Why Not Thank GOD

My mates are getting married.
My mates are getting good jobs.
My mates are succeeding.
My mates are living overseas.
My mates are buying cars.
My mates are building houses.
My mates are this......my mates are that......
It's a pity you literally forgot about your mates in the mortuary, your mates in the psychiatric homes, your mates are roaming on the streets, your mates are jobless, hungry, blind, deaf..........
You might not be where you wish to be but you have obviously
transcended from where you were yesterday. Be thankful.
Do you know: Only 50 days left and we say bye bye to 2013? Some slept yesterday and didn't wake up today? We're sinners but GOD showed mercy? GOD still has plans for you before the year ends? Some mates are there in jail without committing any crime? You ate last night but some didn't or couldn't? You have work and sources for daily living while some have nothing to look up to. You are not alive because you are faithful or because you have never sinned before, but it is the MERCY of GOD that kept you alive. INDEED GOD LOVE'S YOU. Why Can't you just appreciate GOD by saying 'THANK YOU GOD' Than complaining....

Anambra poll: Observer group predicts run-off, tight election

INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega
| credits: File copy

A civil rights organization, Election Monitor, has predicted a run-off election in the Anambra state governorship election scheduled for next Saturday (November 16)

About four political parties, Peoples Democratic Party, All Peoples Congress, All Progressives Grand Alliance and Labour Party are to field candidates for the election.

According to EM, the election would be very tight because of the strengths of all the candidates in all the senatirial districts and local governments in the state.

The National coordinator of EM, Mr. Abiodun Ajilola, stated this on Monday in Abuja during the public presentation of its findings from the pre-election opinion polls for the 2013 Anambra State governorship election.

He said, “From the opinion polls we have carried out and from what we have seen on ground, there are four candidates in the Anambra state governorship election that are very formidable. Among these four candidates, each of them has very defined strengths. For one candidate to win at least 25 per cent in all the 14 LGs might not be easy because it is so tight.

“Looking at how things are going, there is a possibility of a run-off in the Anambra State governorship election because it is possible that not one candidate will be able to satisfy that condition, looking at the strengths of the candidates on ground.

“It may not happen this way because election is not all about calculation; there are other things which happen that determine election results. None of the four candidates is small, it’s not going to be easy for one person to hold sway, it’s going to be very competitive. That is why I say there may be a run-off.”

Anambra poll: Observer group predicts run-off, tight election

INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega
| credits: File copy

A civil rights organization, Election Monitor, has predicted a run-off election in the Anambra state governorship election scheduled for next Saturday (November 16)

About four political parties, Peoples Democratic Party, All Peoples Congress, All Progressives Grand Alliance and Labour Party are to field candidates for the election.

According to EM, the election would be very tight because of the strengths of all the candidates in all the senatirial districts and local governments in the state.

The National coordinator of EM, Mr. Abiodun Ajilola, stated this on Monday in Abuja during the public presentation of its findings from the pre-election opinion polls for the 2013 Anambra State governorship election.

He said, “From the opinion polls we have carried out and from what we have seen on ground, there are four candidates in the Anambra state governorship election that are very formidable. Among these four candidates, each of them has very defined strengths. For one candidate to win at least 25 per cent in all the 14 LGs might not be easy because it is so tight.

“Looking at how things are going, there is a possibility of a run-off in the Anambra State governorship election because it is possible that not one candidate will be able to satisfy that condition, looking at the strengths of the candidates on ground.

“It may not happen this way because election is not all about calculation; there are other things which happen that determine election results. None of the four candidates is small, it’s not going to be easy for one person to hold sway, it’s going to be very competitive. That is why I say there may be a run-off.”

Nigeria’s debt rises to N8.32tn

Finance Minister, Okonjo-Iweala
| credits: File copy

The nation’s total debt now stands at N8.32tn ($53.42bn), the Debt Management Office has said.

The latest statistics released by the DMO on its website on Monday showed that as of September 30, 2013, the total debt comprised the external debts of the Federal Government and the state governments as well as the domestic debt component of the Federal Government.

This means that the data did not include the domestic debt component of the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory Administration.

A breakdown of the debts showed that the external debts of both the Federal and state governments stood at N1.28tn ($8.26bn) as of September 30.

Much of the debts, however, were incurred by the Federal Government from domestic sources as these contributed N7.03tn ($4.15bn) to the total debt stock.

A further breakdown of the domestic component of the total debt stock showed that the Federal Government Bonds contributed N4.22tn or 59.93 per cent of the domestic debt.

The Nigerian Treasury Bills accounted for N2.48tn or 35.31 per cent of the domestic debt component. Treasury Bonds, on the other hand, accounted for N334.56bn or 4.76 per cent of the domestic debt of the Federal Government.

As of June 2011, the total debt of the country stood at $37bn. In terms of instruments, the FGN Bonds accounted for N4.03tn or 58.87 per cent of the Federal Government’s domestic debt stock then.

The Nigerian Treasury Bills accounted for N2.48tn or 36.25 per cent of the domestic debt component.

On the other hand, Treasury Bills accounted for N334.56bn or 4.88 per cent of the total domestic debt owed by the Federal Government.

The Director-General of the DMO, Dr. Abraham Nwankwo, had recently said that compared to the level of foreign debt, the Federal Government had over-borrowed from domestic sources.

