To President Jonathan: Do not Blame Labour Laws

Vacant Law lecture theater, University of Ibadan

Had the labour laws been better, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) would not have gone on strike. This opinion was expressed by President Goodluck Jonathan said on Sunday during a presidential media chat in Abuja.

Jonathan said it was unthinkable that lecturers in state-owned universities would go on strike over issues concerning their allowances in federal universities. He advocated a review of labour laws to curtail the excesses of ASUU and other labour unions.

President stated that such a situation would not emerge, if well-guided and well-thought out laws were in place regulating labour union activities.

He kept on saying that the N79 billion Earned Allowance arrears, which was the major reason for the ASUU strike, was not supposed to be paid from the federation account but from the Internally Generated Revenue of the universities, if a good labour law is in place.

Jonathan urged ASUU to reconsider its position, accept government offer, and call its members back to the classrooms.

It will be recalled that ASUU has been on an indefinite strike since June 30. The lecturers protest against the FG’s failure to honour a 2009 agreement signed between it and ASUU in 2009 pertaining to issues of university funding and improvement of infrastructure in the sector.
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According to Obasi. D. C. Chinedu from Voice of the Nigerian Tertiary Institutions (VNTI), the striking members of The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) have been unfair in their treatment of the Nigerian students.
Obasi argues that the past weeks of the strike have shown that either ASUU has been selfish on their demands, or they are not telling the truth. He notes the Union should keep in mind that Nigerian students are unlikely to support the strike or the lecturers' demands blindly, without knowing what these demands are.
Obasi keeps on stating that ASUU has not demonstrated any flexibility in negotiations with the Federal Government:

"when it comes to negotiations, you don’t just make a demand, and stand on it, else, its no longer a negotiation, but a command." 

He says it was gathered that ASUU initially mae the public to believe that their demands were sincerely about improving the standard of education, but FG has "rubbished" that presenting the "real fact" saying, “They initially told us that it was about infrastructure, but it is about allowances. N30b has been released for the payment of their accumulated allowances, and N100b earmarked for infrastructural development. It is important for the public to know that government did not say this is all that it will give, but government says go and start the payment with this amount and let us know the amount it will add”.
Obasi asks what is this infrastructure development that ASUU demands?

"With what’s said above, Its either the striking ASUU members are being unfair with their treatment of the Nigerian students, or their is something they are not telling us, about their, “Pulling out of the negotiation table.” Is this how they expect to resolve the crisis???"

He further argues that it has become clear that the striking lecturers are either no longer interested in the jobs or need a break from work. Its time, Obasi says, for the FG to implement the 'no work, no wage' rule.

"Whatever the situation may be, its time the ASUU members come to terms with what’s on ground, or stir the ire of the Nigerian Youths," Obasi concludes.
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I THOUGHT BABANGIDA WAS DEAD!

Togun, whose age could not be verified at the time of filing this report, died a pastor early Monday, September, 30.
Details of the late officer’s death is also sketchy at this time.
Rev. Togun came to national attention when he was linked to the Oct 19, 1986 brutal murder of Dele Giwa by parcel bomb.
Mr. Dele Giwa was co-founder of Newswatch Magazine,
Rev. Togun famously claimed that at an October 9, 1986 media parley for media executives and the then newly created State Security Service, Dele Giwa and Alex Ibru purportedly reached a secret censorship agreement with government. Under this presumed agreement, the media was to report to the SSS before publication any story with potential to embarrass the government.
Rev. Togun and his then boss, Colonel Haliru Akilu, director of the SSS, were close aides to then General Ibrahim Babangida.
Brig-Gen. A.K Togun was later reported to have given an interview to airport correspondents of the Guardian on 27 October 1986. In the said interview, Rev. Togun, when asked about Dele Giwa’s murder and the suspicion that he was killed by the Babangida administration, reportedly said,  ”…one person cannot come out to blackmail us. I am an expert in blackmail. I can blackmail very well. I studied propaganda so no one person can come and blackmail us after an agreement…”.
Prolonged efforts by Dele Giwa’s lawyer, the late Gani Fawehinmi, to prosecute Messrs Akilu and Togun in court , was unsuccessful.
In 2001, Messrs Babangida, Akilu and Togun declined to testify before the Justice Chukwudifu Oputa-led national human rights investigative commission about Mr.  Giwa’s murder.
The trio went to court and obtained an order restraining the commission from summoning them to appear before it.
Justice Oputa said then that the commission had the power to issue arrest warrants for the trio but decided against this “in the over-all interest of national reconciliation”
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The U.S. President, Barack Obama, congratulates President Goodluck Jonathan and the people of Nigeria as the nation celebrates 53rd anniversary it Independence Day on Oct.1

