NUC lacks capacity to develop tertiary education –Don

An education consultant, Prof. David Iornem, has said the National Universities Commission and other government agencies lack the capacity to develop the country’s tertiary education.

 Iornem, a former senator, noted that the NUC, vested with the responsibility of seeking budget expansion to enable the universities to develop, instead engaged in antics that frustrated the institutions from getting the money.

‘Don’t force pupils to learn’

The Head Teacher, Lifetrees Nursery and Primary School, Oyingbo, Lagos, Mrs. Grace Adeogun, has expressed dissatisfaction with the manner pupils are being taught in some schools.

The educationist said this while speaking on the integration of Nigerian and British curricula in Lagos on Thursday.

She noted that pupils should not be forced to learn; rather, they should be encouraged to explore and learn at their own pace.

Police arraign three for kidnapping, raping UNILAG student

Three men, Bashorun Babajide,  Aje Olumayowa, and Babajide Ajayi, have been arraigned before the Tinubu Magistrate’s Court, Lagos State, for allegedly kidnapping and raping an undergraduate of the University of Lagos.

In the eight counts which the police preferred against the defendants, it was alleged that after raping the girl, the men also took snapshots of their victim and posted them on the Internet.

It was alleged that within a few days of the upload, the nude photographs went viral on social media, exposing Titiloye to ridicule and shame.

Would You Rather Have Better Sex or More Money?

The list of reasons to do the deed just keeps getting longer. Medical researchers are coming forward saying that having enjoyable sex can decrease the risk of heart disease in men, increase longevity in women, decrease general pain and make you feel younger.

But, perhaps most interestingly of all, Drs. Michael Roizen and Mehmet Oz, authors of "You: Being Beautiful" (and, of

18 pieces of advice for new grads

The following is an imaginary commencement address to graduates about to work by the Chief Executive Officer of Accretive Solutions, Richard A. Moran, a social scientist and best-selling author. He’s an expert at organisation effectiveness (and recognised as a top LinkedIn Influencer!) He offers 20 pieces of amazing advice targeted specifically for new grads:

PENGASSAN berates FG over ASUU strike

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has berated the federal government over the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU) which has crippled academic activities in the nation’s tertiary institutions.

In a statement issued yesterday in Lagos, PENGASSAN Public Relations Officer (PRO) says the body, “views with deep concern and discontent the ongoing and indeed a recurring strike in our nation’s ivory towers by the Academic Staff Unions of our Universities (ASUU) which has entered its 9th week without any sign of being resolved soon as parties in the crisis continue to trade blame and spoil for more actions on the matter.”

NANS gives Fed Govt seven-day ultimatum on ASUU strike

Lagos State chapter of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), has given the Federal Government seven days to end the ongoing Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike.

The students gave the ultimatum at a press conference held at International Press Centre in Ogba, Lagos.

NANS Chairman, Lagos chapter, Yakub Eleto, said: “The consequences of the ASUU’s industrial action have been dire for Nigerian students. We know that there would be no development in the face of instability in the education sector. Government must save our education system from collapse.”

Students slam govt over strike

Students of Nasarawa State University (NSU) in Keffi have expressed concern over the government’s unwillingness to honour the 2009 agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

A 300-Level student of Political Science, Moses Ndung, blamed the Federal Government for the ongoing ASUU strike.

He said: “I think it is morally wrong for the government to have reneged on its promise. No amount of investment in education is too much. The government should play their part of the bargain so that Nigerian students can return to their classrooms. “

ASUU strike: N’ Assembly wants NNPC, CBN, TETFUND intervention

The National Assembly is reaching out to three key agencies of the Federal Government in efforts to  end the strike by members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities.

The agencies are the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund.

Findings by The PUNCH on Sunday showed that the Senate and House Committees on Education initiated the joint move “as an urgent intervention strategy to save university education from crumbling.”

The Minister of Finance,  Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, had stated  last Wednesday  that meeting ASUU’s demands would cost the government N92bn.

Strike: Poly, education college lecturers may join ASUU

There are indications that lecturers from  polytechnics and colleges of education may join their counterparts – the Academic Staff Union of Universities.

According to sources from the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, the union may resume its suspended strike, due to a lack of remarkable progress from the government on the union’s wage dispute.

Following promises made to the union, it suspended its strike on July 16 for one month. But as of Sunday, the Federal Government had yet to fulfill the promises made to ASUP, which has stirred up a fresh round of controversy.