While unfolding the nation’s Middle Term Debt Management Strategy, which was approved by the Executive Council of Nigeria, Nwankwo said there was an urgent need to rebalance the structure of the nation’s debt because the interest rate payable on domestic debt was too high.

He said the ratio of the Federal Government’s domestic debt stood at 88 per cent while that of the foreign debt stood at 12 per cent.

Nwankwo said the appropriate ratio should be 60 per cent for domestic debt and 40 per cent for foreign debt, adding that the newly approved Medium Term Debt Management Strategy would seek to achieve this ratio.

One of the ways of doing this is through the establishment of a sinking fund for retiring local debts that get matured. The second way is by borrowing more from foreign sources.

Nwankwo said, “The main objective of the Medium Term Debts is to develop a strategy that would meet the financing needs of the government at a minimum cost, maintain risk at a prudent level and support the development of the market.”

FG to declare two sites as national monuments in Borno

The Federal Government is to declare two sites in Borno as national monuments as part of Nigeria’s centenary celebrations in  2014.

The Coordinator of the National Museum in Borno, Hajiya Aisha Jidda, said this on Tuesday during a courtesy visit on Gov. Kashim Shettima in Maiduguri.

Jidda named the sites as the first Shuhe Tomb in Kukawa, Kukawa Local Government Area and the Shehu Mohammed El Kanemi Prayer House in Ngala, Gamboru Ngala Local Government Area of the state.

“It may interest you to note that since 1959 when the Rabeh’s forte  was declared National Monument in the state,  no other site has been declared.

“Two important sites will be declared as National Monuments to complement the 100 years of amalgamation of Nigeria in 2014,” she said.

Jidda said the enlistment of the sites would boost the tourism potentials of the state.

“Your administration has no doubt recorded tremendous achievements in all spheres of human endeavour.”

The National Museum would like to partner with you in exploring the tourism potentials of the state,” the coordinator said.

FG targets N32bn from private jet owners

Coordinating General Manager (Communications) for Aviation Parastatals, Mr. Yakubu Dati
| credits: http://citizensplatform.net

The Federal Government will rake in about N32bn annually as luxury tax from owners and operators of private jets in Nigeria.

This is if the attempts by the government through the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority to impose luxury tax on private jet owners and operators sailed through.

The NCAA had in September directed the operators of private jets to pay the sum of $4,000 (N634,000) for every flight departure within the country.

A memo sent to all the private jet operators by the regulatory agency, a copy of which was obtained by our correspondent, indicated that Nigerian-registered private jets would pay the sum of $3,000 (N475,517) for every departure, while foreign registered private jets would pay $4,000 (N634,000) per departure.

Findings by our correspondent showed that there are about 139 private jets operating in the country; made up of 87 jets registered overseas and 52 jets registered in Nigeria.

Usually, private jets record between 350 and 400 flight hours every year.

This would mean that the 87 foreign registered jets would be expected to pay $4,000 each for 400 flight hours, translating to about $139m (N22.06bn), while the 52 locally registered flights would be expected to pay $3,000 each per 400 flight hours, amounting to $62.4m (N9.89bn). This brings the total amount payable to $201bn (N31.95bn).

The NCAA’s memo, dated August 28, 2013, with reference number: CAA/DG/OR/GA/VOL.11/2013/06 and signed by its Director-General, Captain Fola Akinkuotu, was entitled, ‘Order charging certain fees on operations in general aviation.’

It read, “In compliance with the provisions of Section 30 (2) (q) & (s) of the Civil Aviation Act of 2006, the authority hereby orders: All foreign registered aircraft engaging in non-scheduled operations to forthwith pay $4,000 as fees under the provisions of the law set out above for every departure, except round trips without changes in passenger manifest, or return ferry. Such fees shall be paid in advance and prior to departure.

“All Nigerian-registered aircraft engaging in non-scheduled operations shall forthwith pay $3,000 as fees under the provisions of the law set out above for every departure, except round trips without changes in passenger manifest, or return ferry. Such fees shall be paid in advance and prior to any departure.

“This order shall be effective and in force immediately upon the date of issuance. Failure to comply shall result in denial of operations and or privileges.”

The memo is, however, generating controversy in the aviation industry, with some operators arguing that the levies are illegal and threaten not to pay.

But the NCAA has filed a suit at the Federal High Court, Lagos, challenging the reluctance of foreign and locally-registered aircraft operators to pay the levies.

The agency deposed that the payment of the said fees was to take effect from the date of the issuance of the order.

The affected airlines and aircraft operators under the aegis of the Airline Operators of Nigeria described as draconian the policy, which they said amounted to double taxation and an illegality.

Recently, the government had expressed displeasure over the rising number of private jets carrying foreign registration, which accounted for over $10bn annual revenue loss through the payment of charges and taxes abroad.

The government said private jets being used for illegal charter services were ripping the country of huge revenue.

It said these operators also abstained from paying import duties, five per cent Value Added Tax and the five per cent charges to the NCAA.

The Coordinating General Manager (Communications) for Aviation Parastatals, Mr. Yakubu Dati, explained that the government was getting increasingly worried about such infractions by the private jet owners. This, he added, was curtailing “the growth of commercial charter operations, which are registered by the NCAA for specialised services.”

