Don’t send students back to campuses, ASUU begs Parents

Don’t send students back to campuses, 

ASUU begs Parents

By Henry Umoru Ola Ajayi, Johnbosco Agbakwuru , Joseph Erunke & Ikenna Asomba

ABUJA — FORTY eight hours to the deadline given by the Federal Government to striking university lecturers to resume classes or be sacked, the union has remained adamant, advising parents not to risk the lives of their children by sending them to the campuses.

The Presidency, on its part accused ASUU leaders of treachery and warned the university lecturers not to dare the resolve of government to carry out its threat to sack them if they failed to resume.

The Senate President, David Mark has also cautioned the Federal Government over the threat to sack the striking lecturers just as the All Progressives Congress (APC) slammed the government for issuing the threat.

Supervising Minister for Education, Mr Nyesom Wike last Thursday gave the lecturers a seven-day ultimatum to resume from their six-month strike or risk being sacked. President Goodluck Jonathan, however, clarified, weekend, in Bayelsa that the Federal Government did not give the ultimatum, stating that it was given by the Committee of Vice Chancellors.

However, the Secretary-General of the Committee of Vice Chancellors, Professor Mike Faborede denied the claim that his committee gave the ultimatum. He passed the buck to the Committee of Pro-Chancellors.

ASUU meantime said no academic activities would resume until the Federal Government perfects and implements resolutions reached with the union.

The order given by the Federal Government that universities across the country should resume seems not to have any impact in the University of Ibadan.

A visit to the campus, yesterday, showed that the order had been ignored by students as they did not turn up for resumption.

A student, Bolade who did not want his surname in print said the order was disregarded because they knew the approach of the Federal Government would only aggravate the face-off.

All the halls of residence — Kuti Hall, Sultan Bello, Independence, Nnamdi Azikwe, Queen Elizabeth and Idia Halls in the institution were still deserted. Though, the halls were opened, only some non academic staff and few students who did not leave the campus at all were seen.

Describing the threat by Federal Government as height of insensitivity, the academic union asked its members not to sign any register but to remain calm and stay resolute.

On denial by President Goodluck Jonathan that he never issued any ultimatum to the union, the National President of ASUU, Dr. Nasir Fagge and University of Ibadan chapter of the Union, ASUU said it was laughable.

Fagge said: “Comrades, can you see the unfolding drama? Now, Jonathan says they didn’t give ultimatum; that the Vice Chancellors did and Wike became their trumpet; But NUC’s ultimatum is by Federal Government to us to resume or get sacked. And Wike’s press address says “FG has directed, “NOT”VCs have directed”Be calm, stay resolute. By God, we are on course”

Also speaking in the same vein, UI ASUU chairman, Dr. Segun Ajiboye asked parents not to risk the precious lives of “our students by releasing them, saying no lecturer will teach them.

“Don’t risk the lives of your children, keep your children at home because ASUU will not teach. Soldiers and the police deployed by the Federal Government will not teach.  Mr Wike can come and teach in university. It is a huge joke to sack professors. Our strike must not be in vain. Our students must see the results. It is funny; we thought we are in a democracy. I assure Nigerians that we know what the law says about the strike. Our job is statute backed. We are not threatened. We do not trust the government. The record of the government is clear. This government is dishonouring agreements. Our members are resolved to pursue this to a logical conclusion”

UI ASUU also sent a text message to its staff reads: “Dear members, stay calm and remain resolute. There is nothing wrong in asking govt to do what it says it will do immediately. ASUU is not making any new demands as the Minister is propagating. Government is only repeating a ‘one act play’ scripted by the IBB dictatorship in early 90s. It didn’t work then, and, it won’t work now.!all branches are intact. We cannot be intimidated!!united we bargain, divided we beg!!!Aluta Continua.”

Don’t dare Govt, Presidency warns

Meanwhile, the Presidency yesterday accused the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU of treachery, just as it warned the university lecturers not to dare the resolve of government to carry out its threat to sack them if they failed to resume.

According to the Presidency,  ASUU leaders have gone contrary to the desire of majority of their chapters who have voted and agreed to end the strike because of the personal intervention of President Goodluck Jonathan, even as it boasted that it was joking with the threat of sacking the lecturers.

Addressing Journalists yesterday in Abuja, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe said  that ASUU leadership came into negotiation with a mindset that  betrayed what he termed, lack of understanding that the nation and the government were a continuum.