NUC misapplied Universities' money, bungled courses accreditation-ASUU President

Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) President, Dr. Nasir Fagge, in this interview with vanguard newspaper, blames government for the dwindling fortunes of education and the National Universities Commission (NUC) for misapplying universities’ Stabilization Fund.
The Executive Secretary of the NUC, Prof. Okojie, is shifting the blame on the rot in the universities to the authorities which he accused of lacking in good leadership. What is your take?
The accreditation exercise conducted by NUC in all programmes in the universities was a charade.

ASUU v FGN: Education costs and price of ignorance

Education is very costly and quality education is even more expensive. Our people certainly know better when they say: “If you think education is too expensive, then try ignorance.” Anyone with a modicum of intellectual capacity would not need further explanation as to the direct connection between national wellbeing and the quality of education in place.

It is no accident that all the successful countries of the world today are those that have invested heavily in the education of their children while the most underdeveloped ones are those with the lowest per capital investment in education and, sadly, Nigeria is one of them.

I must confess my embarrassment by the present Academic Staff Union of Universities strike which has seen our campuses shutdown for weeks with no hope in sight for immediate resolution. The case of ASUU is an old one; but for a willful disregard of scholarship, the last thing anyone who has the interest of the nation at heart would like to

ASUU strike, evidence of govt failure –Rep

A member of the House of Representatives from Ekiti State, Mr. Bimbo Daramola, on Thursday, described the prolonged strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities as failure of the Peoples Democratic Party-led government.

He called on the National Assembly to probe the N186bn given to 15 companies under Power Airlines Intervention Fund. He also said that the refusal of President Goodluck Jonathan to remove the Director General of

Commissioner, others call for increased funding of education

The Lagos State Commissioner for Home Affairs and Culture, Mr. Oyinlomo Danmole, Senator Anthony Adefuye and a cleric, pastor Sunday Kalu, have called on the government to increase the funding of education in the country.

They made this call at the 8th valedictory and prize giving day of the Viscum Group of Schools, Omole Phase 2, Lagos.

Danmole, who advocated functional education, urged the Federal Government to do more for education in the area of funding.

He said, “This is the only way to ensure a

Permanent voters card ready, awaiting distribution

The Independent National Electoral Commission on Thursday said it had taken delivery of 20 million permanent voter cards for 2015 general elections.

The Resident Electoral Commission in charge of Akwa Ibom State, Gabriel Ada, said this in Uyo at a stakeholders meeting, organised by the commission.

He said the voter cards would

ASUU Strike: Activists Ask Jonathan To Sack Okonjo-Iweala

A group of activists under the aegis of Anti-Corruption Network have called on President Goodluck Jonathan to sack the minister of Finance and coordinating minister of the Economy, Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, without further delay.

ASUU Denies FG’s Claim Over N92bn Allowance

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) yesterday denied the claim by the federal government that it demanded N92billion as earned allowances in the 2009 agreement.

Apparently reacting to the claim by the minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy, Dr Okonjo Iweala, that the federal government cannot meet the N92billion allowances being demanded by ASUU, the University of Ibadan chairman of ASUU, Dr Olusegun Ajiboye, described the claim as a lie.

UNICAL: Releases Post-UTME dates

SCREENING OF POST-UTME CANDIDATES FOR ADMISSION INTO THE UNIVERSITY OF CALABAR FOR THE 2013/2014 SESSION
The Post-UTME Online Registration will be shut down on Friday August 16, 2013 by 12:midnight while the Screening exercise will be on Friday August 23, 2013 and Saturday August 24, 2013 respectively.

Special Notice:

UNILAG Releases Diploma Cut Off Mark

The University of Lagos has announced its 2013/2014 CGPA cut off marks for students who undereent the Foundation programme and are seeking Direct Entry Admission. Below are the marks:
S/N. FACULTY OF ARTS – CUT-OFF
1. Creative Arts – 2.50
2. English – 3.00
3. European Languages – 2.50
4. History & Strategic Studies – 2.60
5. Philosophy – 2.50
S/N. FACULTY OF BUSINESS

Huawei, others partner over Windows 8 phone

ICT firm and equipment vendor, Huawei, has partnered Microsoft and chip set maker, Qualcomm to produce a Windows 8 mobile phone named Huawei 4Afika.
Speaking at the launch of the mobile phone in Lagos, Senior Director of Business Development and managing director of Qualcomm’s West Africa operations, Alexander Dadson, said the firm was proud to be associated with the new mobile phone.

