ASUU STRIKE: THESE ARE THE ASUU KEY DEMANDS

The issues, according to ASUU President, Professor Biodun Ogunyemi, include the payment of fractions and non-payment of salaries, earned academic allowances, non-release of operational license of NUPEMCO, non-implementation of the provisions of the 2014 Pension Reform Act with respect to retired professors and their salaries, and exclusion of university staff schools from funding by government.

Other demands are funding for the revitalisation of public universities that entails implementation of Needs Assessment Report and addressing poor funding of state universities and proliferation of universities by their Visitors.

Here are the five demands of ASUU in a nutshell:

1.  Areas of agreement include funding for revitalization of public universities and the issue of Earned Academic Allowances.

2.  The issue of funding University Staff Schools 

3.  The implementation of the judgment of the National Industrial Court, National Universities Pension Management Company and guidelines for pension matters for professors.

4.  The exemption offered by the government regarding the issue of TSA, which included the issue of grants, endowment funds as well as salary shortfall, which is already being implemented by the government.

5.  The union also promised to submit a position paper to the Federal Government on their observation with a view for government to advise state governments.

A DISBARRED LAWYER, 4 OTHERS CHARGED DOCKED FOR MURDER OF BUSINESS WOMAN

The FCT police command has charged a Lagos-based disbarred lawyer, Ephraim Chukwuemeka Ugwuonye and four others over their alleged involvement in the killing of an Abuja-based business woman, Charity Aiyedogbon.

The charge bordered on criminal conspiracy to commit murder, armed robbery and culpable homicide.

Other accused persons are: Ezeugwu Paul Chukwujekwu, Adogah Emmanuel, Ikechukwu James Ezegwu and Michael Leo Oyong.

The charge sheet said the accused persons conspired and robbed Mrs. Charity Chidiebere Aiyedogbon (now late) of her property and killed her. They were also accused to have dispossessed the deceased of her Acura ZDX jeep, phones and other valuables while armed with cutlasses and other offensive weapons.

Similarly, Ugwuonye is facing another fresh 10-count charge on extortion, impersonation, injurious falsehood and false information.

The charge between the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command (complainant) and Ephraim Chukwuemeka Ugwuonye (defendant) is also before a high court in Abuja.

In the charge, he was accused of “Extortion by threat of accusation of an offense punishable by death, injurious falsehood against the Nigeria Police, injurious falsehood against David Aiyedogbon, giving false information with the intent to mislead public servants and obstruction of a public servant in the discharge of his functions.”

He was also accused of “Impersonation, when you have reasons to know that your name has been struck off the roll of Legal practitioners in Nigeria.”

Hearing dates for the two new cases are yet to be announced at the time of filing this report.

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE CLUBS REACTS TO NIGERIA DRAW AGAINST SOUTH AFRICA

Arsenal, Chelsea and Stoke City have reacted to Super Eagles qualification for next African Cup of Nations tournament in Cameroon.

The three English clubs reserved special praise for their players in the Nigerian squad after they booked a place in Cameroon.

The club followed Nigeria’s 1-1 draw with South Africa at the FNB Stadium because Kenneth Omeruo, Alex Iwobi and Oghenekaro Etebo were on international duty.

Another Chelsea loanee, Ola Aina was omitted from the match day squad and ex-Arsenal U23 captain, Semi Ajayi earned his third cap off the bench as a late replacement for Iwobi.

Chelses wrote on their official website, ”It was a better Saturday for Kenneth Omeruo and Nigeria who secured their place in next year’s Africa Cup of Nations tournament with a 1-1 draw away to South Africa.

”The defender, who is currently on loan in Spain at Leganes, and his international team-mates went ahead with the aid of an early own-goal. The home side drew level in Johannesburg midway through the first half.

”Nigeria have made it to the finals, which will be held in Cameroon in June and July, with a game to spare”.

Arsenal also lauded Iwobi for his performance against Bafana Bafana, tweeting, “Joy for @AlexIwobi! #BIG17 played 90 minutes as Nigeria claimed a 1-1 draw in South Africa in order to seal qualification for AFCON 2019.

”Congratulations to our #NaijaBoy and the @NGSuperEagles ��.”

Etebo was picked as one of the best players on parade for the Super Eagles by Championship side Stoke City.

The Potters wrote on their official website, “Peter Etebo played the full 90 minutes as Nigeria guaranteed themselves a spot at the Africa Cup of Nations finals on Saturday afternoon.

”The Potters ace impressed in the heart of midfield as the Super Eagles earned the point they needed in South Africa to secure qualification from Group E….”

LEAD REFEREE APOLOGISES TO NIGERIA AFTER COSTLY MISTAKES DURING SOUTH AFRICA MATCH (SEE VAR PHOTOS)

VAR footage

Report has it that the head referee who officiated the AFCON 2019 qualifying match between Bafana Bafana and Nigeria on Saturday in South Africa - has apologised for the costly mistakes made by officials during the game.

The Gambian football referee identified as Bakary Papa Gassama apologised to the Nigerian team after wrongly denying them two goals due to wrong offside calls, according to a report by OwnGoalNigeria.

