NIGERIAN HOSPITALS NOW TO TREAT GUNSHOT WOUNDS WITHOUT POLICE REPORT - SEN. ITA ENANG

 
Physicians and medical workers in Nigerian Hospitals across the country can now treat gun shot wounds without first requesting for a police report before commencing treatment on any victim.

This was made known by Senator Ita Enang, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate). He made this known to State House correspondents in Abuja on Friday while stating that President Muhammadu Buhari signed the Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshot Act, 2017 into law alongside other five bills.

The five other bills are

The Niger Delta Development Commission (Establishment) Amendment Act, 2017;

The Anti-Torture Act 2017;

The Federal Capital Appropriation Act;

The Federal Capital Territory Water Board (Establishment) Act 2017;

and the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (Establishment) Act 2017.

Senator Enang stated that the Gunshot Act specifically stipulates that a person with gunshot shall be received for immediate and adequate treatment by any hospital in Nigeria with or without initial monetary deposit. A person with gunshot wound shall not be subjected to inhuman and degrading treatment or torture by any person or authority, including the police and other security agencies,” he explained.

On Niger Delta Development Commission (Establishment) Amendment Act, 2017, Enang said the NDDC Act also included the gas producing and gas processing companies in the list of agencies that were contributing to the Niger Delta Development Commission, in addition to oil companies to increase funding of the commission for effective discharge of its duties.
He added that “previously, the NDDC Act excluded gas companies. The Act makes it explicit that gas companies have to be included. “This is to diversify sources of funding for the NDDC for the economic wellbeing of the region.’’

On the Anti-Torture Act, he said it makes comprehensive provisions for penalising acts of torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment, and prescribes penalties for the commission of such acts.

On the Federal Capital Appropriation Act, the president’s aide explained that the Act authourised the Federal Capital Territory Administration to legally and legitimately provide funds out of its Statutory Revenue Fund for recurrent and capital expenditure.

On the Federal Capital Territory Water Board Establishment Act, he noted that the act was charged with the responsibility of providing safe, adequate and affordable water to FCT residents.

The National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (Establishment) Act, 2017, he said is to provide national direction in cancer research, control and treatment; guide scientific improvements to cancer prevention, treatment and care, coordinate and liaise between the wide range of groups and health care providers with an interest in cancer.

“The six Acts have come into effect as laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.’’

Source: http://headline.com.ng/doctors-now-treat-gunshot-wounds-without-police-report/amp/

WHATSAPP TO STOP WORKING ON BlackBerry OS AND SOME OTHER SMART PHONES FROM 2018

WhatsApp, the leading chat app/ messenger in the world is about to stop working on a range of old smartphones from the 1st of January 2018. This is because these range of mobile devices don’t offer the kind of capabilities needed to expand and accommodate latest technologies that would be the major features in the future of upgrades in WhatsApp.

This means owners of these once famous/old mobile phones will have to buy newer gadgets if they want to continue using WhatsApp.

Last year, WhatsApp dropped its support for Nokia Symbian S60 phones. It will do the same for Nokia S40 handsets on December 31 2018 and then devices running Android 2.3.7 and older after 1 February, 2020.

On New Year’s Day, WhatsApp will ‘remove support’ for a number of devices – which updated versions of the software can no longer be installed on them.

From January 1, 2018, anyone still using phones which run BlackBerry OS, BlackBerry 10 or Windows Phone 8.0 will no longer be able to update their WhatsApp software.

In a blog post, WhatsApp wrote: “While these mobile devices have been an important part of our story, they don’t offer the kind of capabilities we need to expand our app’s features in the future.

“This was a tough decision for us to make, but the right one in order to give people better ways to keep in touch with friends, family, and loved ones using WhatsApp.

“If you use one of these affected mobile devices, we recommend upgrading to a newer Android, iPhone, or Windows Phone.”

OKOROCHA & NEW LIBERIAN PRESIDENT PICTURED TOGETHER (PHOTO)

 

This pic says a lot....

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TSTV: SALE OF DECODERS COMMENCES IN NIGERIA

Nigeria’s new satellite TV, TStv, has concluded arrangement to roll out its commercial decoders after the successful test run of its promo decoders distributed before November, reports CommunicationsWeek. Ernest Essien, the TStv’s Public Relations Officer said that the service provider was committed to making sure that all the intending customers should have their decoders before 25 December. Essien said the company was almost done with test transmission and was just putting some finishing touches. 

Essien reiterated that the price of TStv decoder would remain at the initial NGN 5,000 with all the packages promised, adding that there would be additional surprise packages for its customers. He said that the management had decided to keep the packages secret until the decoders were rolled out. 

The new satellite pay TV actually commenced distribution and installation of promo decoders nationwide on 31 October. Some of the beneficiaries of the promo decoder had commended the improvement in the 

improvement in the number of channels and quality of the programmes. TStv is actually a dream come true for Nigerians.

Basically, there are 3 unique features you get from TStv; pay-as-you-watch, Wi-Fi, and video conferencing.

Some Pay TVs, which had dominated the Nigerian payTV market since 1994, offers premium services that are charged at monthly rates that appears too expensive and burdensome for Nigerians. This has been a nightmare to most subscribers as they’ll rather pay for what they use than being compelled to subscribe monthly – even though they may not exhaust their subscription.

But it seems things will take a new turn with the advent of TStv, a new direct-to-home TV in Nigeria, which is set to offer a pay-as-you-consume plan to customers at a much more affordable price.

TStv plans to offer various unique services that will make life easy for average Nigerians. This is a unique service in Nigeria; It’s good news to Nigerians but of course a bad market to other existing pay TV providers in Nigeria who must now situp or be shaped out out of the market.

RIVERS GOVT DROPS CHARGES AGAINST CHIDI LLOYD

Recent unfolding events reaching us reveals that the administration of Governor Nyesom Wike has dropped all charges against the former leader of the State House of Assembly, Chidi Lloyd.

The Rivers State Government had attempted to withdraw from the nolle prosequi granted Chidi Lloyd by the administration of former Governor, Rotimi Amaechi over the July 2013 fracas at the Rivers State House of Assembly.

State Commissioner for Justice, Emma Aguma had through the Director of Public Prosecution argued that the State has the power to continue with a case that had ended.

But Counsel to Chidi Lloyd who is a member of the All Progressives Congress, Emenike Ebete told the court that the constitution does not allow the State Government to ‘re-arraign someone who has been discharged and acquitted by a court.

Emenike said the State Government cannot exercise its power twice.

Meanwhile, after months of hearing on the matter the DPP notified the court about its decision to discontinue the case.

Chief Judge of the State, Justice Adama Iyaye-Lamikanra granted the request of discontinuance by the State Government.

Speaking with newsmen outside the courtroom, Emenike Ebete said he does not understand the rationale behind the decision of the Rivers state government to stop chasing his client.

“We as surprised as you are. We don’t know why they decided to pull out of the matter they argued strongly that they could prosecute.

“We were actually informed about their descision last month but we had to wait until today when they came and officially informed the court.

“There’s a name for this kind of gift but what I can tell my client is that he has to be watchful because you never can tell what these guys are planning to come up with,” Emenike said.

Daily Post Nigeria

LEGAL OPINION: HON. CHIDI LLOYD, HIS NOLLE PROSEQUI AND HIS BODY LANGUAGE.

Ordinarily, Chidi Lloyd’s recent and consistent vituperations against the Governor , Government and people of Rivers State would have been overlooked by reason that he is a lawyer by training and my senior for that matter and to more because of the doctrine of lis pendens, however, as stated in S.82 of the Evidence Act, 2011, one’s bad character would be questioned and brought to limelight as soon as he voluntarily gives evidence of him being a good man.