He said, “Out of 139 private jets operating in Nigeria, 87 are registered overseas while 52 are registered locally and when aircraft is registered overseas, it is assumed that it is visiting Nigeria as it is usually registered under a foreign operator and the implication of this is that it will not pay import duty when coming into Nigeria.”

Dati said it was time private jet owners desisted from such illegal operations to enable the government to harness the huge revenue potential from commercial charter jet operations.

He said the government would not hesitate to implement full sanctions against any errant private jet owner.

N3.2tn investments attracted in three years – FG

Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
| credits: File copy

The Federal Government said on Monday in Abuja that in the last three years, over N3.2tn ($20bn) Foreign Direct Investment had been attracted into the Nigerian economy.

The figure was made public at a world press conference on the 24th World Economic Forum on Africa, which would he hosted next year in Nigeria.

The summit to be held in Abuja will be the first of its kind by the WEF in West Africa.

The N3.2tn investments represent 10 per cent of the entire African continent’s FDI. The Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who gave this hint, said the forum with the theme, ‘Forging inclusive growth, creating jobs,’ would further help to stimulate investments in the economy.

She said the forum would offer an unprecedented opportunity for Nigeria to showcase its vast economic potential to the world and deepen dialogue on economic reforms between the international and Nigerian private sector.

The theme, she said, was chosen because it aligned with the medium and long-term aspirations and commitment of the Federal Government.

She said hosting the economic conference next year will not only ensure that Nigeria remained the largest recipient of FDI in Africa, but will also ensure that the investments it attracted were broad-based.

This, she added, would help to generate millions of jobs for the army of unemployed youths in the country.

The minister said, “The WEF is an organisation that has been in existence for more than 25 years.

“The objective is to bring top-class chief executive officers of big organisations in the world together with the government in order to forge a partnership that can lead to investments to the improvement of the private sector in given countries so that we can have improved job creation and an improvement in the standard of living.

“We are very honoured and it’s very clear the reason why Nigeria made the list of this conference and the reason is that they find it very fascinating all the developments that are happening in the Nigerian economy.”

She said international investors were interested in the transformation going on in various sectors of the Nigerian economy, adding that the reforms had created an avenue for more FDI.

“The power sector privatisation is one that hasn’t really been seen elsewhere and so, they are fascinated by the way it was openly and transparently done.

“They are also interested in what is happening in our agriculture and housing sectors, which would soon be launched and various other opportunities, such as the manufacturing sector, consumer goods industry and the creative industries,” she said.

Okonjo-Iweala said compared to other economies, the Nigerian economy had maintained a relative macro-economic stability.

“Inflation rate is coming down; we have strong reserves to underpin the economy, robust growth rate,” she stated.

Mikel, Moses nominated for BBC award

Moses and Mikel

Nigeria’s duo of Mikel Obi and Victor Moses have been nominated for this year’s BBCAfrican Footballer award alonside three other Africa’s best in the Eurpean leagues.

Ivory Coast’s Yaya Toure is making the shortlist for the fifth consecutive year, while Burkina Faso’s Jonathan Pitroipa and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Gabon complete the list.

The winner, who will be unveiled on December 2, will be decided by African football fans via SMS.

No player on this year’s shortlist, drawn up from votes by 44 journalists across Africa, has won the BBC award before and two – Pitroipa and Aubameyang – are the first nominees from their respective countries.

Mikel and Moses both helped Nigeria lift the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations trophy for the first time in 19 years.

Mikel, 26, also won the Europa League with Chelsea, while 2013 was the year he finally scored a goal for the Blues, that coming in his 185th game.

Goals have flowed more readily for 22-year-old Moses, the winger hit six for Chelsea in 2013 before he moved on a season-long loan to Liverpool, where he scored on his debut in September.

Toure appears to be the most potent of the three English Premier League players on the list. The Ivorian, 30, has bagged 12 goals so far in 2013 – including some exquisite free-kicks.

Aubameyang, 24, has been in prolific form over the past year – ending the 2012-13 season with 19 goals for St-Etienne, which put him second in the list of top scorers in the French Ligue 1, while he also helped them win the French Cup to claim his first trophy as a professional.

Those performances earned him a summer transfer to Champions League runners-up Borussia Dortmund, and he has already scored seven goals in 11 games for the German side.

Pitroipa’s biggest highlights came on the international stage as the 27-year-old winger was named player of the tournament at the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa, helping Burkina Faso surprise everyone by reaching the final.

Four killed in MASSOB, security clash

MASSOB

FOUR people were feared killed on Monday when members of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra clashed with a joint team of security men in Onitsha, Anambra State.

But while MASSOB claimed that the clash was an attack on its members because of the decision of the group to withdraw their support for the All Progressives Grand Alliance, the police declined comments on the incident. The Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Emeka Chukwuemeka, said he had not been officially briefed.

Director of Information of MASSOB, Mr. Uchenna Madu, who said he was speaking on behalf of the leader of MASSOB, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, said the incident occurred in the early hours of the day and that the security team, made up of army, police and State Security Services personnel, stormed the MASSOB headquarters along Onitsha-Owerri Road and allegedly opened fire on the members.

He said that at the end of the attack, four persons were felled while about 80 persons were injured. He said those injured during the incident were denied medical attention because they could not produce police medical permit.

