making therounds that the three months old strike has been called off”, adding that “the strike continues until the government demonstrates a positive inclination towards implementing the 2009 agreements and the 2012 Memorandum of Understanding signed by both parties.”

ASUU strike: NUPENG threatens to embark on solidarity protest

Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, had during the weekend, vowed to stop distributing petroleum products across the country if the ongoing strike of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, continues with no solution. It threatenedto frustrate fuel distribution if the federal government remains adamant, without full implementation of the lecturers’ demands.NUPENG however did not specify when the strike will begin, but stated that it was necessary it shows solidarity with the lecturers since the government had failed to find a permanent solution to the strike that commenced 3 months ago.NUPENG President, Igwe Achese, while speaking at the Union’s National Administrative Council, NAC, meeting, in Lagos, expressed worry over the state of Nigerian universities.He said government’s failure to respect agreements had resulted to strikes in different sectors of the Nigerian systemsince the inception of 2013.He said, “We appeal to government to implement agreement reached with ASUUso that students can go back to school. If the crisis in the sector is not resolved, we will soon direct our members to embark on solidarity strike.”Blaming the Ministry of Labour over the ongoing saga,he said, “The Ministry of Labour needs to be proactive if we must get these issues nipped in the bud. The ministry also needs to make sure that agreements reached or communiqué signed are implemented.“The Ministry has a big role to play to avert strikes in the country. When unions begin tolose faith in the ministry that is when we have this kind of crisis. The Labour mMinister should be firm in making sure that the right decisions are taken.“As it is now, every activity in the Ministry of Labour is in theoffice of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation,SGF, which ought not to be so.The role of the SGF should be to intervene only when the need arises.”The ongoing strike is beginning to take a new dimension as different bodies,including the Nigerian Union of Teachers, NUT, have threatened to show support for the action of the Universitylecturers...they should just call off this strike

MTN BIS is now N500....shikin money

The Telecommunication giant, MTN has reduced the price of its monthly Bis plan offered to its subscriber.we got this information on facebook and my friend confirmed from Customer Care now that MTN has reduced their BlackBerry BBC subscription to N500 only.with the way things are going now as a statistician i can predict that the subscription will be free by 2015.lets see what glo reaction will be because they just reduced theirs to 1000 naira of recent>> To Subscribe For MTN Monthly blackberry Plan at the Rate of N500, Send BBC to 21600.share with others.

Jonathan directs immediate action to end ASUU strike

President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday directed the two Federal Government committees negotiating the requests by Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), to take immediate measures at ending the on-going strike.The Chairman of the Universities Needs Implementation Committee,Gov. Gabriel Suswam of Benue, made this known after a closed-door meeting of the two committees and other stakeholders with President Jonathan at the State House.in Abuja.Vice-President Namadi Sambo, the Chairman of the Earned Allowance Committee and the Secretary to theGovernment of the Federation (SGF), Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim were in attendance at the meeting.Also in attendance were, Ministers of Education, Prof. Ruqayyat Rufai, Labour, Emeka Wogu, the Executive Secretary of National Universities Commission, Prof. Julius Okogie and the Chief of Staff to the President, Chief Mike Oghiadome.Speaking with State House correspondents, Suswam said that the meeting was summoned by thePresident “to take some decisions that would end the strike’’.“The President has instructed us, as to what to do, and he has showna lot of commitments to flagging off projects worth about N100 billion in all the universities in the country, about 61 of them.“So, we are hoping that we will be able to see the end of the strike very soon.“At the end of the day, we hope ASUU is satisfied with the measures that have so far been taken.“The federal government will also be meeting with the Universities Councils and Vice Chancellors of our universities within the week towards updating them on some ofthe decisions taken,’’ he said.Suswam said about N100 billion had been approved by the Federal Government to his committee to address infrastructure deficit in all the Universities.punch ng