Hon. Chidi Lloyd twice on my count has put himself on national TV to be a good man and even justified the attempted murder of his then colleague Hon. M . O. Chinda basking in the euphoria of a nolle proseque granted him by the former Aattorney General of Rivers State. Hon. Llyod sought to literary crucify Hon. Glory Emeh for sharing his thoughts about the Nolle and the state of affairs in Rivers state, which Lloyd himself had earlier been granted unfettered access to do so.
The fact pre Lloyd’s Nolle is as follows. Hon Chidi Lloyd from Emohua LGA is the former majority leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly. He is reportedly a murder suspect according to Simeon Nwakaudu, he has the death of two persons hanging on his neck, he also attempted to murder his Ikwere brother and then colleague Hon. M. O. Chinda with the mace of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

It is amazing and disgusting that despite the video evidence available even on the internet, Lloyd would go ahead on national TV to defend the heinous crime against his then colleague as a mere collusion, whereas in the video we saw Lloyd voraciously unleash severely with malice the House mace on the head of his colleague. It is sad that instead of hiding his face in shame and remorse , Lloyd would appear on national TV to cite cases where law makers engaged in a free for all to justify his viscous crime.

Now to his Nolle prosequi, on national TV , our esteemed Doctor of Laws severally cited the case of STATE V. ILLORI to back the Nolle prosequi granted him . He happily emphasized to his viewers that in line with the afore mentioned case, his Nolle is not subject to review and any form of questioning . While I aggre with him on the position that a Nolle is not subject to review, I emphatically state in contrast that his other positions are misconceived and lacking legal backing.

Now what is a Nolle prosequi? A Nolle prosequi is a Latin expression which means” we shall no longer prosecute” . It is constitutionally provided in S. 211(1) (c) of CFRN 1999 as regards the State Attorney General. It is also provided in S. 107(4) of the Rivers State Administration of Criminal Justice Law, 2015. A Nolle by its nature is without more a mere suspension of proceedings against the accused. It is not an Acquittal. It is just a mere discharge and hence the beneficiary can be re arrested just immediately a Nolle has been effected for his benefit. According to J. A. Agaba in page 324 of Practical Approach in Criminal Litigation in Nigeria ;

“a Nolle does not serve as a bar to future prosecution meaning that the person discharged on the basis of a Nolle can be re arraigned for the same offence or a similar or an entirely different offence ”

For elucidation of the above, See S. 107(4) of the River’s ACJL 2015. In the case of CLARKE V.A.G LAGOS STATE(1986)1 QLRN, the Court validated the arrest and re arraignment of the accused who were hitherto granted Nolle. While, the decision of the former AG for granting Hon. Chidi Lloyd a Nolle from prosecution can not be legally contested, the present decision of the present Attorney General to continue the prosecution of the attempted murder suspect can not also be legally contested and questioned. The AG is an office . It is an institution and it is less insignificant of the occupier of the office. Before S. 211(1)(c) , there was S. 211(1) (a) to (b). Therefore, it is accordingly within the power of the AG Rivers State to prosecute Hon. Chidi Lloyd afor murder and attempted murder of Hon. M. O. Chinda and until acquitted by a competent Court of jurisdiction, Chidi Lloyd remains a murder and attempted murder suspect and should be arrested and prosecuted for his alleged crimes.
The I G of Police is expected to arrest and bring the murder and attempted murder suspect to Court for arraignment and full prosecution. Justice must not only be done but must be manifestly seen to be done.

Joshua Obinna Samuel is a Port Harcourt based Legal Practioner.

SENATE PRESIDENT, BUKOLA SARAKI SPEAKS AGAINST DUMPING APC FOR PDP

Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has said that he will not dump the All Progressives Congress, APC.

The Senate President spoke with journalists through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, on Tuesday.

He pointed out that as a founding father of the APC, he would remain in the party.

He said, “There is nothing like that and there is nothing to suggest that. Every member must come from somewhere. Are you going to ask the President [Muhammadu Buhari] whether he would go back to the Congress for Progressive Change?

“You’re not going to ask Asiwaju [Bola Tinubu] whether he will return to the Action Congress of Nigeria.

“Everybody has where they are coming from. As far as my principal is concerned, he is a founding father of this party. There is nothing like that.”

The former Governor of Kwara State was among 10 other members of the Senate, who on January 29, 2014, announced their defection from the PDP to the APC.

The 11 lawmakers had written to the then Senate President, Senator David Mark, to officially declare their defection.

A former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar had over a week ago announced his resignation from the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, and last weekend he officially returned to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

His move prompted speculations that other APC bigwigs may also dump the party ahead of the 2019 general elections.

BIG BROTHER NAIJA 2018: BISOLA REVEALS SECRET OF SUCCESS AT AUDITION

Bisola Aiyeola, the second runner-up of the 2017 edition of the Big Brother Naija reality TV show, has revealed the secret for success at the auditions.

DAILY POST had reported that Big Brother Naija has returned with auditions for the 2018 edition scheduled to hold on the 9th and 10th of December 2017 in six different venues across Nigeria

In a post on her Instagram Page, Bisola advised her fans interested in the show to be at their best at the auditions and also hope for the best.

She added that she had to audition severally before she was finally selected.

Bisola wrote: “Hey guys BBNaija is here again and you can be the next big thing. Just bring your ‘A’ game to the auditions and hope for the best.

“It’s not about how you dress, what you say or how you pose.

“Just Carry yourself; dress up how you deem fit and go for the audition.

“I wish you the best!”

-Daily Post Nigeria

SARS ARRESTS STAFF OF BUDGIT NIGERIA, MOSES MOTONI, AMIDST CALLS TO END ANTI-ROBBERY SQUAD

Moses Motoni, a staff of BudgIT Nigeria, is currently in the detention of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) for an offense not known to him. His arrest happened just a  day after the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris Kpotum, gave an order to reorganize SARS operations across Nigeria following social media outcry calling for a total abrogation of the controversial unit.

The allegation against Moses Motoni is that some lawmakers from Niger State have gotten SARS to arrest a staff of BudgIT NG because he is sensitising people in Niger State about the budget.

SaharaReporters learned that Mr. Motoni had been put under SARS’ radar under the instruction of Senator Mohamed Sani, representing Niger South Senatorial District of Niger State. Mr. Motoni was closely tracked after participating in a sensitization program in Bida, Niger State.

Speaking to our correspondent, a friend of Mr. Motoni revealed that he had received an SMS from DHL Nigeria to pick up a parcel at Makarfi Plaza at Central Market, Kaduna State, but unknown to him, he was walking into a trap.

“Moses received an SMS from DHL Nigeria to pick up a parcel at Markafi. He went to pick it but when he got there, he was shocked to be apprehended by some SARS officers who forced him into a car and drove off. That was when he knew that the SARS officers were posing as the staff of DHL,” he narrated.

SaharaReporters gathered that Mr. Motoni was denied bail and the police barred anyone from seeing him by ordering officers at the security post to either send away or detain anybody who came looking for him.

It was reported that Senator Sani had invited Mr. Motoni to his house for a meeting after the sensitization at Bida, but Mr. Motoni declined the invitation and headed to Kaduna State where he was eventually arrested.

Mr. Motoni was initially detained at Metro Police Station, Enugu Road, Kaduna, but he is being transported to the SARS headquarters in Abuja where he will remain in detention.
 Moses Motoni

http://saharareporters.com/2017/12/05/sars-arrests-staff-budgit-nigeria-moses-motoni-amidst-calls-end-anti-robbery-squad

http://saharareporters.com/2017/12/05/sars-arrests-staff-budgit-nigeria-moses-motoni-amidst-calls-end-anti-robbery-squad

https://mobile.twitter.com/BudgITng

BudgIT NG is a civic organisation that aims to make budgets of Nigerian government entities accessible to the public.