According to him, Qualcomm developed the

A voice from the street

Protesters in the Middle East made history in 2011 when they toppled dictator after dictator in what is now referred to as the Arab Spring. From Tunisia, where it started, it spread to Egypt, Libya, Syria and other Arab countries giving voices to people who have hitherto had their voices muffled for decades. The voices came in different forms and shades, the biggest ever line up of Arabic rappers and the spirit and resilience of the Cairo youth made Friday, November 4, 2011 a special day as it brought together political dissidents rappers from Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Palestine, Lebanon and Jordan on Egyptian soil in order to remind the world that the struggle for freedom of expression and speech in the Middle East has just begun.

All for charity

Students and beauty queens from three higher institutions in Plateau State dropped their academics to engage in charity to save the lives of an ailing colleague, Sylvia Gowal, and orphans. GOTODOK LENGSHAK and SULEIMAN DUTSE (300-Level Production, Nigerian Television Authority Television College, Jos) report.

They are beauty queens and students of various higher institutions in Plateau State. They also have kind hearts. They dropped their classroom work for

At the mercy of ASUU strike

Law students of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS) are worried by the ongoing Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike, which could prevent them from being mobilised for their Law School programme. IBRAHIM JATTO (400-Level Zoology) and HALIMAH AKANBI (200-Level Law) write.

FOR final year Law students of Usman Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS), the ongoing Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike came at a wrong time. The strike has put them on a

BlackBerry 9720 announced to keep a candle burning for BlackBerry 7

BlackBerry may be focusing most prominently on its BlackBerry 10 OS and the smartphones within that family but it's not abandoning the former versions of its operating system altogether. Indeed, the new BlackBerry 9720 has been announced and it is a standard bearer for BlackBerry 7.

The Qwerty-keyboard toting handset comes with a 2.8-inch touchscreen and trackpad "for easy navigation". It features BlackBerry 7.1 from the box, which includes

What to expect from the new iPhone this September

Not one, but two phones to choose from, or so the theories go

Most people love gossip - and while Apple chit-chat never stops, the rumours of an Apple event on 10 September seem more serious than most.

It's said to be the launch pad for the iPhone 5S, as well as the iPhone 5C (a budget version).

Windows 8.1 release date revealed, full build available to all from 17 October

Microsoft has finally revealed the release date of the full consumer build of Windows 8.1. It will be available as a free download to Windows 8 users from 17 October.

In fact, the software giant has given a specific time. It states that the update will be officially available from 12am 18 October in New Zealand.

Chris Brown sued over studio fight

A man who claims he was punched and kicked by a member of Chris Brown's entourage during a fight at a recording studio is suing the R&B singer for assault and battery.

Sha'keir Duarte is suing Mr Brown for unspecified damages in Los Angeles.
The star's lawyer Mark Geragos said it was a frivolous lawsuit and vowed to have it dismissed.

Oprah Winfrey 'sorry' for reaction to Swiss handbag incident

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Oprah Winfrey said she was sorry for the uproar and media response caused by her comments about an incident in a Swiss luxury store last month when an assistant refused to show her a $38,100 (24,640 pounds) handbag.

At the premiere of her new film, "Lee Daniels' The Butler," in Los Angles on Monday evening, the U.S. actress and talk show host, recently named by Forbes as the world's most powerful celebrity, said she regretted saying it took place in Switzerland.

"I'm really sorry that it got blown up. I purposefully did not mention the name of the store. I'm sorry that I said it was Switzerland," she told reporters on the red carpet.
"I was just

We can’t meet ASUU’s N92bn demand – FG

THE Federal Government on Tuesday said it did not have the resources to meet the N92bn financial demand by the Academic Staff Union of Universities.

Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, at the opening of a two-day meeting of Commissioners of Finance and Accountants-General of states, said the N92bn being demanded by the university lecturers was not within the reach of the Federal Government.

Reduce Computer Eye Strain

Fourteen. That's the number of hours that I estimate that I stare at a screen each and every day. Between my computer monitor at home and work, checking my phone periodically throughout the day and watching TV at night. I'm nearly constantly looking at one screen or another. As a result my eyes often get strained and tired because frankly, our eyes weren't designed for that, if you find your eyes constantly hurting or dry and irritated during or after your computing sessions there are a few tips to keep in mind to mitigate the strain on your eyes.