ASUU strike: Jonathan approves N400bn lifeline –SSANU

The end to the present strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) may be in sight as President Goodluck Jonathan hasapproved N400 billion for the infrastructural development of Nigerian universities.The document to this effect is expected to be made available today at the meeting of the presidential committee on implementation of the NEEDS assessment in the universities with the leaders of the four university-based unions – the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities(SSANU), the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).The President of SSANU, Samson Ugwoke, made the revelation while addressing his union members at the SSANU National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held at the weekend at the University of Abuja.Ugwoke, briefing the SSANU members on the activities of the NEEDS assesment implementation committee, led by Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam. He noted that the fund was different from the N100 billion Governor Suswam had raised from donor agencies and big companies to tackle the problems of Nigerian universities in 2013.The labour leader said: “Let me giveyou a tip on what the NEEDS assessment committee is doing. The president has approved that within the next four years; N400 billion would be expended in infrastructural development of Nigerian universities, to transform the universities to international standard.“N100 billion has already been raised by Suswam committee out ofwhich 61 universities have been pencilled down, as contained in the NEEDS assessement committee. The N100 billion is expected to address needs of the universities inthe areas which include re-furbishing and renovation of lecture theatres and lecture halls, re-furbishing and renovation of laboratories/libraries and the renovation of hostels.“The second category is building of new hostels of international standard, self-contained rooms, thelatest model in the world. That is the standard to be built in every university, and also the state-of-the-art laboratories as well as classrooms, lecture theatres and the halls.”Ugwoke pointed out that the moneyhad been shared and out of the N100 billion, N96 billion had been sent to universities.He added: “The committee is meeting again on Monday, and by Monday (today), the document will be out. This time around, it is not only by giving university money, butit will be monitored to ensure that the money is used to transform the universities, to bail universities out of the present situation and developed to an international recognized university standard.”

ASUP Preparing to Resume Strike

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) announced the decision to suspend the nationwide strike on July 16, 2013. Unfortunately, it has just been a pause.ASUP is gearing for another industrial action, which would commence after next week, and would be indefinite.The union made the appropriate statement on August 13, 2013, Tuesday during the mass protest to'save public education'in Lagos."The suspension of the strike will expire next week and up till now government has not done any single thing in the agreement," said Chibuzo Asomugha, ASUP's National President.After 81 days of inactivity in polytechnics across Nigeria, the union decided to suspend the strike following the level of progress made in negotiations with the government.ASUP said that it suspended the strike to allow the Senate Joint Committee on Education to liaise with relevant government agencies with a view to tackling the union's demands within one month.Among ASUP's demands include the need for constitution of the Governing Councils of Federal Polytechnics; migration of the lower cadre to CONTISS 15 salary scale; and the "worrisome condition" of state-owned polytechnics in the country."Government should stop paying lip service to public education," said Mr. Asomugha. "The closer you get to this people in government, the more you lose hope."whats wrong with this our govt?

ASUU Strike: Activists Ask Jonathan To Sack Okonjo-Iweala

A group of activists under the aegis of Anti-Corruption Networkhave called on PresidentGoodluck Jonathan to sack the minister of Finance and coordinating minister of the Economy, Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, without further delay.The group, which spoke through its director of outreach services, Mr Timi Frank, during a press conference in Abuja yesterday , also threatened to mobilise students and youth against the federal and state governments if they refuse to take urgent steps to end the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).Reacting to media reports credited to Okonjo -Iweala that the federal government does not have the N92billion demanded byASUU, the activists gave an ultimatum to the federal and states’ ministries of Education to release the said money or face the wrathof youths and students across the states who will take over premises of the education ministries.....we are prepared for that,okonjo nwela graduated with her first daughter from Harvard university so she don't how it is schooling in Nigeria...

ASUU Strike: FG, ASUU Continue Negotiations

Another round of discussions and negotiations between Federal Government’s NEEDS assessment committee and theAcademic Staff Union of Universities has begun in the Federal Capital Territory.In his opening remarks, the Chairman of the committee, Governor Gabriel Suswan of Benue state expressed hope that the two bodies will reach an agreement and suspend the industrial action.However, the president of ASUU, Dr.Nasir Fagge said the union is opened to discussions on the funding of the education sector in Nigeria.It would be recalled that talks between both parties has hit birk walls severally with the recent one earlier in the month, as Professor Nasir Faggae vowed that the union would not succumb to any pressure to call off its six weeks old strike if all its demands are not met by the government.Mr. Fagge told journalists in Abuja that although negotiations have continued, there’s nothing yet on thetable. He said the union remains resolute in sustaining the ongoing strike action to ensure that the topical issues affecting the nation’s university system are tackled decisively once and for all.However, the chairman of the NeedsAssessment Committee of the Nigerian Universities, Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue state saysthe public holidays have stalled the smooth progress made so far, but ifall goes according to plan, the strikemay be called off next week and also assured Nigerians that the industrial dispute will be resolved.The President of ASUU, Professor Nasir Faggae was not under pressure to call off the strike,as he insisted that the union is resolute in sustaining the ongoing strike action if the issues in contention are not met.