Asked whether the Federal Government can fill the vacancies if the lecturers were indeed sacked, he retorted: “Do you think the government is joking?”

Okupe who noted that  the 13-hour meeting Jonathan held with ASUU ended with a definite agreement and resolutions acceptable to the ASUU leadership, however stressed  that the leadership of ASUU was expected to consult with its members nationwide and report back to government within one week.

“The ASUU leadership rather than take its responsibility seriously, wasted seven days before scheduling a meeting. When the meeting eventually held the leadership decided to thwart and undemocratically override the expressed will of majority of its chapters to call off the strike. This action is contrary to established practice and procedure of any democratic labour institution, which ASUU is expected to be.”

The Secretary-Generl of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors in a text message to Vanguard, last night, said: “The Committee of Pro-Chancellors (CPC), issued the ultimatum, not the Committee of Vice-Chancellors (CVC).”

Mark cautions FG over threat

Senate President, David Mark has also cautioned the federal government on the use of threat to solve the lingering crisis with ASUU.

The Senate President for the umpteenth time also pleaded with ASUU to reconsider their position and return to classes to salvage the already battered education sector from further deterioration.

Senator Mark who advised the Federal Government not to use the sledgehammer on ASUU on account of the five months strike when he commissioned a lecture theatre for the School of management sciences at the Kano state polytechnic donated by Senator Kabiru Gaya, pleaded with the teachers to resume classes while negations continue.

He said, “We have reached a situation where hardline positions would worsen the situation. My plea to ASUU is to resume classes while negotiation continues. The strike has done enough damage to our universities. They have also made their point and I think we should reason together and end this matter.

“Nobody, including the university teachers themselves can be said to be enjoying this crisis. It is a huge cost on government, parents, the management, staff and students of the universities.

- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/12/dont-send-students-back-campuses-asuu-begs-parents/#sthash.vRVFwDAZ.dpuf

We didn’t give ASUU ultimatum – Jonathan

By Samuel Oyadongha, Yenagoa

President Goodluck Jonathan has weekend, said his government did not give the  Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, an ultimatum to resume work or be sacked.

Fielding questions from newsmen at the expanded caucus meeting of the Bayelsa State Peoples Democratic Party held  at Government House, Yenagoa,  the President said, the Supervising Minister of Education only passed on the decision of  the Committee of Vice Chancellors.

“We didn’t give them ultimatum; it was the Committee of Vice Chancellors that took that decision. The Supervising Minister of Education only passed on the decision.”

Jonathan also said the strike embarked upon by the  ASUU  was no longer a trade dispute , but a  subversive action.

Jonathan

He said, “What ASUU is doing is no longer trade union. I have intervened in other labour issues before now, once I invite them they respond and after the meeting they take decision and call off the strike.

“At times we don’t even give them a long notice,unlike, in the case of ASUU that was given four days notice before the meeting. As you are meeting to resolve trade disputes, you expect the trade unions to get their officials ready.

“What was expected having met with the highest authorities in the land for long hours, was for ASUU to immediately issue statement within 12 or latest 24 hours , to state their position whether they were accepting government’s offer or not. And if they are not accepting they should state the reason for that.”

“But despite the fact that I had the longest meeting with ASUU in my political history, we did not start that meeting until around 2:00pm and the meeting ended the next day in the early hours.  As far as the government of Nigeria was concerned, all the critical people that should be in a meeting were there, so what else do they want?

“After that they didn’t meet until one week, despite the fact that you met with the highest authority. It was unfortunate one of them, Prof. Iyayi died.

“The way ASUU has conducted the matter shows they are extreme and when Iyayi died, they now said the strike was now indefinite, our children have been at home for over five months.”

- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/11/didnt-give-asuu-ultimatum-jonathan/#sthash.AtbpAlAm.dpuf

online job

make good money online... http://www.sfi1.biz/13409034

Inspired by God: FG to ASUU: Resume or get sacked

Inspired by God: FG to ASUU: Resume or get sacked: FG to ASUU: Resume or get sacked By OLA AJAYI, GBENGA ARIYIBI, LAIDE AKINBOADE & LAJU ARENYEKA ABUJA — The five-month-old face...