They publish the budgets of the Federal Government, its branches (executive, legislature and judiciary) and its ministries, departments and agencies online and encourage citizens to scrutinise the budgets. They also scrutinise the budgets of state and local governments.

http://yourbudgit.com/about-us/

Mr. Motoni, Project Tracking Officer of BudgIT, was arrested in Kaduna State by some unidentified SARS personnel who disguised as delivery men from DHL Nigeria.

BY SAHARAREPORTERS, NEW YORK
DEC 05, 2017

YOUNG SOUTH AFRICAN GIRL POST TOPLESS PHOTO OF HERSELF ON FACEBOOK

A pretty young South African lady, Míllíćént O’Nókuthúlà Mśizá, who shouldn't be above 17 in age took to facebook to proudly flaunt her bare tits, closing just the nipples and areola, for all interested to see and admire her beauty.
This has now gone viral on all social media.

CHRISTMAS BONUS: UGWUANYI APPROVES 13TH MONTH SALARY FOR WORKERS

In keeping with the commitment of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s administration to the welfare of the workers, the Enugu State Executive Council (EXCO), today approved a 13th month salary for civil servants of the state as an added boost to celebrate the forthcoming Christmas.
The approval was the outcome of the meeting between the leadership of the Organized Labour in the state and the Council, held at the Government House, Enugu.

Reacting to the development, the state Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Virginus Nwobodo stated that the gesture was unprecedented in the history of the state, considering the nation’s economic downturn that has made it impossible for many states to pay workers’ salaries.

Comrade Nwobodo commended Gov. Ugwuanyi for the offer, which he said was a surprise package borne out of his magnanimity and an incentive to the workers to motivate them to discharge their duties efficiently.

The Labour leader urged the state workers to reciprocate the gesture by putting in their best to increase productivity.

Also speaking, the state Chairman of Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Igbokwe Chukwuma Igbokwe, who equally appreciated the state government’s gesture, noted that the beauty of the offer is that the workers never asked or agitated for it, saying: “It was freely given to us and because of that, it is another milestone in this administration of His Excellency, Rt. Hon. and Comrade Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, who is always passionate about workers’ welfare”

Comrade Igbokwe, who stated that the workers are part of the Enugu project, maintained that the leadership of the union and the workers will continue to appreciate the gesture and reciprocate by discharging their responsibilities for the growth and development of the state.

“We use this opportunity to commend His Excellency for his kind gesture and to continue to say that as Oliver Twist, good things will continue to come. Our prayer is that the state will continue to improve and increase its revenue so that more things will come the way of the workers”, Comrade Igbokwe said.

SENATOR AYO ARISE KIDNAPPED, ABDUCTORS SEEK N80M RANSOM

Senator Ayo Arise

A former Senator representing Ekiti North Senatorial District, Ayo Arise, was on Sunday kidnapped by gunmen.

He was kidnapped alongside his driver on the Okene-Abuja highway while travelling back to Abuja from his country home in Oye-Ekiti.

He was said to be travelling in his Mercedez Jeep as of the time of the incident.

A family source said the abductors had contacted his family and demanded N80m ransom from them.

The All Progressives Congress’ chieftain was said to have attended a ceremony at Ikere-Ekiti on Saturday, where a chieftaincy title was conferred on a retired Assistant Inspector General of Police, Mr. Tunde Ogunsakin.

The source, who pleaded anonymity, said, “Yes, he visited Ekiti State on Saturday before returning to Abuja.

“When we wanted to establish contact with him, we could not. The last time I called him was around 6pm, so the kidnap must have taken place around 7 pm.

“They have contacted us and demanded a sum of N80m ransom. We are worried because we don’t know his situation.

“The family is working hard to secure his release and we have contacted all the relevant agencies, including the Police, to come to our aid,” he said.

The Police Public Relations Officer in Ekiti, Alberto Adeyemi, a Superintendent of Police, said he could not speak on the matter since the reported kidnap took place in Kogi State, which is outside his jurisdiction.

Arise was the Chairman, Senate Committee on Privatisation between 2007 and 2011 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party.

He defected to the APC in 2015, having been denied the senatorial ticket of the PDP.

Nigeria Has Second Largest HIV Epidemic Worldwide: UNAIDS

The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) has reported that Nigeria purportedly has the second largest HIV epidemic in the world and has one of the highest new infection rates in sub-Saharan Africa.

This is just as it said 720,000 Nigerians are on United States PEPFAR-supported HIV treatment with approximately four million Nigerians having received HIV counseling and testing services in 2017 alone.
The acting Public Affairs Officer of the United States Consulate, Kevin Krapf, made this disclosure during the commemoration of the 2017 World AIDS day held in Lagos.

The commemoration was organised by the consulate in collaboration with the Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM) led by the Provost, Professor Babatunde Solagberu.
With the programmed theme: ‘Increasing Impact through Transparency, Accountability and Partnerships’, Krapf said it reflects the US government longstanding leadership in addressing global HIV/AIDS, increasing our impact to move epidemics from crisis toward control.

He said: “It also highlights the historic opportunity to accelerate progress toward controlling, and ultimately ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic as a public health threat in countries around the world.
“Finally, it emphasises the critical role of transparency, accountability, and partnerships in reaching these goals.

“According to the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), Nigeria has the second largest HIV epidemic in the world and has one of the highest new infection rates in sub-Saharan Africa.
“Many people living with HIV in Nigeria are unaware of their status due to insufficient recommended number of HIV testing and counselling centres.

“Low access of antiretroviral treatment remains an issue for people living with HIV in Nigeria, and I welcome the new commitment of the Federal Government of Nigeria to use domestic funds to provide antiretroviral drugs to an additional 50,000 people living with HIV each year.
“The US government, through PEPFAR, has helped not only to save and improve millions of lives, but also transformed the global HIV/AIDS response.

“Currently, more than 720,000 Nigerians are on PEPFAR-supported HIV treatment and approximately four million Nigerians have received HIV counselling and testing services in 2017.
“Also, approximately 50,000 pregnant women have received antiretroviral drugs to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV.” Krapf added: “We are at an unprecedented moment in the global HIV/AIDS response. For the first time in modern history, we have the opportunity to change the very course of a pandemic by controlling it without a vaccine or a cure.

“Controlling the pandemic will lay the groundwork for eliminating or eradicating HIV which we hope will be possible through the future scientific breakthroughs which will lead to an effective HIV vaccine and cure.
“The US government continues to lead the way in the global HIV/AIDS response. But no one country or entity alone can end the AIDS pandemic.
“We are proud to partner governments, the private sector, philanthropic organisations, multilateral institutions, academic institutions, civil society and faith-based organisations, people living with HIV and many others in this project.

“Through this collective effort, we also expect to reduce the future costs required to sustain the HIV/AIDS response.”
It further said: “To accelerate progress toward HIV/AIDS epidemic control, PEPFAR continues to leverage the capabilities, assets, and technological know-how of the private sector, creating innovative solutions to complex problems.”

While thanking the Lagos State AIDS Control Agency for conducting a state-wide aggressive campaign, counselling and HIV/AIDS testing through its mobile clinic initiative, Krapf said their​determination to ensure a zero prevalence of HIV in the state aligns with the strategic plan of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief.
He also commended the Society for Family Health for providing quality health services to Nigerians, particularly the poor and vulnerable.

BREAKING: GUNMEN ABDUCT SENATOR AYO ARISE

NEW MINIMUM WAGE: PREPARE FOR WAR, LABOUR TELLS WORKERS

Following the perceived dominance of governors who owe workers’ salaries representing Nigerian Governors’ Forum, NGF, in the 30-man committee inaugurated by President Muhammadu Buhari to fashion out a new national minimum wage, there are fears that the road to a fresh wage regime may not be easy.

In fact, organised labour has advised workers to prepare for war to make the new minimum wage a reality, warning that there could be a stalemate and protracted negotiations.

While the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, had, since two years ago, demanded for a N56,000 new minimum wage, United Labour Congress of Nigeria, ULC, on its part, demanded for N90,000.