Why we cut female NYSC member’s hand – Suspects

Two suspectedcultists have been arrested in connection with the recent macheting of the right hand of a ‘Batch A’ female member of theNational Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Folakemi Akinbode, at Obunagha community of Yenagoa Local Government area of Bayelsa State.The suspects, now in security custody, were said to have confessed that they attacked and severed Akinbode’s right hand because she refused to hand over to them an unspecified amount of cash and other valuables like handset in her handbag.The two suspects, identified as Ebi Jato and Weriye Aluwa, were arrested on Wednesday in the neighbouring Koroama community while trying to sell Akinbode’s mobile handset.It was gathered that their arrest was effected by the Bayelsa State Special Security Task Force code named ‘Operation Doo Akpor.’The bandits, who had been trailing 26-year-old Akinbode, macheted her right hand on Monday night at the entrance of the Obunagha Corpers’ Lodge at about 8.30 p.m., as she returned from work.She is a graduate of nursing from the Madonna University, Elele Campus, Rivers State, and doing her primary national assignment at the Niger Delta Teaching Hospital (NDUTH), Okolobiri, near Obunagha.She had struggled with them as they attempted to snatch her handbag resulting in the macheting of her right arm.The suspects were said to have narrated in their confession that Akinbode was in charge of a huge amount of money used by the NDUTH to pay blood donors at the Blood Bank section of the hospital on the night of the attack.“They (the suspects) claimed that allthey wanted from her was the remaining money she kept in her bag after the payments in the afternoon. But when she struggled and identified one of them, they attacked her with their machete,” a source said on Thursday.He said their arrest was made possible by the youths of the area who teamed up to fish them out.Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for Bayelsa State, Alex Akhighe, confirmed the arrest of Jato and Aluwa.Paramount ruler of Obunagha community, Godgive Apoh, also confirmed the arrest of the suspects, adding that the community’s Youth Vigilante Association assisted greatly in the achievement.Source: Dailyindependent

Collect Your Certificates Before Dec 31st Or Face Penalty - WAEC

'THE West Africa Examination Council (WAEC), has threatened to impose penalties on candidates who failed to collect their certificates on or before December 31.This is contained in a statement signed by the Deputy Director, Public Affairs, Mr Yusuf Ari, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Lagos.It stated that millions of certificates of candidates who satfor WAEC examinations since 1960 had long been signed but were not collected by candidates.“We wish to inform the general public that certificates up to May/June 2012 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), conducted by WAEC have been printed and dispatched to schools for collection by candidates.“And certificates for external candidates for up to November/December 2012 WASSCE diet, also conducted by the Council have also been printed and are equally awaiting collection by candidates at WAEC offices nationwide.“The external candidates, especially who wrote the November/December examination diets are advised to go and collect their certificates from all our zonal branches or satellite offices in the states.“We urge candidates to go to where they sat for the examination because we no longer have enough space to harbour them.“Most of these certificates have been lying fallow in our various offices with no one coming forward to collect them.“Candidates come in trickles for them, only when they have absolute need for them and I think it should not be so.“We therefore wish to warn that WAEC will be charging extra fee for the custody of these certificates if the candidates failed to collect them later than December 31,” the statement said.Thank God i got mine earlier this year.