Terror alert

THE United States, on August 4, ordered the closure of over 20 of its diplomatic missions across the Islamic world, stating intelligence reports had warned of possible terror attacks on US facilities on that day.
The alert followed a high-level meeting on terrorism at the White House, which revealed Al-Qaeda was about to strike at US missions across the Arab world, though it named no particular country or countries. The intelligence issued from the escape of hundreds of Al-Qaeda cells via jail breaks in July. The jail breaks happened in no less than nine

Fight against Boko Haram sparks vigilante war

Nigerian ironworker Ba Kaka initially felt sympathy for Boko Haram’s violent uprising against a state he and many others saw as corrupt, un-Islamic and kowtowing to Western ideology.
But as deaths mounted in the Islamist sect’s bloody campaign against state institutions, security services, Christians and even school children in northeast Nigeria, he began to see them as a threat to his life and livelihood.
“We thought they were doing God’s work at the beginning, but over time, we realized they were

B’Haram kills 56 in Borno mosque, village attacks

IN yet another bizarre occurrence, suspected members of the violent Islamic sect, Boko Haram, have reportedly gunned down 44 people praying in a mosque in Borno State.

Agency reports on Monday indicated that the killings occurred on Sunday morning at a mosque in Konduga town, about 35 kilometres outside Maiduguri, the Borno State capital city.

A State Security Service agent and a member of a vigilante group working with the military told the Associated Press on Monday that they counted the bodies at the mosque after the attack.

A member of the vigilante group, Usman Musa, said four of

Asuu strike: Academic activities in full swing at RUSUT

RIVERS State University of Science and Technology (RSUST) is unfazed by the current nationwide strike by Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) over differences with Federal Government.

Prof. Barineme Fakae, Vice Chancellor (VC) of the University who confirmed this yesterday however did not explain why the varsity has defied the nationwide strike by public owned universities.

Saturday Vanguard investigations revealed that

Student Loan Consolidation Service: How To Know The Best

One pain many students suffer from is finding the right student loan consolidation service. Just a single mistake by selecting the wrong company could lead to pains for years to come and they would have to spend the rest of their youthfulness in paying back a consolidated loan that made their financial crisis even worse. For this reason, I’m giving away a complete, UNCONVENTIONAL guide that reveals the truth many consolidation companies hide from you.

An enormous number of college graduate end up with heavy burdens yearly. On the one hand, getting a job is a big trouble; and on the other hand, paying off the several student loans they owe. A workable solution to this burden is to use a student loan consolidation service.

But while there is no shortfall of student loan consolidation service, one must be

Understanding how to Succeed in school

The best way to succeed in school is to work hard, yet without proper learning strategies, you will most likely fail to attain the grades you deserve. Have you ever thought about how to learn to gain better grades at school?Holistic learning is a process of learning ideas, theories and other course material in such a manner that requires less rote memorization and more implementation of mind application.

The natural way of learning things are to

Ccnp Security Course Is Getting Popular With Proliferation of Cyber Crime

Technical course helps person to get practical knowledge of doing work in industries. This course helps people to get job in industry easily for their talent and expertise in a particular arena. People like to go for those courses which are having lots of job opportunities so that they dont have to struggle after completing the course.

Networking is one of the most

EASY KNOWLEDGE TO QUIT SMOKING (THE END)

LET’S STOP RIGHT NOW!

The first thing to do is set a date when you are going to quit smoking. Let’s start one week from today. That will give you plenty of time to practice with the weapons in your arsenal. Eight days from today, it will be the beginning of the end of your smoking habit.

 

Days 1 and 2

EASY KNOWLEDGE TO QUIT SMOKING Part 2

HOW YOU CAN QUIT SMOKING

Quitting is hard. If you have tried to quit smoking, you know how hard it can be. It is hard because nicotine is a very addictive drug. Sometimes it can be as addictive as heroin or cocaine.

Many people have found that including physical activity in their program to quit smoking has added a tremendous benefit to assist in quitting. There are many reasons for this:

When people are more active, they gain confidence and like themselves more.  They feel more energy, and are more capable of dealing with tension in their lives.  With increased activity, the smell of tobacco actually becomes offensive. Whenever you feel the need to smoke after you have decided to quit, get up and move around instead. A brief physical activity can provide you with the lift that you may have received from nicotine.

QUIT SMOKING IN A WEEK

Mosquito Repellents Can Effectively Protect From Mosquito Attacks

When going on some trips or simply going outdoors it is important to carry mosquito repellents. Mosquitoes though very tiny insects, can easily spoil one's vacation or outdoor activities. It is regarded as one of the most hated pest in the whole world that is known to breed in stagnant waters.