A warm friendship connects the Nigerian and American people, reflecting our shared values of democracy, economic growth, security, and respect for human rights and the rule of law.

“Our partnership is strong because of our people, as the proverb tells us, if you want to go quickly go alone. If you want to go far go together,’’ Obama in a statement,  issued by Secretary of State, John Kerry said on Monday.
He added that in the coming years, the U.S. would be looking forward to going further with Nigeria as the country expands education, jobs and opportunity for its people.

“On the 53rd anniversary of your independence, I wish all Nigerians a safe and prosperous future,” Kerry quoted the U.S. president as saying.
Meanwhile, in the historic city, New York, Nigerians and friends of Nigeria from around the world are gearing up to celebrate the anniversary of Nigeria’s Independence.

The celebration is scheduled from Oct.3 to 5 with activities ranging from party for young Nigerians and their friends, to a cultural night where the youth would demonstrate appreciation of their Nigerian heritage.

Also there would be an Independence Day Parade/Carnival and Festival.
People from all walks of life are expected at the celebration to showcase the glory of Nigeria.

The  theme for this year’s celebration is “Nigeria, Time for change’’.
Nigeria’s Independence Day celebration in New York started in 1991.
The celebration is usually the largest of its kind by any African nation in the U.S. (NAN)
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The youngest among six children, Chief (Dr) Innocent Ifediaso Chukwuma (OFR), was born into the family of Mr & Mrs Chukwuma Mojekwu of Uru-Umudim, Nnewi, in Anambra State, without the proverbial silver spoon in his mouth. 

But, what he lacked in affluent parental background, he made up for with intelligence, hard-work, discipline and business acumen – qualities that have continued to interplay remarkably in his many ventures. 

In February 2007, Chukwuma embarked on what some analysts perceived then as a mission impossible, when it incorporated INNOSON Vehicle Manufacturing Company Limited (IVM), to produce sundry commercial automobiles, utility vehicles and passenger cars, in collaboration with a consortium of Chinese auto manufacturers. 

With the public display of some of the vehicles at the 2nd Nnewi International Auto Trade Fair held at the Beverly Hills Hotels (Gabros Sports Complex) in the last quarter of 2009, IVM did not only silence the critics, but made a bold statement about its readiness to achieve the avowed mission of being the first (indigenous) auto maker to produce truly Nigerian vehicles that are affordable and reliable. 

IVM is today a success story which has attracted effusive commendations and awards from various quarters, including the nation’s seat of power. While opening the plant on October 15, 2010, President Goodluck Jonathan not only hailed Chukwuma for the courage of venturing into an industry many ran away from, but also assured him of government’s patroage from the government.

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JIM IYKE @ SCOAN

Making a surprise appearance in The SCOAN, Nollywood actor Jim Iyke entered quietly and unannounced, joining worshippers from around the world as they listened to the inspiring message from renowned Prophet TB Joshua during the service on Sunday, 29 September, 2013.

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“Singer Vic O. to marry Genevieve Nnaji”

“Singer Vic O. to marry Genevieve Nnaji”

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