ASUU strike: President, Suswam, ministers in crucial meeting

Awuzie| credits:President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday met behind closed-doors with Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue State and some key ministers over the ongoing industrial action embarked upon by members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities.Suswam is the Chairman of the National Economic Empowerment Development Strategy Assessment Implementation Committee of the universities.Others, who attended the meeting, included the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqqayat Rufa’i;and the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu.The meeting, which was held insidethe President’s office at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, lasted for a few hours.No official statement was made available at the end of the meeting.Okonjo-Iweala and Suswam left thepremises, using a gate that allowedthem to evade journalists’ that might have wanted to ask questions.Wogu, who was initially walking towards the Press Gallery, quickly made a detour when he sighted journalists waiting for him and left through the same gate that the minister and the governor had passed through earlier.Rufa’i, however, walked into the journalists’ ambush before she realised it.She initially declined comments on the meeting but when pressed further, she said the government was on course in its negotiation with ASUU.The minister, however, appealed tothe striking union to call off the industrial action in the interest of the nation.“I have not been mandated to speak to journalists on the matter but I can tell you that we are on course. I will only appeal to ASUU to call off the strike in the interest of the nation,” she said.Meanwhile, ASUU on Monday foreclosed an early resolution of the industrial crisis rocking the nation’s university system as the union insisted that it would not callof its industrial action until all its demands were met by the Federal Government.The President of ASUU, Nasir Fagge, insisted that the union was resolute in sustaining the ongoing strike action to ensure that the topical issues affecting the nation’s university system tackled decisivelyonce and for all.He said it was inconceivable for the union to call of the strike without achieving the objectives of the action only to call another one later.The ASUU President, who made the comment while speak with journalists at the Benue State Governor’s Lodge, Asokoro, Abuja, said the union decided to continuewith the strike because of the failure of the government to address the issues raised after previous industrial actions were called off.

Most Expensive In Nigerian secondary school in Lagos. over (N4,480, 000.00) per year

Here is a list of elitist secondary schools in Lagos:
1. British International School
Location: 1, Landbridge Avenue, Oniru Private Estate. Victoria Island. Lagos.
Tuition and Fees: (Boarding Annual) $26,750+N200, 000
Additional Charges (at160 per dollar exchange rate) = N4,480, 000.00
Tuition and Fees: (Day) $15,250+
Additional Charges (at 160 per dollar exchange rate) =N2,640, 000.00
2. Lekki British International School
Location: Victoria Arobieke street, off. Admiralty Way, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.
Tuition and Fees;(Boarding Annual) $19,500+N200, 000 development fee (at N165 per dollar exchange rate)= N4, 000,300.00
Tuition and Fees: (Day) $12,000+N200, 00 Development fee (at N165 per dollar exchange rate) =N2, 911, 300.00
3. Greensprings School
Location: 32, OlatundeAyoola Avenue, Anthony, Lagos.
Tuition and Fees: (Boarding Annual) N3, 185,200 . Additional charges excluded.
Tuition and Fees: (Day Annual) N1, 925,200.00. additional charges excluded.
4. Atlantic Hall, Epe
Location: Poka, Epe.
Tuition and Fees: (Annual) N2,270,000.00. Additional charges like uniforms are excluded from the fees.
5. Chrisland College
Location: No 2A, Ladipo Oluwole Avenue, Ikeja.
Tuition and Fees: (Annual) N2,000,000. Additional charges are excluded.
6. Dowen College
Located in the heart of Regency Town of Lekki, Lagos.
Tuition and Fees: (Boarding Annual) N 2,000,000.00. Additional charges excluded.
Tuition and Fees: (Day Annual) N 1,250,000.00. Additional charges excluded...Life is good but is it not the same final exams all schools are going to write?

ASUU Strike update: Next Meeting with Lecturers Shifted to Tuesday

The consultations between striking university lecturers and the representatives of the Federal Government on August 1 did not resolve the contending issues, but the parties have agreed on setting up of a government committee.

This was revealed by the President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Mr. Nasiru Fagge, in a telephone interview with the reporters.

Mr. Fagge explained that the last meeting was ‘an inaugural meeting’ and that the head of the government negotiating team and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Pius Anyim, stated “what he wants to do.”

He said the government delegation set up a sub-committee to source data from the National Planning Ministry on the contentious issues while the government’s meeting with the lecturers would continue on Tuesday.

The striking university lecturers demand that government fully implements the 2009 agreement with ASUU, while the government says it wants to renegotiate some parts of the agreement.

The strike is currently in its fifth week as hundreds of thousands of public university students are kept out of class.