Not only the buzzing sound of this tiny pest is annoying but also their bite is also very dangerous. Generally when they bite people red swellings or welts develop which if scratched can cause

OAU rated best Nigerian varsity

Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, has been ranked as the best university in Nigeria and the eighth in Africa.

A statement by the university’s Public Relations Department, on Monday, said the latest “web-o-metric ranking was conducted by a world renowned research council, Cybermetrics Lab, which is based in Spain.”

Signed by the Head, PR Department, OAU, Mr Abiodun Olanrewaju, the statement said the university was ranked 14th best in Africa in the last rating done by

WAEC releases May/June 2013 examination results

Lagos -The WAEC on Wednesday released the full results of 1,543,683 candidates who sat for its May/June 2013 Secondary School Certificate Examination.

The number represents 91.38 per cent of 1,689,188 candidates who registered for the examination,.

The Head of National Office (HNO) of WAEC, Dr Charles Eguridu, announced the results on Wednesday when he addressed a news conference in Lagos.

Eguridu said 889,636 candidates obtained six credits and above, while 1,074,065 others obtained five credits and above.

According to him, the results of

EASY KNOWLEDGE TO QUIT SMOKING Part 1

Introduction

Many Students and Youth in this generation engage in smoking. They profess it is fashion for them but have neglected the consequences of the act of smoking.

The purpose of sharing this information is to assist you to become tobacco-free forever, without the urge to start-up again. Even though this Information is not 100% guaranteed but it is based on evidence from research on treatments and counseling that help people quit smoking.

If you are about to quit, do you know what

Ways On How To Stop Snoring

You may be among the 45% of normal adults who snore at least occasionally or you likely know someone who does. He (or she) may be the brunt of jokes at family gatherings (“Uncle Joe snores so loudly he rattles the windows!”), but snoring is serious business.

For one, a snoring spouse often keeps the other person from a good night’s sleep, which can eventually lead to separate bedrooms. “Snoring can create real problems in a marriage,” says Daniel P. Slaughter, MD, an otolaryngologist and snoring expert at Capital Otolaryngology in Austin, Texas.

Not only is snoring a nuisance, but 75% of people who snore have

Driver rapes Student, posted images on Internet

A 27-year old driver has been arrested and charged  before Apapa Magistrate’s court in Lagos for allegedly having sex with his girlfriend, a 23-year old Lagos State Polytechnic student, Thelma Lawrence, and posting her nude photo on the internet.

Henry Aiyenero allegedly committed the illicit act in his house at Ajegunle, Lagos State, southwest Nigeria.

Aiyenero  who works at Ifelodun Local Council Development Area, LCDA, as driver was said to have humiliated his girlfriend that way because she allegedly denied him sex for a long period.

Delta State-born Aiyenero allegedly lured the victim to his house at 9, Ogungbe Street, Ajegunle where he allegedly  threatened her with a knife and forced her to

LAGOS SPN CONDEMNS DEPORTATION OF POOR PEOPLE BY THE LAGOS STATE GOVERNMENT

PRESS STATEMENT

Lagos State branch of the Socialist Party of Nigeria (SPN) condemns in strong terms the unlawful deportation of poor people, destitute and beggars to other parts of the country by the Babatunde Fashola/ACN/APC government in Lagos State. It is the height of insensitivity and crudity for a government to illegally arrest and detain poor people for months only to be dumped at other parts of the country at odd hours of the day.

The Lagos State Government in 2009 deported about

Repatriation of Nigerians by Lagos State Government; A wrong approach to issue

Nigeria is a country that consists of 36 states and a federal capital. Being a country, the success of one is the success of the country and similarly our burden a collective one, and as such nobody has the right to deport anyone from one state to another for whatever reason.

The recent repatriation of some Nigerians by the Lagos state government is an affront on our sovereignty and unity as a country, and as such we must all rise to condemn this act. Beggers, destitutes, students, working class, politicians, retirees or whatever, so far the person is a Nigerian, we all have legal right to visit or stay in any part of the country without any restriction and that explains the public condemnation that greeted the harassment of some northern governors on their visit to Portharcourt.