Madu also said that about 18 vehicles belonging to MASSOB members and traders at the Mgbuka-Obosi, Old Motor Spare Parts Obosi, and 137 motorcycles belonging to MASSOB members were burnt and cash sum of N920, 000 was taken by the security agents.

The MASSOB spokesman also said 37 traders in the Old Motor Spare Parts, Mgbuka, sustained bullet wounds and were rushed to various hospitals for medical attention.

He alleged that the clampdown on their members was masterminded by the state government which he accused of not being comfortable with members of the group’s resolve to announce their preferred candidate ahead of Saturday governorship election.

Madu said, “This devilish act of cowardice meted on MASSOB was not unconnected with our refusal to allow our name to be used by some desperate politicians who wanted to score cheap political goal, using our platform.

“We had issued a statement distancing ourselves from supporting APGA and its candidate ahead of the governorship election in the state. We are very quite aware that the stand we took did not go down well with some highly placed persons in the state, hence, the attack was to disorganise us and browbeat us to submission.

“We hold Peter Obi responsible for the killings. This reminds us about the 2006 shoot-on-sight order by Governor Peter Obi who massacred about 2,000 MASSOB members.

“We shall arrest him and pay him back in his own coin in our own way immediately he steps down as the governor because his recent action of killing MASSOB members will heavily affect APGA chances of winning this election.”

The Senior Special Assistant to Obi on Media and Publicity, Mr. Valentine Obienyem, who said he was not yet aware of the incident, wondered why MASSOB was attributing it to the governor.

“Why are they calling the name of the governor?”  he asked.

Corruption: Ghana sacks minister as Jonathan keeps Oduah on

President Goodluck Jonathan

The fight against corruption has assumed a new dimension in Ghana as President John Mahama has sacked the Deputy Minister of Communications, Victoria Hammah,  for allegedly making a statement that suggested that she could be corrupt.

On Thursday, a taped conversation that Hammah had with someone, in which she allegedly said she would not leave politics until she had made $1m, leaked. By Friday, she was sacked by the government.

This is coming at a time that Nigerians are impatiently awaiting a decisive step by President Goodluck Jonathan over the role of the Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah, in the purchase of two armoured vehicles at a mind-boggling cost of about N255m.

Ghana’s decision appears to have reminded concerned Nigerians that by geographical standards, their country and Ghana are neighbours. They have also shared some historical moments, so much that they can sometimes be regarded as political allies. But despite such affinities, both countries are far from being on the same page when it comes to the treatment of corruption.

Although Hammah had not carried out the intention credited to her in the said tape, she was fired nonetheless. In the tape circulating online, she appears to have said, “If you have money, then you can control people.”

Interestingly, Hammah and Oduah are said to have played similar active roles in the elections of their respective principals. According to a BBC report, Hammah had, ironically, also openly expressed disgust at corruption months back.

“In August, she said there was a lot of pressure on her to steal public money because people thought that, as a minister, she was rich. She described such demands as obnoxious,” BBC quotes Ghanaweb news site as saying. She is said to have added that “corrupt politicians are the reflection of  a corrupt society.”

Apart from the fact that Oduah has confessed to giving the approval when she appeared before the House of Reps Committee on Aviation that probed her and other parties involved,  two other limousines bought by FAAN has been linked to her. Yet, she is still a minister in the Jonathan cabinet.

The highest that President Jonathan has done is to set up a probe panel in which many people have little or no confidence. Many observers may not have any problems with the integrity of the members of the committee.  Rather, people are bothered about the sincerity of the President, the political will to deal with the situation and the fact that nothing concrete had come from similar probe panels in the past.

Indeed, some are tempted to describe the Nigerian government’s backyard as a cemetery of reports of other similar earlier panels.

The fear assumed more substance considering a report that Jonathan might not think highly of the House of Assembly’s recommendation that Oduah be sacked.

Reacting to the development, the Governance Manager of the Action Aid International Nigeria, Obo Effanga, notes that although every President has the latitude to choose who he appoints or retains as a minister, he must always consider the feelings of the people he governs on an issue like the ‘Oduahgate’.

Effanga says, “Another issue is that when you are talking about fighting corruption, there should be evidence that every step you have taken points towards that. The experience we have had with committees also shows that they take time to complete their work. It also takes another long time for the President or whoever is involved to act on the committees’ reports.

“On this bulletproof cars matter, we have wasted a lot of time, and we have yet to take a decision on it.  One of the issues we need to address is: Were they provided for in the budget? Who approved the purchase? Does the person have the authority to do so? Whoever committed a crime in the whole matter should be made to face the punishment due to anyone in that circumstance. The President has delayed too much on the matter.”

He adds that it is wrong to give the impression that a political office is meant for a particular person, who must remain there no matter the circumstance.

Lagos-based lawyer, Bamidele Aturu, also notes that the Oduah-Hammah story shows contrasting political cultures in Nigeria and Ghana. In a telephone interview with our correspondent, he argues that what Ghana has done shows that it has a political culture that listens to the yearnings of the people.

He says, “It shows that Ghana has a culture of decency.  It shows that in Ghana, anybody who has done something indefensible cannot hold political offices.  It depicts that theirs is a culture that does not accommodate indecency.

“On the other hand, the development shows that we have a political culture that accommodates indecency in Nigeria; a culture in which you can grab whatever you can for yourself without being responsive to the yearnings of the people. It shows clearly a corrupt culture and culture of brigandage. It shows that those in government can go away with blue murder. They can steal anything and go away with it.”