Meanwhile, the NLC has given indication that it will ask for more than N56,000, whereas the ULC is saying even N100,000 minimum wage will not be enough considering the indices and socio-economic realities on the ground.

The leaders of organised labour, represented by NLC and ULC, yesterday, took a suspicious look at the representatives of the NGF on the national minimum wage committed raised by the President, last week.

The governors in the committee are Rochas Okorocha of Imo State; Nyesom Wike of Rivers State; Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State; Hassan Dankwambo, Gombe State; Simeon Lalong of Plateau State and Abubakar Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State

The committee headed by a former Head of Service of the Federation, Ama Pepple, has membership drawn from the government, the private sector and the Organised Labour.

Speaking to  Sunday  Vanguard on the issue, the President of the ULC, Comrade Joe Ajaero, said: “The presence of these governors in the committee, the fact that some of those representing the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, NGF, are mainly those who are not paying salaries and pensions speaks volume. In fact, we fear a stalemate because these governors represent anti-salary payment. They may be coming to justify why there should not be increment in salary.

These are governors who have not been able to pay the N18,000 minimum wage. They may be coming to tell you that the governors cannot bear the extra burden of salary increment.

“Surely, they have no moral justification to be in the committee unless it was by design by the NGF for these governors to represent the group. If that is the case, then the governors have an agenda to frustrate the emergence of a new national minimum wage. Therefore, we foresee protracted negotiations . As Organised Labour, we have to prepare for war; a long time battle to confront these governors because they do not want to pay even anything. However they come, we will engage them and ensure that the yearning of workers for a living wage, not just a minimum wage, is met. We have all the indices to justify our demand for even N100,000 minimum wage because    the socio-economic condition, the inflation, the cost of living, the depreciation of the Naira and so on, are there for every body to see.”

Similarly, speaking through its General Secretary, Dr. Peter Ozo-Eson, the NLC said it was not unmindful of the dominance of governors that are owing salaries and pensions representing the NGF.

“We noticed the dominance of these governors in the representation of the NGF. The principle of tripartitism    is that each party is free to choose its representative. So, the Governors’ Forum has chosen its representatives, there is nothing we can do about that. Yes, we noticed that most of those representing the governors are those owing salaries and pension.

But we still have the governor of Plateau State, who inherited a backlog of salaries on assumption of office, has not only cleared all the arrears, he is paying as and when due. We advise other governors to learn from him. So, his presence in the committee is a plus. Nevertheless, we will engage the committee with facts and figures, we will engage the committee and address issues as they come. We are prepared, Ozo-Eson said.

“We have equally said it publicly that, at the time we presented our demand for N56,000 new minimum wage, we did so with the indices on ground two years ago. Today, those indices are different based on the socio-economic reality on ground.

Today, a lot of things have taken place. There is high inflation, there is depreciation of the Naira, there is general high cost of living and there is the exchange rate factor. We expect the committee to look at these issues and aggregate things. We hope this committee will function like the last one. The last one even commissioned sub-committees to look at the socio-economic indices on the ground  before arriving at the present minimum wage.”

Textile workers demand speedy negotiation

In a related development, workers in the textile industry have pleaded with the minimum wage committee to fast-track negotiations for a new wage, to recover lost time, saying workers will not have patience for unnecessary delays.

Speaking through the General Secretary of National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, NUTGTWN, and a member of the National Executive Council, NEC, of NLC, Issa Aremu, the workers commended the inauguration of the minimum wage review committee.

“The five year cycle of the current Minimum Wage Act legally backing the subsisting negotiated minimum wage of N18000 signed by President Goodluck Jonathan in 2010 was due for negotiation in 2015, two years ago. The historic inauguration once again demonstrates the globally acknowledged concern of President Muhammadu Buhari to the welfare of the workers and citizens in general as contained in 1999 constitution.

History will record it that at a time some state governors unacceptably defaulted in paying workers as and when due, the President commendably wondered aloud to ask how these governors go to bed while for whatever reasons their workforce are not paid. President Buhari also went further to work his fatherly concern through serial bail outs of the defaulting states”, Aremu said.

Also speaking, yesterday, the National President of Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigerian (MHWUN), Comrade Biobelemoye Josiah, said Labour had a trusted leadership that will not allow government to use the minimum wage issue as a means of scoring political point.

“We are certain that should government try to employ delay tactics for any selfish gain, our leadership will pull out”, he said.

Josiah, who was fielding  questions from journalists in Abuja at a reception ceremony organised by the Association of Medical Laboratory Technicians and Assistants of Nigeria (AMELTAN) in his honour said the NLC had made its demand known and was not likely going to change the position.

- The Vanguard

20 MORE EXOTIC CARS FOR REPS ARRIVE, 100 MORE TO ARRIVE, EACH UNIT COSTS N17m

Report by the PUNCH on Sunday has it that not less than twenty (20) more exotic cars imported for members of the House of Representatives have arrived at the National Assembly complex in Abuja.

Findings showed that the additional 20 units brought the total number of cars delivered to 260.

It implies that 100 units are still being awaited to make the vehicles go round all 360 members of the House.

Otherwise known as ‘utility’ or ‘committee’ vehicles, the House is buying 360 units of Peugeot 508 for legislative services.

Each unit is supplied at the price tag of N17m. This leaves the total cost of the 360 units at N6.1bn.

Investigations indicated that the 20 units started arriving at the legislative building early last week and as of Friday, all had been delivered.

The cars were neatly parked at a filling station adjoining the National Assembly Annex I and II premises. The filling station and the premises are separated by a barbed wire fence.

One National Assembly official said, “These additions came after so much pressure was mounted on the Chairman, Committee on House Services, Mr. Nasiru Baballe-Ila, by members.

“You will recall that the delayed supply of the utility cars since 2015 has been a source of friction in the House.

“Many members are disappointed in Baballe-Ila that in almost three years, his committee and the bureaucracy of the National Assembly are unable to supply utility vehicles to members.

“You will recall that as recently as October, about 120 members still did not have cars. With the additional 20, it means that 100 more lawmakers will wait into the New Year (2018) to get cars.”

The PUNCH gathered on Sunday that Baballe-Ila had convinced the leadership of House in 2015 to opt for Peugeot 508 cars with an initial understanding with Peugeot Automobile Nigeria Limited to supply the units in phases.

However, PAN reportedly later became uncomfortable with the deal, while the committee opened the gates for several sub-contractors to assume the supply of the vehicles.

With the development, The PUNCH learnt that most of the units were not supplied by PAN, but by other contractors, who resorted to importing the units from outside Nigeria, especially Dubai in the United Arab Emirate.

PAN’s Head of Corporate Communications, Mr. Haroun Malami, told The PUNCH that his firm was no longer deeply involved in the supplies.

He stated, “The choice of Peugeot 508 against all other brands was based on overall value offered by the vehicle in terms of price, performance and residual value; the sub-contracting arrangement by the National Assembly was based on financial ease of transaction to the legislative arm.
“We are uniquely placed and committed to meet national and customers’ demand who are committed in meeting their financial obligation.”

Last October, some members had returned their cars to Baballe-Ila after they developed faults under 90 days of being delivered to them.
When he was contacted for comments on Sunday, the Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Abdulrazak Namdas, informed The PUNCH that the arrival of the additional units merely confirmed the promise of the House to deliver the vehicles to members in batches.
“The cars will come in batches until all the members have their utility vehicles,” he stated.

Efforts by The PUNCH to get Baballe-Ila’s comments failed on Sunday.

The All Progressives Congress lawmaker from Kano State also did not respond to a text message our correspondent sent to him.

http://punchng.com/20-more-exotic-cars-for-reps-arrive/

Why IPOB Fell Like A House Of Cards: Nnamdi Kanu’s Confessions By Churchill Okonkwo

Churchill OkonkwoChurchill Okonkwo

IPOB crumbled like cookies because it was anchored on deceit.