 Even if the deportees were beggars, it still does not negate their right to choice of residence in any part of the country and it is expected of the Lagos state government to
 accord unto them such right or what would have been the case if the people were to be of Lagos origin? Infact it is high time state of origin is removed from our constitution for it is fast dividing us than uniting us. As a Nigerian, I should be free to contest election in any state irrespective of tribe or ethnic group. I can remember how Nigeria threatened South-African interests in Nigeria, due to what we perceived as their unfavorable immigration policy and of recent the diplomatic row with UK government over the introduction of £4000 immigration bond. But now, on what moral ground can we question another country for deporting Nigerians, if we cannot
even put our own house in order.

The effort of the Lagos state government in reshaping the state and towards making it a model is understandable and well appreciated, but i believe there are better measures that can be put in place to keep these people off the street, as we have seen in the cases of Bike-men, road-side- trading, street urchins and others. However, contrary to the way some people are capitalizing on this development to score political points, it is obvious that this action is not aimed at victimizing any tribe or group as it has affected people from every geo-political zone and southwest not excluded.

It is therefore advisable that the Lagos state government finds better approach to similar challenges in the future, before intra-country deportation becomes a trend in our country.

God Bless Nigeria.

FASANMI KAYODE,

OAU Reviews Campus Road Safety

The Management of the Obafemi Awolowo University has reviewed its campus road safety and emphasized that sanctions will be made on offenders. Here is a list of the traffic offences that must be avoided when you are on the campus.

Traffic Offences that Must be Avoided
 

• Driving motor vehicles without Driver’s License or Learner’s Permit.
• Riding motor cycles without Driving License or Learner’s Permit.
• Driving or Riding with Learner’s Permit without a licensed driver to instruct and without the letter ‘L’ displayed in the front and rear of the vehicle as warning.
• Driving an unregistered vehicle or failing to exhibit the Registration number at the front and rear of the vehicles are required by laws.
• Driving or Riding without light or failing to dim light for approaching vehicle from the opposite directions.
• Wrong overtaking and excessive speeds, particularly of motor cycles.
• Carrying more than one passenger on a motorcycle and failing to wear crash or steel helmet.
• Failing to observe and obey traffic signs.
• Wrong parking of motor vehicles and Motor cycles and bicycles.
• Driving or Riding on Lawns and Krebs.
• Making illegal U-turns on Roads.
• Registration of Vehicles
• All Motor Vehicles and Motor Cycles owned by students must be registered with the Division of Students’ Affairs within one week of purchase or arrival on the Campus 

• Sanctions
  The University Security Unit is responsible for enforcing all Traffic Regulations and other Bye-Laws in the University. In addition, the Traffic Division of the Nigeria Police gives necessary assistance in this regard. Apart from surprise checks on all Motor Vehicles, and Motorcycles, the Security unit and the Traffic Police can arrest and prosecute all offenders in accordance with the Laws of the country.
  

Kate Henshaw: Releases fitness video in September.

Kate Henshaw is set to release her fitness DVD in September to be tag 'Kate's Fit 4 Life'. She intends to reveal the secrets behind her sexy fitness. This video will be available for sale in Nigeria.

Halle Berry: sexy pregnancy style

This is the second pregnancy that the famous actress and celebrity will be carrying. She has always exhibited a sexy pregnancy style wherever she is found. She has been seen in many places confirming her pregnancy. See  her growing baby bump in pics.

Rivers Assembly leader arraigned for attempted murder

Majority Leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Chidi Lloyd (third left) being led to the court in Port Harcourt...on Wednesday.

AFTER eight days in police custody, the Majority Leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Mr. Chidi Lloyd, on Wednesday, finally appeared before a High Court in Port Harcourt.

Lloyd, arraigned on six counts of attempted murder, conspiracy, assault and malicious damage, arrived at the court about 10.52am accompanied by riot policemen and other security operatives.

Clad in blue attire, the lawmaker limped as he entered the court premises, supported by two unidentified persons.

The offence of the PDP lawmaker, who was reportedly involved in the fracas in the State

New Hummer Jeep for Pasuma.

Wasui Alabi Pasuma, the great Nigerian fuji musician who was attacked on the night of Monday May 27, 2013 by heavily armed robbers in which his

Strikes in the Education Sector: Need for Unity of Education Workers and Students in Struggle

Reports of ERC solidarity activities to back on-going ASUU strike
By Hassan Taiwo Soweto ERC National Coordinator.

Over the last three months, the education sector has been racked by one disruption after another. It is not even yet up to a week that Polytechnic lecturers under the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) suspended their 78 days strike over a promise from the government to address their demands. The strike, which was suspended with a threat of resumption if after a month it is not seen that government truly wants to meet their demands, rattled the government. Not just because of the determination of the Polytechnic lecturers but also because of the solidarity of polytechnic students.