FG to ASUU: Resume or get sacked

By OLA AJAYI, GBENGA ARIYIBI, LAIDE AKINBOADE & LAJU ARENYEKA

ABUJA — The five-month-old face-off between the Federal Government and Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, over non-implementation of the 2009 agreement assumed a dramatic dimension yesterday, as the government vowed to sack any lecturer  who fails to return to class within seven days.

The government has, therefore, directed all vice-chancellors of federal universities that are currently on strike to immediately re-open for academic and allied activities.

The striking lecturers on their part, declared the directive by the Federal Government a joke, saying they will never be intimidated into calling off the strike.

File Photo

Supervising Minister of Education, Mr Nyesom Wike who briefed journalists in Abuja yesterday on the strike said it was rather unfortunate that after a 13-hour meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja on November 4, 2013, the union came up with new conditions before they could call off the strike.

He said it was obvious that the new conditions put forward by ASUU were not in the interest of the nation. One of the conditions was that President Jonathan should facilitate endorsement of resolutions reached with him, which must be signed by a high ranking government official, preferably the Attorney-General of the Federation but not a permanent secretary. ASUU said their representative as well as the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Abdulwahid Omar, would stand as witnesses.

The striking lecturers also wanted the N200 billion agreed upon as 2013 revitalisation fund for public universities to be lodged with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and disbursed to the benefitting universities. They also want the government to pay their salary arrears before resuming academic activities.

Resume or get sacked— Wike

Speaking with newsmen, yesterday, Wike said: “All Vice-chancellors of Federal Universities that are on strike should immediately reopen for academic and allied activities as directed by their Pro-Chancellors. Vice-Chancellors should ensure that staff who resume for work are provided with the enabling environment for academic and allied activities.

“Any academic staff who fails to resume on or before December 4, 2013, automatically ceases to be staff of the institution and vice-chancellors are also directed to advertise vacancies (internal and external) in their institutions”.  He also accused ASUU of sabotaging the effort of government in addressing the issues especially after having a 13-hour meeting with President Jonathan where all issues were resolved and firm commitments were made.

He said ASUU first met with Vice- President Namadi Sambo but there was no positive response; so they met with President Jonathan on November 4.

He said: “On November 4, 2013, in a 13 hour meeting, President Goodluck Jonathan met with the ASUU executive, the labour union leaders from Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and Trade Union Congress, TUC, where all issues were resolved and firm commitments made to address the lingering issues.

“It is noteworthy that Mr. President’s gesture was more than sufficient to guarantee the commitment of Government to address all issues as resolved at the meeting with Mr. President.

“At the end of the meeting with Mr. President, the ASUU executive promised to meet with its National Executive Committee to present the resolutions reached and report back by Friday November 8, 2013.

“As a responsible government we cannot allow continuous closure of our public universities for this length of time (five months), as this poses danger to the education system, the future of our youths and national development”.

The minister therefore directed NUC to ensure all the Federal Government universities comply with the directives saying, “the National Universities Commission, NUC, is hereby directed to monitor the compliance of these directives by various institutions”.

When asked whether the directive by the Federal Government to vice chancellors to reopen was not against labour laws, he said if there were any grievances they should seek redress in the law court.

Threats will only worsen it—ASUU

However, ASUU, in its reaction said the threat by the Federal Government to sack university lecturers would only worsen the situation and “another long path to make the strike linger more than necessary.”

With the threat, ASUU said it was evident now that the Federal Government was not ready to implement any resolutions it reached with the union.

While the government is threatening to sack the lecturers, the union disclosed that Nigerian public universities needed 60,000 lecturers owing to failure of government to employ.

The treasurer of the union, Dr. Ademola Aremu, who spoke on behalf of the union said the Federal Government would only succeed in wasting the time of Nigerians and youths in the country if it failed to perfect the resolutions.

ASUU said it was trying to do all necessary things as regards the resolutions reached with the government because it had reneged on the promises it made with ASUP, resident doctors, and health workers.

Describing the threat as an insult to the sense and sensibilities of Nigerians who were waiting on the Federal Government for positive reaction, the union said, “with the latest action, the Federal Government has shown that they are not committed to all they have been saying.

We are saying that since we agreed at the meeting that the sum of N200 billion is for 2012 and 2013 revitalisation, the Federal Government should deposit same in the Central Bank of Nigeria. We are already in November and December is around the corner.

If they don’t do that now, when do they want to do it?. We are saying the non-victimisation clause should be included as agreed while the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement should be included as agreed with the President.