BY CHURCHILL OKONKWO    Nov 28, 2017

This is the confessions of a dangerous mind that lied, to tell the truth. Even though it is very dark where I am held against my wish, I saw IPOB shake and tremble, and then fall to pieces like a house of cards. By using IPOB to promote the divisive rhetoric of seductive but destructive whisper that is pushing Ndigbo to the false comfort zone of isolationism, I erred.

I scratched the itching eye with the piece of wood meant for scratching an itching ear. In my arrogance, I never imagined that should the Nigerian security operatives make a determined effort to extinguish me, the human rocks I had piled as a barrier around my father’s house would come tumbling down. The invasion of my father’s house by murderous Nigerian security operatives and the subsequent killing of many of my unarmed followers was an “aha” moment for me.  I feel sadness over the death of Umu Igbo in the quest for Biafra that should never have occurred.  I am confessing that IPOB’s foolhardiness led to their death.

In the words of wisdom from a great mind Albert Einstein, “The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits.” I am confessing that IPOB’s absurdity has no limit.

We are like lepers whose hand Ndigbo shook and we overcome with excessive affection. Because Igbos honored the Biafran spirit and heroes and stayed home when we threatened them, we arrogated that honor to ourselves and got carried away.

After I recently disappeared into thin air, my comrades in IPOB, rather than change gear and save our fast depleting gunpowder, exhausted them in the false hope that they will stop the November 18th governorship election in Anambra State. The call for a boycott of that election finally exposed our dirty ass. The residual energies after my dramatic disappearance could not coalesce around the elusive goal of forcing Ndi Anambra to boycott the governorship election.

Suddenly, the almighty IPOB has crumbled like a cookie. Now, I have not only killed my obsession with breathless pursuit of an elusive Biafran goal, I have also left the beautiful mess IPOB, directionless. I guess that’s what happens when a headless ram like IPOB initiates a head fight with the bull, Nigerian military operatives.

Even in this present state of damped optimism, I don’t want any of the pro-Biafran independence agitators to lose their outrage over the state of affairs in Nigeria and Igbo land because, in outrage, there is hope. However, having observed the collapse of the move for independence even after a referendum by the Catalonians and Kurds in Spain and Iraq, respectively, I have concluded that one of the first steps to real liberation is not to build on lies and deceit.

IPOB crumbled like a cookie because it was anchored on deceit. Fiction is a deceit. IPOB’s promise of an independent state of Biafra is a fiction. My promise to Igbos who do not understand the political realities of Nigeria that Biafra is about to be actualized “now” was a deceit. Biafra that contemplates actualization through the derogation of every ethnicity in Nigeria in the 21st century is a deceit.

Yet, fooled with this incoherent rhetoric and false hope, my Igbo brothers favored this deceit. I was absolutely wrong about this deceit and I apologize to IPOB members, followers and supporters.  I erred by using the same rhetoric as that of the 1990s that led to civil war in Burundi and Rwanda, fueling passions that are always very difficult to extinguish.

IPOB fell like a pack of cards because I used a basket to collect water. Now, I have realized that mobilizing others requires that those doing the mobilization have their acts together, including, a sound strategy, and the right people in place. Despite the massive support garnered by IPOB in its quest for the actualization of the independent state of Biafra, the movement failed primarily because the mobilization was around elusive goals. Most importantly, IPOB failed because my leadership style can at best be characterized as braggadocio.

Looking back at my missteps in the past couple of years, I have realized that the mobilization by IPOB has been built on false hope, hence the inevitable failure. The truth is that propaganda on social media alone will not result in any lasting political gains. The more the incoherence of IPOB, MOSOB, BIM, Biafran Zionist, filters through, people get used to it and Igbo generations will waste their time on jamboree rather than constructive political engagement.

Thus the crux of this confession is to say that, what matters, in the end, is what is made out of the existing grievance and not the grievance itself. I have realized that if one shoots a lizard along his path as he climbs a zigzag tree, his supply of gunpowder will be exhausted. Please let us mobilize Ndigbo around a realistic goal rather than waste our gunpowder on social media.

Presently, there is a lull, except the familiar, though, damped misinformation by my IPOB Internet Soldiers. This is because there is still a vacuum, a big vacuum begging to be filled with reference to the mobilization of Igbo people around a vision that is in our best interest in Nigeria.

I am happy this time out in an unknown location has made me realize that at IPOB, we have our politics backward. Rather than overwhelming its adversaries, IPOB has been run aground by its own missteps. Our politics based on suspicion of other ethnic groups offered no answers to the cosmopolitan Nigeria with millions of Igbos in every corner working hard and earning a living.

From my unknown location and with my head cooling off now, it is so evident to me that nothing less than a fundamental rethinking of our modus operandi is required. At this moment that IPOB have demonstrated its incapacity of sound strategy and reasoning, a new politics should arise in its place. It is my hope that this new politics will not be a complaint-based like IPOB, but rather, a Renaissance similar to Martin Luther King’s positive vision as articulated in “I have a dream” speech. Let this new Renaissance replace IPOB’s doomsday discourse with aspirational and future-oriented one.

Please use this confession going forward to affect the much needed new path to Igbo Renaissance. Our collective path forward as Ndigbo in these very troubled times depend on what we do next.

Merry Christmas in advance. I love you all

(This unendorsed, yet classic confession of Nnamdi Kanu was coded and transmitted from his unknown location but decrypted by my Biafran Spirit).

 

You can email Churchill at churchill.okonkwo@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @churchillnnobi.

- SAHARA REPORTERS

MAINA TO BUHARI: I WILL GIVE YOU DOCUMENTS THAT WILL FETCH N3tn

The former chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms, Abdulrasheed Maina, has spoken out on the allegations of corruption levelled against him.

He also called on President Muhammadu Buhari to allow him prove his innocence in the cases he is currently enmeshed in.

Maina made the call in an exclusive interview with Channels Television broadcast on Monday during its  News At 10 programme.

He said, “Thank God our President stands for the truth, the unfortunate thing is that some people around him whom he has given trust are lying to him; this one I can attest to and I can give you instances, I can give you documentary evidence,” Maina said.

“I’m appealing to you Mr President, there are so many things people are not telling you; when I get to that public hearing I will tell you some things that nobody ever told you Mr President because I never had the opportunity to sit down with you.”

Trouble started for Maina in 2015 when he was accused of being involved in a pensions fund fraud and later declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. His reinstatement in 2017  sparked criticism.

However, Maina who denied any involvement in the pension fraud claimed that his team, instead, recovered about N282billion for the government and that his life was in danger.

He said he was ready to prove to the President that he was innocent of the allegations against him by recovering N1trillion in three months if given the opportunity.

“I recovered money for the last administration and I recovered money for this administration. Most people may not understand this but let me explain this to Nigerians because I want the truth to be told and I want Nigerians to understand the truth and know what is going on in Nigeria.

“Listen, I am not afraid of anybody, I am saying the truth. People portray themselves as if they are saints around the President; it’s a lie, they are not. We recovered as a team, N282billion cash. Aside from the N282bn, we were able to bring information and caught 43 pension suspects.
“They have threatened me, they have threatened my lawyer, they have threatened my brother, sister; they have threatened us all that I will be killed.

“Mr President, I will give you information and documents that will fetch you over N3trillion now in Nigeria, give me nine months. Within the first three months, I will show you N1trillion just like I showed you N1trillion in this 2017,” he said.