Aside the efforts of groups like the ERC and the new group COSATEC, the National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS), despite the political limitation of its leadership, organised a number of protests which helped to ply pressure on the government. Compared to this, NANS which is the umbrella body of all students publicly opposed the strike of University lecturers. The senseless arguments advanced by the rightwing NANS leaders for this counterproductive strategy is not worthy of examination here. What should worry ordinary students is that this attitude of the NANS leadership essentially means capitulation to the government and its neo-liberal policies of education underfunding. It means NANS is not only ready to fight neo-liberal education policies, it would also try its best to weaken the efforts of those fighting.

The ERC believes the demands of ASUU if met would genuinely lead to improvement in the education system and as such is worth supporting by students. Students suffer the most from cuts in education funding, fee hike and decaying facilities. Added to the woes of students is the phenomenon of unemployment which in practice means that only a few hundreds of the tens of thousands graduating yearly can ever find a job. 

NANS backing the government against a strike aimed at compelling the government to use Nigeria's enormous wealth to fund education is therefore essentially a betrayal of the interests of students. The best strategy that would enormously favour students interest is for NANS to openly solidarise with the University lecturers in their strike while also declaring nationwide mass actions of students to put forward specific students' demands for improved funding, reversal of hiked fees, repair of broken and decayed teaching and hostel infrastructures, restoration of banned unions, recall of victimised students activists etc. This kind of strategy which unifies students and education workers in collective struggle would have succeeded in putting enormous pressure on government such that the ultimate result would be that not only University workers but also students would win concessions at the end of the day.

It is such a unity in struggle of students and education workers that the ERC has been arguing for since the beginning of the strikes. Despite the opposition of the rightwing leaders of students and the atrophy of the mass organisations of students, we have managed over the last three months to launch solidarity activities to support the strikes in polytechnics and universities while also advancing students' specific demands. This consists of pasting of posters and handing out leaflets to students and the public. Also public meetings, symposium and rallies have been called. 

At the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Ile ife, ERC members have not allowed the fact the University is on break to discourage them. They have pasted posters and circulated leaflets. They are equally playing important roles in the on-going discussion among the "left" student groups on campus to organise public mass actions to fully back the strike. At the University of Ibadan (UI), the ERC was able to organise a successful public meeting which brought students and University lecturers to discuss how to jointly respond to the attacks on public education. Finally at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), we were able to organise a protest rally whose modest success is all the more surprising considering the over 10-year long absence of a students' union in the University and the conspiracy of the faculty presidents and the University Management in scaring students from attending the rally.

Below we present fascinating reports of these activities at UNILAG and UI which are just the first leg of the planned activities of the ERC to campaign for a united struggle to win the strike and defeat government anti-poor education policies.

ASUU vows to continue strike until FG agrees to demands

BENIN CITY—Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Benin Zone, yesterday, expressed the resolve of members to stay at home for up to  10 years than call off the current strike action embarked upon by the union five weeks ago, if the Federal Government continues to shy away from the agreement it reached with the union in 2009.

President Goodluck Jonathan had

on Tuesday, approved the implementation of the recommendation of the government committee on repositioning of federal and state universities.

But the Benin Zone of ASUU described as a shame, government’s refusal to meet its end of the Memorandum of Understanding, MOU,  entered with ASUU in 2009, wherein government promised to release  N100 billion immediately out of the N500billion it agreed to pay.

The Zonal Coordinator, Benin zone of ASUU, Dr. Ighalo Sunny, said yesterday, that part of the MOU signed in 2012 between the Federal Government and the union was that government will increase the yearly budgetary allocation to the educational sector to 26 per cent among others.

He said: “It is sad that government has failed to fulfill the agreement on the universities. The N500 billion is not to pay lecturers but to fund infrastructural decay in Nigerian universities. What that means is that government has not shown readiness to implement same. For us, the solution is simple, honour and implement fully the 2009 FGN/ASUU agreement. We believe that the 2009 agreement is the antidote to the debilitating crisis bedevilling Nigerian universities.”

Describing the rumour that ASUU will soon call-off the strike as a folktale, he noted that the union appreciates the interest shown by  stakeholders and groups in the crisis, “ but that will not stop us from finding lasting solution to the decay in our education sector.

RECONCILATION? D'banj & Don Jazzy performed together again.

A wonderful and splendid wedding held by Dotun & Taiwo yesterday when D’banj called on Don Jazzy to join him on stage.
 