“It is a pity if the Federal Government is not willing to perfect the resolutions reached with union. This is why we find it difficult to hold our leaders by their words. How can someone be threatening to sack lecturers when universities are already short-staffed by almost 60,000.

We are not in military era. The military tried it and failed. This one will fail again. They can re-open the schools. ASUU did not shut down the universities. It was the school management that ordered the students to go back home.”

FG ultimatum a joke— lecturers

Some university lecturers said that the Federal Government directive on the reopening of federal universities, which also directed other members of staff to resume by Dec. 4 or be sacked, was  a joke. They spoke in separate telephone interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

In his reaction to the directive, Dr Oghenekaro Ogbinaka, Chairman, University of Lagos branch of ASUU, said that the development was strange and laughable.

He said that this was so considering the fact that the union was yet to get back to the government, after their deliberations with President Goodluck Jonathan. “Our reaction is simple. Let us just wait for the seven days to come around.

What government has just done shows that they were not committed in the offer they made with the union that had the Trade Union Congress President and the Minister of Labour in attendance. We are not going to fall to that blackmail. Now, which one is better, government acceding to our demands or issuing out threats?

“Honestly, this whole thing ought to have been easily resolved, given the approach taken by President (Goodluck) Jonathan, but it is like we want to be taken for granted after all and it is unfair,” he said.

Professor Oyelowo Oyewo, immediate past Dean, Faculty of Law, University of Lagos, simply described the development as “a glorified joke and laughable”.

Oyewo noted that it was funny that one of the parties which had before now been holding dialogue, would try to intimidate the other .

“I see this whole thing as a joke and I dare say it is not even worth my comments. We just keep our fingers crossed and watch. I still emphasise that such ultimatum is a display of insensitivity and a huge joke.”

Also commenting on the government directive, Professor Sat Obiyan, Head of Department of Political Science, ObafemiAwolowoUniversity, Ile-Ife, said that the ultimatum was not the best approach to resolving the issue.

He, however, said that the threat might achieve some success because some lecturers would resume for fear of losing their jobs, but it would not end the crisis in the education sector.

Obiyan said however, that it was unfortunate that the strike was allowed to linger for so long.

“Nigerians are worried over the situation; the prolonged strike is not good for the education system in the country, but the Federal Government’s approach now is not the best.

ASUU used to threats

“What is required is little understanding by both parties to agree on something and end the strike without aggravating it. It is not a new thing for the Federal Government to threaten ASUU members with sack; it was done in 1996 by the late Sani Abacha.

“For the university system to work perfectly, you need all the personnel and not few lecturers on ground to teach,“ he said.

Obiyan urged the Federal Government to have a rethink and implement the agreement reached with the union.

He also urged ASUU to give the Presidency the benefit of doubt that the agreement would be implemented, given the President’s intervention which saw him leading the government delegation at the last negotiation.

Also, Dr Yinka Ajala, Head, Department of Geography, ObafemiAwolowoUniversity, Ile-Ife, said that the threat would ignite more problems in the education system.

Ajala said that threatening lecturers with sack should not be a weapon for the Federal Government.

He said that the ASUU executive was being careful with the agreement reached with the Federal Government before suspending the strike.

“What ASUU is asking for is not too much, they want government to show some commitment with the agreement. Government can only force few lecturers to resume but not all, even if the vice-chancellors open registers in the institutions.

“The sack threat is a tactic that will not work; it has been used by the military in the past, so it is not new to us. I do not think this is the way government should handle the strike, it will not solve the problem,“ he said.

The Coordinator of Education Right Campaign (ERC), Mr Hassan Soweto, said that the ultimatum would only worsen the problem, noting that it was against the principle of public bargaining. What ASUU wants is some level of commitment from the Federal Government before it will suspend the strike. It is not right for the government to use force in a democracy,“ he said.

Meanwhile, Mr Agbomeji Ibrahim, a student of LagosStateUniversity, Ojo, urged the Federal Government not to be authoritative by giving lecturers one week to return to classes or face sack.

Ibrahim, who is a student unionist, said that there was a better approach to resolving the issue, rather than using a sack threat.

“Both the Government and ASUU need to accommodate each other on the negotiation table because both parties cannot get all their demands and must be ready to shift grounds”, Ibrahim said.