Aturu decries the working of what he calls a cultic committee in the Odua scandal, saying that any committee who Nigerians do not know when it is holding its meeting and who it is talking to is a cultic one.

According to him, the step the aviation minister took in the purchase of the car amounts to recklessness of the highest order.

He says, “That tells you why we are where we are. It is a wake-up call to Nigerians: We must insist on the right thing. We must stop people perpetuating this culture of impunity and brigandage.”

Human right activist and President of the Campaign for Democracy, Joe Okei-Odumakin, salutes Ghana for having made ‘giant strides’ in sanitising its clime. But she is sad that Nigeria has not shown any sign of seriousness in this regard.

“One salutes Ghana for efforts it is making. No wonder, the country has continued to make steady progress. In our own clime, impunity continues to thrive.  Even when the matter of the scandalous purchase of the bulletproof cars had become public knowledge and source of public outrage, some of our people embarked on a journey to Israel, including the indicted person. We had probe panels working on the issue, we have the relevant agencies, like the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, yet everyone embarked on the journey to Israel.

“There must be enough political will to sanitise Nigeria. There is so much poverty, unemployment, insecurity and other problems in the country. Yet, someone is spending so much money on cars. This culture of impunity must stop. What is happening in Ghana should serve as a clarion call to Nigeria. President Jonathan must act now because justice delayed is justice denied,” Okei-Odumakin adds.

UI, ABU, others support suspension of ASUU strike

National President, ASUU, Nasir Issa-Faggae

More units of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, including the University of Ibadan and Ahmadu Bello University chapters, have voted for the suspension of the strike by the union during chapter congresses held nationwide.

The union met with a Federal Government team led by President Goodluck Jonathan last Tuesday in Abuja.

Government has promised to inject N220bn yearly into the public universities for the next five years.

The ASUU leadership, after briefing the zonal coordinators on the offer, had directed the local branches to organise congress meetings between Friday last week and Tuesday (today).

This is to enable all the lecturers to make input into the action the union would take after its NEC meeting on Thursday.

As at press time on Monday, 20 of the 28 chapters that had concluded their meetings supported the suspension of the strike, while the remaining eight preferred that the varsity teachers pressed on with the strike.

The teachers in the University of Abuja, for instance, supported the suspension of the strike but listed conditions that must be met by the Federal Government.

A source at the meeting on Monday said the congress demanded that the withheld three months salaries of the lecturers must be paid.

“Members also demanded for commitment on funding. We also want assurance from government that no lecturer will be victimised on the account of participating in the strike. We also asked that the template for sharing the earned allowance should be prepared within the next two weeks,” the source added.

The conditions were the same for Nasarawa State University, which voted for continuation of the strike.

Chairman of ASUU in the school, Dr. Theophilus Lagi, told our correspondent after the congress that as far as his members were concerned the strike should continue.

He said, “There are certain grey areas that must be cleared. The ‘no work no pay’ policy must be sorted out. Government must pay lecturers the arrears.

“We also need evidence that the N200bn that government promised to release this year is in the central bank. We are not going to suspend the strike until the money is there and available for sourcing. That is the position of the congress.

“Nobody trusts government. They have been making promises since 2009 and nothing has been implemented except the N30bn earned allowances.

“Secondly, the 2009 agreement is due for review; nothing has been said about that. Lecturers have been denied salary for three months, those monies must be paid.”

Among the universities that supported that the strike be called off are Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; Federal University of Technology, Minna; University of Lagos; University of Ibadan; University of Calabar; University of Port-Harcourt; Federal University of Technology, Akure; Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto;  and Ekiti State University.

The list also include the Federal University of Technology, Owerri; Delta State University; Bayero University Kano; Imo State University; Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta; and Olabisi Onabanjo University, among others.

On the other hand, majority of lecturers at the University of Benin; and University of Jos wanted the strike to continue.

However, in the Bauchi zone of the union, five universities voted for continuation of the state strike, while the remaining three threw their weight against the continuation of the strike.

120 Oyo policemen hit Anambra for gov poll

As Anambra State prepares to hold its governorship election on Saturday, the Oyo State Police Command says it is sending policemen to the state to ensure a peaceful election.Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr. Clement Adoda, said this while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria in Ibadan on Tuesday.Adoda did not give the number of officers who are involved in the exercise, but explained that the first batch, made up of 120 officers, left Ibadan for Anambra State on Monday.

“The second batch, which is also the last, leaves today,” he added.Adoda said the “special duty” was in line with the directive of the Inspector-General of Police Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar. “The I-G directed some selected commands in the country to strengthen the available manpower in Anambra State as the state holds its governorship election on Saturday.“Oyo State command is one of such selected commands and in view of this, we are sending our own contingent,” he said.

Cotton buds? Be cautious!

This is for you if you are a ‘fan’ of cotton buds. Anytime you feel an urge to poke your ear with a cotton bud, understand that more people are injured by it than razor blades.  According to recent research, 36 per cent of adults use cotton buds to clean their ears, and most of them know that it is potentially dangerous. Nobody should put anything smaller than a finger inside their ear.

While the use of cotton buds does not always lead to severe problems, regular use can lead to skin irritation, infection and permanent hearing loss.