OLD RUGGED CROSS - LYRICS BY BRAD PAISLEY

The Old Rugged Cross - By Brad Paisley -Lyrics

On a hill far away, stood an old rugged Cross
The emblem of suff'ring and shame
And I love that old Cross where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was slain

So I'll cherish the old rugged Cross
Till my trophies at last I lay down
I will cling to the old rugged Cross
And exchange it some day for a crown

Oh, that old rugged Cross so despised by the world
Has a wondrous attraction for me
For the dear Lamb of God, left his Glory above
To bear it to dark Calvary

So I'll cherish the old rugged Cross
Till my trophies at last I lay down
I will cling to the old rugged Cross
And exchange it some day for a crown

In the old rugged Cross, stain'd with blood so divine
A wondrous beauty I see
For the dear Lamb of God, left his Glory above
To pardon and sanctify me

So I'll cherish the old rugged Cross
Till my trophies at last I lay down
I will cling to the old rugged Cross
And exchange it some day for a crown

To the old rugged Cross, I will ever be true
Its shame and reproach gladly bear
Then He'll call me some day to my home far away
Where his glory forever I'll share

So I'll cherish the old rugged Cross
Till my trophies at last I lay down
I will cling to the old rugged Cross
And exchange it some day for a crown

Songwriters: T Brown
The Old Rugged Cross lyrics

FULL TEXT OF ALHAJI ATIKU ABUBARKAR'S RESIGNATION LETTER FROM THE RULING APC

Statement of resignation of His Excellency Alhaji Atiku Abubakar (Waziri Adamawa) Vice President of Nigeria, 1999-2007 from the All Progressives Congress

On the 19th of December, 2013, I received members of the All Progressives Congress at my house in Abuja. They had come to appeal to me to join their party after my party, the Peoples Democratic Party, had become factionalized as a result of the special convention of August 31, 2013.

The fractionalization of the Peoples Democratic Party on August 31, 2013 had left me in a situation where I was, with several other loyal party members, in limbo, not knowing which of the parallel executives of the party was the legitimate leadership.

It was under this cloud that members of the APC made the appeal to me to join their party, with the promise that the injustices and failure to abide by its own constitution which had dogged the then PDP, would not be replicated in the APC and with the assurance that the vision other founding fathers and I had for the PDP could be actualized through the All Progressives Congress.

It was on the basis of this invitation and the assurances made to me that I, being party-less at that time, due to the fractionalization of my party, accepted on February 2, 2014, the hand of fellowship given to me by the All Progressives Congress.

On that day, I said "it is the struggle for democracy and constitutionalism and service to my country and my people that are driving my choice and my decision" to accept the invitation to join the All Progressives Congress.

Like you, I said that because I believed that we had finally seen the beginnings of the rebirth of the new Nigeria of our dreams which would work for all of us, old and young.

However, events of the intervening years have shown that like any other human and like many other Nigerians, I was fallible.

While other parties have purged themselves of the arbitrariness and unconstitutionality that led to fractionalization, the All Progressives Congress has adopted those same practices and even gone beyond them to institute a regime of a draconian clampdown on all forms of democracy within the party and the government it produced.

Only last year, a governor produced by the party wrote a secret memorandum to the president which ended up being leaked. In that memo,  he admitted that the All Progressives Congress had "not only failed to manage expectations of a populace that expected overnight ‘change’ but has failed to deliver even mundane matters of governance".

Of the party itself, that same governor said "Mr. President, Sir Your relationship with the national leadership of the party, both the formal (NWC) and informal (Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Atiku Abubakar, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso), and former Governors of ANPP, PDP (that joined us) and ACN, is perceived by most observers to be at best frosty. Many of them are aggrieved due to what they consider total absence of consultations with them on your part and those you have assigned such duties."

Since that memorandum was written up until today, nothing has been done to reverse the treatment meted out to those of us invited to join the All Progressives Congress on the strength of a promise that has proven to be false. If anything, those behaviours have actually worsened.

But more importantly, the party we put in place has failed and continues to fail our people, especially our young people. How can we have a federal cabinet without even one single youth.

A party that does not take the youth into account is a dying party. The future belongs to young people.

I admit that I and others who accepted the invitation to join the APC were eager to make positive changes for our country that we fell for a mirage. Can you blame us for wanting to put a speedy end to the sufferings of the masses of our people?

Be that as it may be, after due consultation with my God, my family, my supporters and the Nigerian people whom I meet in all walks of life, I, Atiku Abubakar, Waziri Adamawa, hereby tender my resignation from the All Progressives Congress while I take time to ponder my future.

May God bless you and may God bless Nigeria.

Atiku Abubakar
Waziri Adamawa

LAGOS STATE GOVT GIVES MOSQUES, CHURCHES 90-DAY ULTIMATUM OVER NOISE POLLUTION

Worried by the proliferation of noise  in residential areas, the Lagos State government has handed down 90-day ultimatum to churches and mosques to sound-proof their premises or risk closure.

The section 9 of the law establishing Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) empowered the agency to make regulations on acceptable standards or criteria to control the pollution level of water, air, noise and land in consonance with the federal government guidelines and policies and criteria on the environment.

It however fixed the maximum permissible noise limit for mixed residential areas with some commercial and entertainment to 55 dba from 6-10pm and 45 dba from 10pm-6am.  Commissioner for environment, Dr. Samuel Adejare , who stated this at a parley with church representatives in Lagos warned that state’s zero tolerance to noise pollution was still in force.

He regretted the influx of religious centres in various residential areas in the state adding that the ultimatum was as a result of complaints by residents on the extent of noise in places of worship.

Adejare maintained that any noise above the approved noise levels contravened the provisions of the National Environmental Noise Standard and Controls regulations 2009 as well as the Lagos State Environmental Laws 2017.

He emphasised the need for places of worship to carry out their activities orderly without infringing on the rights of residents.

According to him, “The paramount commandment is to love God and love your neighbour as yourselves.”

The commissioner solicited the support of religious centres in adhering to government rules on noise levels adding that they were mandated to operate in an enclosed and soundproof environment using regulated speakers.

“Various structures ranging from residential plots, uncompleted buildings, open spaces, shops and motor parks are being converted to religious worship centres which is not befitting for a mega city like Lagos,” he concluded.

Source - 

http://leadership.ng/2017/11/21/lasg-gives-mosques-churches-90-day-ultimatum-noise-pollution/

Similarly, the Oyo State government, August, 2017, also gave a two-week ultimatum to churches, mosques, as well as clubs and restaurants to remove their outdoor speakers or face prosecution.

The Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Isaac Ishola gave the ultimatum during an inter-ministerial press briefing in Ibadan, the state capital. He said the complaints and distress calls from residents made the ban necessary.

Ishola explained that the Oyo state government was committed to reducing the noise level in residential areas to 45 decibel at night and 60 decibel in the afternoon within five meters radius.

He also disclosed that some places of worship had been sealed up for noise pollution, while no fewer than 372 environmental offenders have been prosecuted in the last one year.

The Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism Mr. Toye Arulogun and other aides to the governor also attended the meeting.

Warning against noise pollution, he said religious activities should not be made to disturb others, adding that most of the complaints were against places of worship.

He said: “We are giving churches and mosques with external speakers two weeks to remove them. You don’t use religion to disturb others. I am a Christian and I have supervised the locking up of three churches for disturbing their neighbours with noise. If I can do that against churches I will do it against mosques and other places.”

The commissioner enjoined all owners of vehicles and motorcycles to take them for emission test at the offices of three consultants approved for the exercise.

He said: “If you own a vehicle, motorcycle or generator, it must be subjected to gaseous emission test. The essence is not to make money for government, but to control gaseous emission believed to be one of the major causes of cancer and other ailments. The ministry has two mobile courts that would sit during the day and we have arranged that magistrates courts should also try environmental offenders.”

The commissioner disclosed that the state had also approved additional 70 waste collectors, while a memorandum of understanding (MoU) had been signed with West African Energy to convert waste to wealth in the state.

Can Rivers state do same???? 