ASUU’s Secretary, University of Abuja chapter, Abubakar Suleiman in his reaction said the conditions given by the union before the strike would be suspended were still real and insisted that the union would not compromise its stand on account of intimidation by government.

According to Suleiman, “the strike is still on and we are not going to call it off on account of intimidation. We are not raising any fresh demands, we only gave government conditions to ensure that our members who participated in the strike are not victimised.

Ekiti students embark on prayer sessions

Meanwhile, students from  EkitiState, in tertiary institutions nationwide, embarked on marathon prayers and sought divine intervention to put an end to the strike action.

The students had converged on Lady Jibowu Hall, Ekiti Government House where they held the prayer session, yesterday. The session had in attendance, the state’s Deputy Governor, Prof essorModupe Adelabu and some clerics. Mrs Adelabu in  her remarks cautioned the students against taking to the streets and engaging in illegal acts that could lead to violence and  disruption of peace in the state.

The Deputy Governor noted that the students did the right thing by taking their petition before God. She said it was unfortunate that both parties to the dispute – ASUU and the Federal Government – remained adamant despite interventions from well-meaning Nigerians.

She then urged the students not to relent in their regular prayer for divine intervention, saying that the death of Prof Festus Iyayi, a frontline ASUU member in an auto-crash along the Abuja-Lokoja Road introduced another twist to the lingering dispute.

Mrs Adelabu, who expressed the hope that the prayers of the students would yield the desired result in a matter of days, counselled the undergraduates against engaging in activities that could jeopardize their future.

- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/11/fg-to-asuu-resume-or-get-sacked/#sthash.k6XbOykP.dpuf

FG condemns ASUU’s new demands

By LAIDE AKINBOADE & PETER OKUTU

ABUJA — The Federal Government, yesterday, condemned the new conditions which Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, insists must be met before the five-month old strike could be called off.

The three conditions were payment of four months salaries, which accumulated during the period of the strike; immediate implementation of the N1.2 trillion offered by the government to public universities, starting with the release of N100 billion this year and the balance of N1.1 trillion to be spread over five years from 2014.

The union also demanded that the salary arrears must not be paid in piecemeal.

These were some of the resolutions reached by members of the National Executive Council, NEC, of the union that met in Kano on Friday.

Supervising Minister of Education, Nyesom Wike, condemned the new conditions but assured that he would present them before President Goodluck Jonathan.

EBSU breaks ranks, recalls students

Meanwhile, the management of Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, EBSU, yesterday ordered lecturers and students of the institution to return to classes following the inability of ASUU to end its strike.

A statement by the Registrar of the institution, Mr. Sam Egwu, stressed that the institution had resolved to resume academic activities regardless of the ASUU-FG dispute, adding that academic activities would resume in all the campuses of the institution from today, Tuesday, November 26.

EBSU chapter of ASUU however, said that lecturers would not return to classes until their demands were met in line with the position of its national body.

- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/11/fg-condemns-asuus-new-demands/#sthash.8YiiEYVL.dpuf

From same sex marriage to legalisation, adoption of

adultery

Adultery, adulatory, abortion, and abomination of same-sex marriage have strong linkage and connectivity to evil and satanic manifestations – all are instruments of destruction, distortion, and destabilisation that are packaged, powered, projected, and promoted by the gates of hell.

I expect the next line of destructive social agenda is the strange affair of husband, wife, and lover living under the same roof.

The case of Maria Butzki who managed to enslave two men, Paul, her husband, and Peter, her boyfriend, into one roof thereby legalising adultery, which is designed as an acceptable lifestyle model targeted at our women and very vulnerable girls.

I took an interest in the story, which appeared in the Guardian newspaper publication of November 16, 2013. My interest is in three reasons:

Firstly, all the characters in this comedy of shame and reproach bear very strategic Christian names with apostate and prophetic manifestation – Maria, Paul, and Peter.

It suggests and imposes that they are Christians, and such adulterous lifestyle and union is acceptable and accommodating in the Christian fold. Maria, Paul, and Peter are not Christians, and do not represent Christianity; no true Christian faith or institution can accept or accommodate such aberration.

Secondly, this is a transition, transmutation, and transformation from same-sex marriage brand that did not fly in Africa, to legalisation, acceptance, and promotion of this adulterous union that is designed and accepted by the West to destroy our excellent marital values in view of huge failures and record of marital disasters and divorce.