In most circumstances, wax could actually benefit your ears. How? According to a private nose and ear consultant, Dr. Remy Byrant, “It causes foreign bodies to adhere to it, preventing them from going further into the ear, and it has anti-bacterial properties. Removing it is like taking the wax off the surface of polished wooden furniture. It makes the delicate underlying skin of the ear more susceptible to infection,” Bryant says.

Adding that wax consists of a mixture of exfoliated skin, secretions and is produced in the outer third of the ear canal, Bryant proffers that some people produce large amounts, which can affect hearing, especially if the wax becomes waterlogged and expands after swimming.

If excessive ear wax tends to run in families, it is best treated by having the ears syringed with warm water under medical supervision. Removing wax with a bud can leave the skin of the ear feeling irritated.  This leads people to twiddle about even more, so they continue to fiddle with the ear until injury is sustained.

Even the most experienced cotton bud user will tend to push significant quantities of wax further in as well as removing some. They ram the bud inside the ear, like a soldier pushing gunpowder down cannon. This ends up in parts of the ear where it should not be, and thus affects hearing.

If the bud is inserted too far, there is a risk of perforating the eardrum, causing sudden pain, bleeding and temporary hearing loss. In most cases, the injury heals itself. Should the bud damage the ossicles (the tiny bones deep inside the ear) it results in dizziness and permanent hearing loss.

Bryant  is of the view that most people have no need to clean out their ears, no  matter how therapeutic experience is.

More cash rewards for Eaglets

U-17 WINNERS: Nigeria players celebrating after winning the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup at Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium, in Abu Dhabi, Uae... on Friday
| credits: AFP

After getting increased match bonuses for winning the 2013 U-17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates, the Golden Eaglets will further receive cash rewards from President Goodluck Jonathan when he hosts them in Abuja on Sunday (today).

The Minister of Sports, Bolaji Abdullahi, and top officials of the Nigeria Football Federation are expected to lead the team to the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa for the grand reception.

Jonathan, who received the news of the Eaglets’ victory while on a two-day trip to Guinea-Bissau and Gambia, will lead other members of the Federal Executive Council to receive the players.

Our correspondent learnt on Saturday that apart from the traditional presidential handshakes and photo session with the President, each player will likely go home with N1m, while the coach is expected to get N2m.

Each player in the team had received N500,000 for finishing second in the African U-17 football tournament in May, while the coach got N1m for his efforts.

The President had said, “In recognition of your performance, we are giving you a token cash appreciation. It is a token because you are young people and we don’t want to spoil you.

The players were paid an increased bonus of $7,000 each for emerging victorious in the final, adding to the $4,000 they received for defeating Sweden in the semi-final.

Each member of the team had received $500 for the three group games, while $1,000 was handed out for the second round victory over Iran.

The players had also received $2,000 instead of the pre-arranged sum of $1,000 for beating Uruguay in the quarter-final.

Oduahgate: Presidential panel’s deadline ends today

Stella Oduah

The fate of the embattled Minister of Aviation, Ms Stella Oduah, may soon be known going by the fact that the administrative committee set up by President Goodluck Jonathan to   investigate  her role in the purchase of two bulletproof BMW cars by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority will on Monday(today) complete its assignment.

Our correspondent learnt that the  Presidential committee, which   has  a former Head of Service of the Federation, Alhaji Isa Bello, as its chaiman, had  been meeting secretly  in the Office of the NSA.

The  panel  has   the  National Security  Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.) and Air Vice Marshal Dick Iruenebere (retd.) as members.

A similar panel by the House of Representatives,  which on Thursday  submitted its report,  indicted Oduah and the NCAA.

A Presidency source said the committee might submit its report to the President any time this week before he leaves for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting holding in Sri Lanka.

 The source added that the presentation might also be kept away from public glare just like the panel’s meetings.

 He however said a  formal statement containing the President’s position would be made.

 In announcing the establishment of the committee on October 23, 2013, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, had said members were expected to, among other things, ascertain whether the procurement of the vehicles followed due process,  the purpose of procurement and inquire into any other incidental matter.

 He had said, “President Jonathan will like to assure the general public that nobody, no matter how highly placed, will be shielded or exempted from this inquiry that he has directed and that appropriate action will be taken against any person or persons who may be found guilty of misconduct or misappropriation of public funds either in this respect or in any other respect.”

On its part, the House  had established  some “infractions” against Oduah and the NCAA.

The panel, headed by Mrs. Nkiruka Onyejeocha, had   refused to make a copy available to the media on the grounds of  avoiding a breach of House procedures. This forced journalists to scoop the highlights of the report through other sources.

Onyejeocha   however  claimed on Friday that what the media reported was not the exact reflection of the committee’s recommendations.

For example, the  committee  was said have recommended that Jonathan should sack the minister for exceeding the official limit in approving the purchase of the   bulletproof cars.

It also allegedly recommended that   sanctions  be imposed on the former Acting Director-General of  the NCAA, Nkemakolam Joyce, and the agency’s Director of Finance, Salawu Ozigi.

 Besides, the  panel   reportedly sought the immediate termination of a loan agreement of N643m to finance the purchase of 54 vehicles, (including the armoured vehicles)  between the NCAA and  First Bank Nigeria.

Coscharis Motors Limited    is to be asked to refund the N255m meant for the bulletproof vehicles while the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission should investigate the company for alleged abuse of waivers.