ABBA - Chikichita Lyrics

"Chiquitita"

Chiquitita, tell me what's wrong
You're enchained by your own sorrow
In your eyes there is no hope for tomorrow
How I hate to see you like this
There is no way you can deny it
I can see that you're oh so sad, so quiet

Chiquitita, tell me the truth
I'm a shoulder you can cry on
Your best friend, I'm the one you must rely on
You were always sure of yourself
Now I see you've broken a feather
I hope we can patch it up together

Chiquitita, you and I know
How the heartaches come and they go and the scars they're leaving
You'll be dancing once again and the pain will end
You will have no time for grieving
Chiquitita, you and I cry
But the sun is still in the sky and shining above you
Let me hear you sing once more like you did before
Sing a new song, Chiquitita
Try once more like you did before
Sing a new song, Chiquitita

So the walls came tumbling down
And your love's a blown out candle
All is gone and it seems too hard to handle
Chiquitita, tell me the truth
There is no way you can deny it
I see that you're oh so sad, so quiet

Chiquitita, you and I know
How the heartaches come and they go and the scars they're leaving
You'll be dancing once again and the pain will end
You will have no time for grieving
Chiquitita, you and I cry
But the sun is still in the sky and shining above you
Let me hear you sing once more like you did before
Sing a new song, Chiquitita
Try once more like you did before
Sing a new song, Chiquitita
Try once more like you did before
Sing a new song, Chiquitita

LAGOS BUS CONDUCTORS TO WEAR UNIFORMS FROM JANUARY 1 2018

 

The Bus Conductors Association of Nigeria says that its members in Lagos State will start wearing uniforms from Jan. 1, 2018 for security and effective service delivery.

The National President of the association, Mr Isreal Adeshola, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos on Sunday.

Adeshola said the operational uniform would bring sanity to the service in the state and the country as a whole.

According to him, the association has started training its members in Lagos State and educating them on the job procedures and attitudinal change while on duty.

“The association has been able to train a reasonable number of conductors on behavioural change.

“We started the registrations and training at Lagos State Drivers Institute for attitudinal and change in orientation of the members toward passengers and traffic rules.

“By Jan.1, 2018, all our registered members will be in their operational uniforms for proper identification and effective service delivery,” he said.

The president explained that part of the reasons for training its members was to ensure adequate security of passengers and good customer relationship with the people they relate with.

He said that putting on uniforms with identification numbers would ensure accountability and brought sense of responsibility among the members.

Adeshola said that the association was working towards eradicating the menace of using under-age as bus conductors across the country.

He announced that persons from 18 years and above were qualified to join the association.

The president added that any minor found operating as a bus conductor should be arrested.

“We are coming out to tell Lagos residents that bus conducting is a respected profession like in other western countries where they are respected because they offered humanitarian services.

“In Nigeria, people see them as nobody which is not supposed to be so,” he said.

-NAN

http://punchng.com/lagos-bus-conductors-to-wear-uniforms-from-jan-1/

WIKE, AMAECHI CONVOY CLASH IN PORT HARCOURT, RIVERS STATE.

•I escaped assassination – Wike

•Governor’s security pulled guns on me – Amaechi

It was a shameful and horrifying scene yesterday afternoon in Port Harcourt, as policemen attached to Governor Nyesom Wike and that of the Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi, clashed.

Amaechi’s escort details were, however, unlucky during the 3p.m. attack, as one of them, Sgt. Eteng Ewelu, was battered, with blood on his face, while the AK-47 rifle of Sgt. Princewill Ubaji was snatched, while being forcibly disarmed, with the rifle taken away by the Rivers governor’s convoy.

Wike, through his Special Assistant on Electronic Media, Simeon Nwakaudu, in his reaction, however, claimed that personnel of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (F-SARS) and soldiers attached to the minister of transportation attacked his convoy, while allegedly attempting to assassinate him.

But Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi Media Office in a statement yesterday said, “In a blatant show of naked raw power, Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi this (yesterday) afternoon narrowly escaped being shot by security men attached to the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike.  His car wasn’t that lucky though. The car was vandalized with a broken side mirror.”

Report of the sad incident was immediately lodged at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) of the Rivers Police Command, headed by Zaki Ahmed, while Ubaji’s rifle had not been recovered, with Ewelu and other injured policemen still receiving treatment in undisclosed hospitals in Port Harcourt, as at press time.

It was exclusively gathered yesterday evening in Port Harcourt through a top security source, who would not want to be named, that the unfortunate incident heightened tension in the area, with passersby, motorists, other road users and persons in the neighbourhood scampering to safety, to avoid being hit by stray bullets in the confusion.

The security source said: “Today, November 11, 2017 (yesterday) at 3 p.m., the Transportation Minister, who was driving from the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, in company with police escorts, got his convoy intercepted by the Rivers governor (Wike) at Trans-Amadi Industrial Layout by Nkpogu in Port Harcourt. The security details managed to ferry  Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi to safety, after which the Rivers governor led his Chief Security Officer (CSO), Promise Wosu, a Superintendent of Police (SP), and about ten mobile policemen, to attack his predecessor/benefactor’s convoy.

“The Rivers governor and his troops physically assaulted by slapping and bruising the policemen, especially Inspector Johnson Imonikhe, Sgt. Eteng Ewelu and Sgt. Princewill Ubaji, attached to the transportation minister and the governor made away with the AK-47 rifle of Sgt. Princewill Ubaji, one of the policemen attached to the transportation minister.

“The AK-47 rifle was forcibly taken away personally by Governor Wike, who was accompanied by his CSO. The policeman with blood on his face, Sgt. Eteng Ewelu, was hit with an iron by Wosu (Wike’s CSO), in the presence of the Rivers State governor.

“The snatched AK-47 rifle is still in the custody of the Rivers governor’s team and the incident has been referred to State CID (SCID) for investigation.”

When contacted for his reaction through the telephone yesterday evening, the Rivers Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Nnamdi Omoni, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), stated that he would find out the details, asking our reporter to call back in ten minutes, but when contacted twice, after thirty minutes, he did not picked the calls, and he had not returned the call, as at press time.

Nwakaudu in a statement said: “Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, on Saturday escaped assassination, as Special Anti-Robbery Squad operatives and soldiers of the Nigerian Army in the motorcade of the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, attacked his convoy.

“The governor, who was on project inspection, was attacked at Nwanja Junction on Trans-Amadi Road. The SARs personnel and soldiers in the minister’s convoy hit down the governor’s escort rider and attacked the policemen in the pilot car. Mr Debewari, Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to the minister of transportation, supervised the attack, which included damage of cameras held by journalists.

“Also part of the attack was the Commander of F-SARS in Rivers State, Mr. Akin Fakorede (a Chief Superintendent of Police), who received the minister of transportation at the Port Harcourt International Airport and accompanied him on his trip.”

He added that after the attack the governor continued with his inspection of projects, adding that Wike was not harmed.

The minister’s media office said the incident which occurred along Trans-Amadi Road, Nwaja axis involved cars of many of Amaechi’s  supporters while the Minister’s black jeep was intercepted and blocked at the junction by the security motorcycle outrider attached to Wike after two cars had passed through.

The statement added, “One of the two cars had security men assigned to protect the minister in Port Harcourt.  Suddenly, gun-toting security men attached to Wike’s convoy surrounded the Minister’s car, threatening to shoot him. They hit the car, tried to smash the windscreens, back and side windows and broke a side mirror. All through this attack, Amaechi remained calm, inside the fortified Jeep.  While the attack occurred, Wike remained inside his vehicle.”

It added that the minister eventually passed through after the intervention of the security team on ground to protect him in Port Harcourt. It continued, “However, when Governor Wike got to the point where the incident occurred after Amaechi’s vehicle had gone by, his security men blocked the road again, dragged out from a vehicle and thoroughly beat up a police man attached to protect Amaechi in Port Harcourt.  The Policeman’s riffle was also taken from him.”