The lecturers, through their various zonal executives, have said that they would not return to class until government agrees to implement the 2009 agreement fully. ....am tired of all these meetings,can't we resume why the meetings continue?
READ MORE:  http://news.naij.com/42325.html

Photos: Students Protest In Lagos Over ASUU/ASUP Strike

A part of the Ikorodu Road, Lagos was at standstill as students under the aegis of Nigerian Education Rights Coalition and Coalition Against Commercialization of Education in Nigeria today embarked on street protests.
The protest, which were peaceful in nature, were against the Nigerian government’s insensitivity to ongoing strike by university and polytechnic teachers. The protest began with a handful of people but grew later.
Policemen wer seen trying to break up the protest, however the students remained undeterred and remained peaceful while they firmly protested. Here are photos from the protest.
...I think we need to start a protest in Abuja also

Meet Rev Chris Okotie's rumoured new girlfriend

I said rumoured o, nothing has been confirmed yet, but my sources swear Pastor Chris Okotie has found love again in Delphine Onyii Okoronkwo. I don't know what she does for a living but she's quite popular in the Lagos social scene. According to reports, she has been dating the House Hold of God head pastor for at least three months, though his people claim they are just friends.

Delphine, who is in her late 20's, recently launched a brand new Kia Carens car said to be worth over N8million and people are saying Pastor Okotie bought the car for her. Delphine doesn't attend Chris Okotie's church, she attends pastor Tony Rapu's This Present House church, but visits her rumoured new squeeze at his Opebi, Ikeja home after church service on Sundays.

Rev Okotie, who has vowed never to remarry after ending his 4-year marriage to Stephanie Henshaw in June 2012, was earlier this year linked to another lady called Naomi Hoffman (Read story HERE) though his camp denied the affair.

I know Pastor Okotie's publicist reads this blog...so send us a statement denying this one too...:-). See more photos of beautiful Delphine

Nigerian Graduates with 4.0CGPA out of 4.0 in University of Texas

A 24 year old Nigerian, Uwa Osamede Imafidon, just graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) in the US with Masters degree in Microbiology and made a 4.0 CGPA out of the maximum 4.0 CGPA.

Before her sojourn abroad, she had earlier bagged a First Class Degree in Crop Science from University of Benin, as the Best Graduating student in her Department. So proud of her! See photos of her when she was in Nigeria for her first degree, after the cut...

Beauty plus brains = great combination!....type of everybody's girl now cos she is brilliant....GOD HELP ME TOO

Uniabuja medical students protest meets resistance

Their blockade of Airport Road, at least a hundred metres from the school gates, was dismantled by security shortly before noon.The protest disrupted scheduled exams for thousands of distance learning students for a second day.The exams are not likely to hold until next week at the earliest reschedule, Daily Trust has learnt.Security fired gunshots and teargas to disperse student crowds from the protest site, witnesses said.Police, army and a naval unit were among security deployed to hold the junction.Its gates were manned by groups ofmen in mufti, armed with sticks, whom students accuse of assault on the first day of protests on Monday.Daily Trust reporter at the scene went through the armed men, along with full time students, to get access into the school, where activities have shut down.Medical students, protesting for thefirst time over Uniabuja's medical programme lacking accreditation by Medical and Dental Council, accuse the school management of attempts to silence them by deploying "touts" to attack them.Students have also demanded N10million each in compensation for wasted years without hope of ever becoming doctors.One student injured in Monday's protest, said he was assaulted by one of the men armed with a cutlass.Uniabuja authorities have denied using force to keep the school gatesopen."As for beatings, the students were the ones that attacked a security personnel at the gate, wounding him seriously in the process," said the school's information officer Garba WaziriAt the same time it maintained heavy police presence at its mini campus in Gwagwalada.Teams of armed police blocked off traffic before and after Uniabuja's gates at Gwagwalada as the school senate met at noon.UPDATE – 2:30p.m:Uniabuja Senateends impromptu two-hour meeting,resolves that the distance-learning exams disrupted by two days of protest by medical students will continue but cannot immediately resolve the accreditation of its medical school. It also says accreditation is beyond its immediate power and dependent on NUC.