VAR footage

 Ahmed Musa put through Kelechi Iheanacho who tapped home believing he has given Nigeria the lead but Musa who supplied the pass was judged by the assistant referee as been in an offside position, something which turned out to be wrong after video replays.

In the second half with less than five minutes to go, Musa was once again at the receiving end of another poor referee decision as he was once again flagged offside incorrectly after slotting home what could have given Nigeria all three points.

The game ended 1-1 with Nigeria sealing her passage to next year Africa Cup of Nations but officials of the Nigeria Football Federation ( NFF) still expressed their unhappiness to Gassama over the poor decision which cost Nigeria a win.

Gassama admitted the error and even went a step further by sending his apologies to Musa over the incident although he admitted that such errors are sometimes unavoidable particularly due to the non-availability of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).

However, the unanswered question still remains: why didn't the authorities uphold the VAR decisions and award the goals to Nigeria? 

FRSC TAKES EMBER MONTHS' SAFETY CAMPAIGN TO CHURCHES

 As part of its Ember Months campaign, the Plateau Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), has embarked on road safety campaign in churches.

Mrs Pat Emoerdi, FRSC Sector Commander in Plateau, addressed worshipers on Sunday at St. Finbar’s Catholic Church, Rayfield, Jos. 

She said the church service was organised to commemorate the 2018 African Road Safety and World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the week-long event has the theme: “Roads Have Stories’’.
According to Emoerdi, the need for a safer highway for all road users cannot be overemphasised, as safety is everybody’s business.

“We wish to seize this opportunity to sensitise all of us gathered in this church on the need to be very conscious while plying highways during this ember months.
“Christmas is already knocking. This is the season that comes with high vehicular movements with many motorists, particular commercial drivers rushing just to embark on many trips in the name of making more money.
“This is the time when a lot of motorists disobey traffic rules and regulations, hence causes crashes on our highways.
“So, we are here today not just to remember those who died via crashes but to also remind ourselves on the need to always drive to remain alive particularly during the festive season,’’ she said.
The sector commander called on all motorists to support the Corps in its bid to reduce if not end road crashes on the highways.

Emoerdi advised Nigerians to desist from speeding, overloading, wrongful overtaking, use of phone while driving; driving under the influence of alcohol and night driving, among others.

(NAN)

'VOTE OUT ANY GOVERNOR THAT IS AGAINST PAYMENT OF N30,000 AS MINIMUM WAGE' - NLC TELLS WORKERS

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on workers across the country, especially government employees, to vote against any governor unwilling to implement the new national minimum wage of N30,000 monthly.

NLC insisted that there was no way a governor would not be able to pay the new minimum wage.

This position was canvassed over the weekend at the Lagos Airport by the NLC Vice-President, Comrade Amaechi Asugwuni, during the inauguration of the new National Administrative Council (NAC) of the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE).

Asugwuni declared that the electorate had the power to vote out such governors in the forthcoming general election in 2019 and urged them to use the power of their votes.

Asugwuni, however, noted that some governors had officially written to the NLC that they would implement the new minimum wage as soon as it went through the required processes.

“I am telling Nigerians that any governor that undermines the payment of minimum wage should be voted out. They are hiding under the governors’ forum not to pay, but they have confirmed to us and written us that they can pay the minimum wage. N30,000 is not even the money that can take anybody home. The President as a matter of urgency should transmit that minimum wage document to the National Assembly," he said.

CHIEF OBASANJO SUES RADIO PRESENTER, AWIKONKO AKANDA ORO, FOR N1BN OVER BOLA IGE, MARSHALL HARRY KILLINGS

Chief Obasanjo

A radio presenter identified as Akanda Oro, popularly known as Awikonko, has been sued by former President Olusegun Obasanjo for saying he had a hand in the assassination of the late Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Bola Ige (SAN), and the slain National Vice-Chairman of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party, Marshall Harry.

The radio presenter who spoke during a live radio program, alleged that Obasanjo killed Ige and President Muhammadu Buhari had even claimed at the burial of the late Harry that the Obasanjo-led government sponsored the killing of the ANPP chieftain.

Awikonko was quoted as saying, “Obasanjo’s murder of Bola Ige, if not for the shortage of time, I would have listed the names of those murdered by Chief Olusegun Obasanjo during his regime.
“Bloodshed during Obasanjo Aremu’s regime was too much (foolish old man).

“There are repercussions for every evil deed done… In case you hear of my death, do not be sad. Perhaps this is the only mission I have been sent by God to accomplish.

“The fellow that killed a whole minister of justice and attorney general of the federation went scot-free.

“So, what will it cost him to kill me, a commoner? Let him go and commit suicide or take himself before Ogun shrine to swear that he does not know anything about the murder of Bola Ige and Marshall Harry or that all his children die in his lifetime.”

However reacting to the claim, former President Olusegun Obasanjo through his lawyer Kanu Agabi (SAN), described the allegation as malicious and false. The former President who asked that Awikonko retract the publication, in the suit FCT/HC/CV/2920/18 filed before Justice O.A. Adenyi of Apo Federal Capital Territory High Court, is also demanding one billion naira as general damages for the defamation of the claimant’s hard earned reputation.