The Amaechi media office added that Wike came out of his car, and with his security team went from one vehicle to another of Amaechi’s supporters charging at them, harassing and abusing them. It alleged that Wike’s security men were heard loudly insulting Amaechi and calling him derogative names.

In the meantime, Ikwerre youths have condemned what they called the attack on Amaechi and the policemen in his convoy.

The Ikwerre Youth Movement (IYM) International from the four Rivers Local Government Areas of Port Harcourt City, Obio/Akpor, Ikwerre and Emohua, described the attack as very unfortunate and least expected.

Amaechi and Wike are both Ikwerre. The transportation minister hails from Ubima in Ikwerre LGA, while the Rivers governor is an indigene of Rumueprikom in Obio/Akpor council.

IYM, through its President-General, Azubuike Nwanjoku, a member of the Rivers State House of Assembly, representing Ikwerre constituency, in an online statement by the group’s National Publicity Secretary, Dike Bekwele, declared that Wike’s action was suicidal and detrimental to the already-charged environment being witnessed in the state and insecurity in Rivers in recent times.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: YOUTHS MUST READ THIS

FOOD FOR THOUGHT:-

Governor Tambawal of Sokoto State attending his son's graduation in the UK?
    
Senate President attending his son's graduation in the UK.

Emir of Kano attending the graduation of his daughter in the UK.   
  
Sultan attending his daughter's graduation in the UK.

•√ Senate president Bukola Saraki’s son, Seni Saraki graduated from the London School
of Economics

•√ okonjo iweala's four children graduated
from Harvard University

•√ none of Gbajabiamila's children studied in
this country.
*~ YET ~*

*°°° LAUTECH* has been shut down for almost
10months

*°°° BENUE STATE UNIVERSITY* has been on
strike for 4months

°°° Benue state governor (Ottom) bought
wheel barrow for youths as empowerment

°°° average Nigerian hardly can afford 3-square meals.

All they could do for graduate is *NYSC* which is just *#19,800* that their own children can't spend in just one week (at most)..

They brought N-power for graduates, set to employ *300,000* when over *2million* graduates have applied... For *JUST* *#30,000*

Yet, majority of these leaders enjoyed free education, free meals, accommodation, and even immediate jobs after school..

And then, some crazy and misguided, self centered Youths will still kill themselves for these *WICKED SOULS* during election period ...

Any Youth that  fight for these people will *SUFFER!!!!!!*

I wish more youths can see this.
Please  share / forward as received

VACANCIES: NIGERIAN MARITIME UNIVERSITY 2017 RECRUITMENT

         NIGERIAN MARITIME UNIVERSITY

           OFFICE OF THE REGISTRAR

         ACADEMIC STAFF VACANCIES

Applications are hereby invited from suitably qualified candidates to fill the teaching positions for Departments as listed below:

       POSITIONS AND QUALIFICATIONS:

PROFESSOR (CONUASS 7)
• Candidates should possess a Ph.D. Degree from a recognized university with at least twelve (12) years post-doctoral teaching, research and administrative experience in a university.
• Candidates must possess demonstrable competence to provide academic leadership
• Candidates must also be specialists in core areas of Departmental fields of study with evidence of scholarly publications in local, national and international reputable academic journals, plus membership of relevant professional bodies.

READER (CONUASS 6)
• Candidates should possess a Ph.D. Degree from a recognized university with at least nine (9) years post-doctoral teaching, research and administrative experience in a university.
• Candidates must possess evidence of scholarly publications in reputable local, national and international academic journals, plus membership of relevant professional bodies.

SENIOR LECTURER (CONUASS 5)
• A Ph.D. holder with at least six (6) years post-doctoral teaching, research and administrative experience in a University
• Candidates must possess evidence of scholarly publications in reputable local, national and international academic journals, plus membership of relevant professional bodies.

LECTURER I (CONUASS 4)
• Candidates should possess a Ph.D. from a recognized University with at least three (3) years post-doctoral teaching, research and administrative experience in a university.
• They must have evidence of scholarly publications in reputable local, national and international academic journals, plus membership of relevant professional bodies.

LECTURER II (CONUASS 3)
• Candidates should possess a Master’s Degree from a recognized University.

ASSIST. LECTURER (CONUASS 2)
• To be Assistant Lecturer, applicants must have obtained a good Bachelor’s Degree from any recognized University.
• In addition, applicants must be holder of Master’s Degree from any recognized University.

GRADUATE ASSISTANT
• To be Graduate Assistant Lecturer, applicants must have obtained a good Bachelor’s Degree from any recognized University.
• In addition, evidence of registration for Master’s Degree from any recognized University is required.

            OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

• All Candidates must possess NYSC Discharge Certificate or Exemption Certificate or Certificate of Exclusion where applicable.

• Computer literacy is required for all positions.

             CONDITIONS OF SERVICE

Salary, allowances and other conditions of service attached to every position is the same as the approved Salary Structure for Federal Universities in Nigeria.

FACULTY:  SCIENCE

DEPARTMENTS:  Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology, Computer Science

FACULTY: MARITIME TRANSPORTATION: 

DEPARTMENTS:  Navigation & Nautical Science;  Maritime Transport & Logistics;  Maritime Economics;  Finance and Insurance; Ports Management & Administration.

FACULTY:  MARITIME ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY 

DEPARTMENTS:  Maritime Engineering;  Naval Architecture & Ship Construction;  Maritime Communication & Information Systems;  Electronics & Communications engineering;  Industrial & Management Engineering;  Oceanography & Ocean Technology;  Hydrography & Water Engineering; Chemical Engineering; Civil Engineering;  Electrical Engineering; Mechanical Engineering; Mechatronic Engineering.

FACULTY:  MARITIME ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

DEPARTMENTS:  Marine Environment & Pollution Control;  Meteorology & Climate Change;  Fisheries & Aquaculture;  Maritime Archeology & Anthropology;  Maritime Biodiversity Management. 

 GENERAL STUDIES: 

UNITS: Geography;  Archaeology; Use of English & Library;  Logic;  Philosophy & Human Existence; Nigerian People, Culture & Entrepreneurial Skills;  History;  Philosophy of Science & Technology;  Peace Studies & Conflict Resolution;  International Relations & Diplomacy.

                     HOW TO APPLY
Interested and qualified candidates should forward fifteen (15) copies each of the following documents:
 Typed applications
 Detailed Curriculum Vitae
 Copies of Credentials

The Curriculum Vitae (CV) should, among other information include the following in this order:

 Position applied for
 Full Name (Surname first in capital letters)
 Place and Date of Birth
 Nationality
 State of Origin & Local Government Area
 Religion
 Permanent Home Address
 Present Postal Address/GSM Numbers/E-mail Address
 Marital Status
 Number and Ages of Children (if any)
 Educational qualifications Obtained with Dates
 Academic Qualifications Obtained with Dates
 Professional Qualifications Obtained with Dates
 Working Experience including full details of former and present post(s)
 Full details of teaching and research experience and service to the nation and immediate community where applicable;
 List of Publications where application 
 Honours, Award and Distinctions
 Extra-Curricular Activities
 Names and Addresses of three (3) referees.(One off whom must be your current or immediate past employer)

All applications and supporting documents should be forwarded in sealed envelope. The position applied for should clearly be indicated on the left-hand corner of the envelope.

Candidates should also request their three (3) Referees to send reports on them, under confidential cover, directly to the Registrar of the University. 

The Referees should also be informed to indicate the names of the candidates and the positions and Departments applied for, on the left hand corner of the envelopes.

Applications and supporting documents must reach:

       The Registrar, 

       Nigerian Maritime University, 

       Okorenkoko, Kurutie Campus, 

       Warri South L. G. A., 

       Delta State, Nigeria.

Note: Only shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview.

Application Deadline: Six weeks from the date of this publication.

NATH-ESE L. ANHO

(B.A. (Ed), MILR, MANUPA, FCAI, MNIM (Chartered)

REGISTRAR