Amstel Malta, Tuface Rock uniabuja

The capital city of Nigeria, Abuja, recently came alive as the Amstel Malta sponsored Tuface and Friends Campus Connect gig, which has been touring major universities made a historic stop in the city. In a night filled with exciting music display ably championed by ‘African Queen’ crooner, Innocent UjahIdibia, fondly called ‘Tuface’, students and a cross section of Abuja dwellers thronged the popular Tiffany Gardens in Gwagwalada to have a great time out with ‘Tubaba’ and Friends.

 

The ecstatic and electric atmosphere coupled with an all-star retinue of entertainers billed to perform during the Campus Connect gig with Tuface and Friends elicited pure feelings of joy and smiles from fans who were also treated to chilled Cans of Amstel Malta, the quality low-sugar drink from Nigerian Breweries Plc.

Speaking at the event, Mr Abayomi Abidakun, who represented Doyin Owotomo, Brand Manager, Amstel Malta expressed delight for the impressive turnout of the students and the outstanding musical performances by the Acts. He commended the musical orientation of the Abuja students and lovers of good music. ‘‘I am so humbled with the unprecedented turn out for this gig that is being powered by Amstel Malta. Amstel Malta has always championed and advanced the cause of youths by encouraging them to be the best they can be. Hence, tonight’s performance is also a clear demonstration of being able to connect to the University students and the good people of Abuja. The Amstel Malta brand has a penchant for promoting good values in the youths in a bid to chart a good course for Nigeria as a nation. Tuface and his friends have been awesome and Amstel Malta, the low sugar premium brand is indeed delighted to be associated with them’’.

On the night of the event, several budding and notable artistes gave the Abuja fans breath-taking performances. They include: Skills, Ofomental, M.C Amana, Unique, Promate, Mima and BKD. Others are Eva, Blacka, Young Grace, Rocksteady, Damy Crane, Sheyi Shay, Rough Coil, Vector, Solid Star, Azadus,Cupa Victory, Sound Sultan and many more. It was a night of magnificent music which will continue to remain ever green in the minds of the good people of Abuja. 

In what would mark the climax of the evening, the towering legend of Nigerian hip-hop music, Tuface Innocent Idibia graced the stage with aplomb and zest. The applause and thunderous cheer that followed was unbelievable. He shone like a million stars as he performed his act effortlessly. His master stroke musical delivery left the fans high and they could only ask for more.

Among the array of his tracks which he performed are ‘For instance’, ‘Bush meat’, ‘NfanaIbaga’, ‘U no holy pass’, ‘See me so’, ‘No shaking’, ‘Enter the place’, ‘Implication’, ‘African Queen’,  and his hit track from his recent‘ Away and Beyond’ album tagged ‘Iheneme’. Fans of Tuface went absolutely berserk and wild when he free-styled in between his music performances.

Indeed, the Amstel Malta sponsored Tuface and friends gig has left an indelible mark in Abuja which is a pointer to how a premium brand inspires youths and consumers to be the very best they can be.

Reps Approve 14-Year Imprisonment For Same-Sex Marriage

The House of Representatives on Thursday passed a bill forbidding same-sex marriage in Nigeria and imposed a 10 to 14 year jail term for anybody who violates the law.
The lawmakers in a unanimous voice vote, approved the “bill for an Act to prohibit marriage or civil union entered between persons of same sex, solemnization of same and for other matters related there with.”
The bill specifically prohibits the solemnization of marriage or civil union between persons of same gender in any place of worship either church or mosque or in any place in Nigeria.
The Senate which initiated the bill gave its approval late in 2011.
The bill provides that “persons that entered into a same gender marriage or civil union contract commit an offense and are jointly liable on conviction to a term of 14 years imprisonment each.”
The bill also stipulates that “any person, who registers, operates or participates in gay clubs, societies and organisations or directly or indirectly make a public show of same sex amorous relationship commits an offence and shall be liable to a term of 10 years imprisonment.”
It also prescribes a 10 year jail term for “any persons or group of persons that administer witness, abet, screen, shield and aid the solemnization of a same sex marriage contract or civil union or supports the registration of gay clubs, societies and organizations, processions or meetings in Nigeria.
The bill voids marriage or civil union consummated between persons of same gender by virtue of a certificate issued in a foreign country.
The bill needs the assent of President Goodluck Jonathan for it to become law.