 The report was also said to have noted that while the National Assembly approved only N240m for the NCAA for the purchase of 25 vehicles  this year, the agency went behind the legislature to purchase 54 vehicles at the cost of N634m.

 The National Assembly had rejected the proposal to buy two  bulletproof cars, but the agency bypassed the legislature to buy the vehicles.

The committee described this act as “extra-budgetary spending” and held Oduah and the NCAA accountable.

 However, the report has yet to be considered, adopted or rejected by the House.

 Under the rules of the House, a committee on completion of an assignment, will lay its report before the House.

 The House will later list it for consideration, where members will go through the report clause-by clause.

 The report can either be endorsed or rejected in the course of the consideration.

Philippine typhoon survivors beg for food

Dazed survivors of a super typhoon that swept through the central Philippines killing an estimated 10,000 people begged for help and scavenged for food, water and medicine on Monday, threatening to overwhelm military and rescue resources.

Survivors are wandering through the remains of their flattened wooden homes in the city of Tacloban, hoping to find loved ones and salvage some of their belongings, according to the Associated Press.

Residents have stripped malls, shops and homes of food, water and consumer goods. Officials said some of the looting smacked of desperation but in other cases items taken included TVs, refrigerators, Christmas trees and a treadmill. An AP reporter in the town said he saw around 400 special forces and soldiers patrolling downtown to guard against further chaos.

http://www.theguardian.com

Spanish police arrest 25 Nigerians for ‘sex trafficking’

| credits: BBC

Spanish police say they have arrested 25 people in a sex-trafficking ring that brought women from Nigeria to work as prostitutes.

The women, allegedly lured with the promise of good jobs in Europe, were first flown to Mexico or Brazil, travelling on false identity documents.

From there, they were flown to Paris, then smuggled into Spain to work in the sex trade, police say.

Five women who were victims of the sex ring were freed in the raids.

Police found one member of the gang performing an abortion on one of the five women, reports the BBC.

Arrests were made across Spain – in Madrid, Toledo, Cantabria and Palma de Mallorca.

More than 100 vans concealing luxury goods were also seized.

The gang used the vans to launder their profits and send them back to Lagos, police say.

The vans, with dark-tinted windows and welded doors, were stocked full of beer but had luxury items hidden deeper inside.

Goods worth an estimated 5m euros (£4.1m; $6.6m) were found in 94 vans seized in Madrid and another 26 in the port of Valencia, including high-end televisions and cases of alcohol.

Police say the gang was formed more than 20 years ago in Nigerian universities and was also known for sending so-called Nigerian letters by email, asking recipients to send money.

ASUU set to suspend strike this week

Indications have emerged that the  Academic Staff Union of Universities may call off the over four-month-old strike on Thursday.

Barring a last-minute change, the National Executive Committee of ASUU will meet on Wednesday night to consider the position of the congresses of the over 50 public universities on the offer made by the Federal government to revamp the institutions.

The  union met with  a Federal Government team led by President Goodluck Jonathan last Tuesday in Abuja.

The  ASUU leadership, after briefing the zonal coordinators  on  the offer, had directed the local branches   to organise  congress meetings between Friday last week and Tuesday (tomorrow).

This is to enable all the lecturers to make input into the action the union would take after its NEC meeting on Thursday.

However, feelers from most universities that had organised their congresses revealed that ASUU  would suspend the strike after the  Thursday NEC meeting.

In  some universities, including the Obafemi Awolowo University and the Lagos State University that have scheduled their congress meetings for Monday (today),  union leaders and lecturers expressed hope that the strike would end this week.

Also, some top officials of the union in some of the nine zones of ASUU said even though they were not happy with the plan by the government to inject N220bn yearly into the public universities for the next five years, they were pleased that a commitment had been obtained by the union.

Though the Ibadan Zonal Coordinator of ASUU, Dr. Nasir Adesola, confirmed that the NEC meeting would hold on Wednesday, he did not say whether the strike would be called off or not.

“Yes, the NEC will hold on Wednesday evening but ASUU has a process which we are going to follow. NEC reserves the right to call off the strike after due consultation with members and this is why congresses are being called in all the chapters of the union. Please, wait till after the congress,” he told one of our correspondents on the telephone.

But another  source said, “Our NEC meeting will hold between Wednesday night and Thursday. Our chapters have started holding meetings to discuss the Federal Government’s offer. This is to allow input from all the lecturers. We have to carry them along to avoid disunity since there are moves by some elements to infiltrate us.”

Another source told one of our correspondents that some members had expressed mixed feelings about the Federal Government’s  new offer based on its refusal to honour  past  agreements.

“The radicals among us are  sceptical about this latest offer. They do  not believe that government will respect the agreement. Their view is  that government only wants  to deceive the union to call off the strike before it will jettison it.”

A top official of the union,  who confirmed the fears,  told one of  our correspondents that although members’ opinions at the zonal congresses were divided over the government’s offer, the majority still decided to give  the government the benefit of the doubt.

He also said that  the majority opinion was that the review of the agreement which was supposed to hold this year should be postponed till next year in the interest of peace.

 The official added, “Members were persuaded because President Goodluck Jonathan personally met with the union. They felt since the President was involved in the negotiation this time around, the government would not say that it was arm-twisted to make the offer.