The ex-Mo’Hit Record chiefs performed on some of their previous songs: Mr. Endowed, Fall in Love… We hope this will mark another era of their friendships. Let’s end all squabbles brothers: dats ma advice. 

Katy Perry uses 90minutes on beauty routine

Katy Perry recently discloses in an interview that her normal beauty routine lengths about 90minutes. She even calls herself “a product whore”.

"I'm a product whore. I have a regimen that spans....
an hour and a half, and nothing goes out of order," she said, admitting that it could be difficult to do when "sleeping over at a new boyfriend's house."

"This is how I view my career: not as a ticking bomb," she said. "A lot of people do things out of fear. A lot of people make choices [based on thinking] they won't have a career in five years. I know where I am; I know what I do is worth something and does not have an expiration date on it. I'm not making choices -- in any capacity of my life, with any kind of endorsement, with any kind of product -- out of fear."

JAF Nationwide Education Protest To Commence August 13

The Joint Action Front (JAF) has announced that its protest in solidarity with stakeholders in the education sector will commence on August 13.

In an announcement today, JAF said the decision was taken at a joint meeting at the weekend with stakeholders including students, civil society groups, as well as academic and non-academic staff unions from across the country.

The goal of the mass protest is to ensure that public education at all levels occupies the number one priority in governments’ policies, budgeting and implementation.

“JAF reiterates its position on the struggle for SYSTEM CHANGE to rid Nigeria of the present class of looters and work towards the emergence of a JUST SYSTEM that would ensure democratic participation and control of our collective endowments for PUBLIC GOOD,”the statement said.

Yesterday’s meeting further resolved to hold a media briefing one week before the start of the rallies to unfold the details of the plan of action for the nationwide protest.

JAF urged Nigerians to brace up for a protracted struggle to save the future of the Nigerian child because the extant ruling class of looters and their cronies have no stake in public education because their children are funded with public wealth in the expensive and exclusive private schools in Nigeria and across the world.

Full text of the Press Statement:

MASS PROTEST to Save Public Education 

Begins August 13th!

 EDUCATION IS A RIGHT!!
1. The Joint Action Front (JAF) and representatives of the various stakeholders in the education sector, comprising students, civil society groups, academic and non-academic staff unions from across the country, rose from an Expanded General Meeting yesterday, Sunday, July 28th with the resolve to Kick off Zonal Mass Rallies/Protest on August 13th 2013 in Lagos.

2. The goal of the MASS PROTEST is to ensure that Public Education at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels occupies number ONE (1) priority in Governments’ policies, budgeting and implementation.

3. The meeting agreed to intensify consultation and mobilization of all stakeholders in the education sector: students, parents, Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), NAAT, and College of Education Staff Union (COESU).

4. The meeting further resolved to hold a Media Briefing a week to August 13th to unfold the details of the PLAN OF ACTION for the nationwide protest and urge Nigerians to brace up for a protracted struggle to save the future of the Nigerian Child because the extant ruling class of looters and their cronies have no stake in PUBLIC EDUCATION because their children are funded with public wealth in the expensive and exclusive private schools in Nigeria and across the world.

5. JAF reiterates its position on the struggle for SYSTEM CHANGE to rid Nigeria of the present class of looters and work towards the emergence of a JUST SYSTEM that would ensure democratic participation and control of our collective endowments for PUBLIC GOOD.

FORWARD EVER, BACKWARD NEVER

COMRADE ABIODUN AREMU
JAF Secretary

NB:
This is what we meant by SYSTEM CHANGE:
“Nigeria is rich. The wealth belongs to the people. Most Nigerians are hungry, have no jobs, no education, no healthcare, no potable water, no electricity supply and no affordable transportation. Most cannot feed their families or educate their children. Those who are lucky to have jobs are not much different. They also cannot afford a decent living for their families. On the other hand, there is a very tiny group of Nigerians who have cornered the wealth that belong to the working people and the poor, who are in the majority. They loot the treasury and use their stolen wealth to sustain themselves in power through their political parties. They use their power to get richer and richer when the poor get poorer and poorer. This is the system of exploitation and oppression. It is the system that brings out the army and the police to kill poor people when they protest against oppression and exploitation. We want to change that system and replace it with a system where the working people and the millions of people who are sufferings under the system of exploitation will win power and ensure that the wealth of Nigeria is used to ensure a good life for the majority of the people who are now exploited and oppressed.