“This is the problem we are having with the 2009 agreement. By now we should be talking about a review but we are still having troubles with implementation.

“Although feelers across the zones are that we should call off the strike, we are going to put down the government offer in black and white and make it public so that nobody accuses us tomorrow  of  asking for too much.”

Some universities are expected to hold their congresses on Monday (today) to discuss the outcome of the zonal congresses held at nine centres across the country last week.

A source at the meeting  between the government and ASUU   told one of our  correspondents  that the government after a long debate agreed to inject N220bn yearly for the next five years beginning from 2014.

He had said, “The meeting should be the longest that we have ever had on this crisis but I can tell you that both parties were frank all through the discussions. The parties also showed commitment towards ending the crisis. The President in particular showed that he was serious about ending the strike and that was why he offered to release over N1tn to the universities in the next five years.

“The money will be released on a yearly basis at N220bn per annum beginning from 2014. For the outgoing year, the Federal Government will only release N100bn and this has been processed.

“In order to show commitment to this deal, the money will be kept at the Central Bank of Nigeria  and will be released on a quarterly basis to the universities. So, there won’t be any problem about funding the deal.”

The source added that the National Universities Commission and the Trade Union Congress would be joint guarantors of  the new agreement while the Minister of Education would be the implementation officer.

He said  that the  government  also agreed, among other things, to revamp the public universities by ensuring that all the issues that always lead to strike were dealt with once and for all.

President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday announced a cash gift of N2m each for all the players of the nation’s Under-17 team, the Golden Eaglets, who won the 2013 FIFA Under-17 World Soccer Championship on Friday in Abu Dhabi, United Emirates.

The players, their handlers and key members of the Nigerian Supporters’ Club, according to the President, will also be honoured with national honours during the next award ceremony.

Jonathan announced the rewards at a reception he held in honour of the players at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The President announced a N3m cash gift to the team’s Head Coach; the assistant coaches get N2.5m each; the team doctor, physiotherapist and team secretary get N500,000 each while the team technical officer, team coordinator, medical officers and the curator will get N300,000 each.

Jonathan said with the gifts, he was keeping his earlier promise to the team when he charged them to go and conquer the world.

Describing the cash gifts as token, the President encouraged state governments and members of the organised private sector to join the Federal Government in appreciating players, saying no amount of reward could be adequate for the young Nigerians.

“The team, the handlers, the coaches and the officials including some key members of the supporters club and the Nigerian Football Federation will all be rewarded when we give national honours,” he said.

The President said he was pleased to host and honour the players who he said by their outstanding performance had brought pride and honour to Nigeria and Africa.

He said the players won fairly and convincingly, adding that the victory is for the whole of Africa.

Golden Eaglets: NASCOM wants continuity

Following the triumph of Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets at the just concluded FIFA U-17 World Cup, National Academicals Sports Committee has asked that the victorious team be kept together for continuity.

NASCOM Chairman, Yemi Idowu, said that the idea was in line with the submission of the Minister of Sports, Bolaji Abdullahi whom had earlier said that the team must be together for them to proceed to the next age grade.

He said, “The victory recorded by the Golden Eaglets is for all Nigerians and it is sweet that the team was able to finish what it started two weeks ago. This victory is for all Nigerians and I am very happy for entire team for putting smiles on the faces of Nigerians. I want to re-emphasis what the Minister had said that the team must be together because they understand themselves and it will be good if they can continue like this. It is also in line with the federal government reforms that will continue.”

The NASCOM boss, who was in Abu Dhabi to witness the final, played tribute to the Eaglets for making Africa proud as well as raising their game in every match.

He specifically singled out the Cross River State Governor, Liyel Imoke who never doubted the ability of team before the tournament with the enormous support he gave the team during their build up to the championship.

Why I recalled sacked non-indigenes – Orji

Abia State Governor Theodore Orji
| credits: newnigeriannewspapers.com

 Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State says his longing to have a united country prompted his decision to recall non-indigenes sacked from Abia civil service.

He said this on Saturday, at the Enugu State Correspondents’ Chapel Press Week.

Orji called on Igbo people to put behind events that led to the sacking of the affected workers and foster a united cause.

He said there was a teeming number of Abia indigenes disengaged from other states’ civil service when he took the decision to sack the non-indigenes.

“The idea then was to replace the non-indigenes in our civil service with the Abia indigenes sacked from other states’ civil service,” Governor Orji stated.

He was  represented at the occasion by his Senior Special Assistant on Youth Development, Mr. Okechukwu Isiguzoro.

According to him, “Abia State was not the first to disengage non-indigenes in its civil service.”

He, therefore, enjoined other states in the South-East to emulate the state in recalling those they disengaged on such grounds.

Assuring the people that such policy would never occur again in Abia, Orji urged all Nigerians, particularly Ndigbo residing in the state, to see themselves as indigenes with full rights and privileges.

He said, “It is only in Abia State, among others in the South-East today, that non-indigenes contest elections and win. Non-indigenes are being appointed into political positions in Abia. And so non-indigenes should also take their rightful place in the civil service.”

Chairman of the Enugu State Correspondents’ Chapel, Chris Oji,  thanked the governor for the role he played in the release of journalists kidnapped near Aba,  Abia State, about two years ago.

Dr. Nnanyelugo Okoro of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka had earlier  delivered a paper on “Journalists and Social Media: Challenges as Opportunities.”