Thirdly, it’s an organised subtle orientation and marketing of evil, to abuse our sensitivity, which is a continuation of promotion of evil that started from the promotion of abortion, encouragement of divorce, and same-sex marriage, that are packaged as human right.

In addition, the exposure of the breast and the sagging of trousers/jeans to expose the buttocks as touted by the West as being fashionable, are being embraced by our children and youths of little and poor values.

Both the act of advertising breasts and buttocks are evidence and manifestation of decay and demented thinking as such human parts cannot be part of fashion accessories.

Again, this publicised adulterous union is coming at the time and period of the Commonwealth meeting in Sri Lanka. I’m surprized that Prime Minister David Cameron of the United Kingdom did not promote this aberration to African countries, with a threat of withholding /withdrawing aids, as he did in the last Commonwealth conference in Australia concerning gay relationships.

Maria Butzki agenda is a well scripted and structured design from the pit of hell, coming from the West as a choice lifestyle human rights profile, but with design of force and voice of revenge, disobedience, and disloyalty targeted at our women, wives, and families.

Adultery wounds and damages marriages; though it happens, but condemnable, parties should make amends and ask for forgiveness from all wounded souls and the Creator of all souls; it should not be legitimised.

In Nigeria, the strange culture of senseless killing, child and gang rape, incest, and kidnapping is emerging with very strange and traumatic consequences, yet to be determined in the realm and regime of the spirit. The damage of the huge bloodletting in the streets of Nigeria  through tribal/ethnic war, religious conflict, senseless Boko Haram war, raping of old women is too dangerous for us to be at ease.

Returning back and referencing Maria Butzki, her evil agenda and consoling words are captured in this quote: “People might think it’s weird, but I love both men, and couldn’t choose between them – therefore when I left Paul, there was a huge hole in my life, but the thought of never seeing Peter again was heart-breaking; so living with both men is the only way.

“The three of us never share the same bed. Although, I have a sexual relationship with each man, that side is kept very private. If Paul is out, then Peter and I might make love, and vice versa. But both men turn a blind eye, and we never discuss it with one another.”

Maria’s husband, Paul, has this say: “Maria was and still is my soul mate. The families are now in the process of buying a large house to accommodate them all”. Peter, the boyfriend of Maria, has this to say: “By now Paul and I have developed a huge respect for each other. We don’t see one another as rivals for Maria’s affections. At the same time, I’ve come to care so much for the children. It seems natural to live together.”

The story is a model of tolerance, understanding, and endurance in evil. I hope that Peter will not proceed from care of the children to the “care of their emotion”. I worry for the children, and hope that another family of Moabites is not generated. But for us, Nigeria and Africa, we should be alert, awake, and aware

- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/11/sex-marriage-legalisation-adoption-adultery/#sthash.iSSWslKq.dpuf

6 killed, many injured as Boko Haram insurgents 

invade Adamawa

BY UMAR YUSUF
YOLA -  Hell was let loose in Yola, the Adamawa State Capital Thursday night as suspected Boko Haram insurgents unleashed terror in the state capital.

During the attack which lasted several hours, at least six people were reported killed, while many others sustained injuries.

Eyewitness account told Vanguard that the suspected insurgents in their large number stormed the popular Kasuwar Gwari market along Mubi Bye Pass, fingered their victims and shot them at close range.

The eyewitness added that serious stampede ensued in the area and spread to other parts of the state capital like wild fire.

In the ensuing confusion, several people sustained injuries as people ran for their lives following sporadic shooting.

The military enforcing the state of emergency in the state have launched a man haunt for the fleeing suspected Boko Haram members.

The man haunt has led to the closure of all roads leading to and from the state capital thereby creating long queues along the major roads.

As at the time of this report, all the major markets in the state capital have remained closed and shut, even as other shop owners operate at low level.

Anxious Journalists who visited the Brigade Commander of the 23 Armoured Brigade, Yola, Brigadier General Fattai Alli went away in disappointment as he said he was too busy to talk to the press.

Adamawa alongside Borno and Yobe states have their state of emergency extended by another six months following unending activities of Boko Haram insurgents

- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/11/6-killed-many-injured-boko-haram-insurgents-invade-adamawa/#sthash.hLYolTsk.dpuf

Robbers raid students hostel, rape female student 

to coma

BY EMMA UNA

CALABAR- A Seventeen year old female student of the University of Calabar, name withheld, was raped to a state of coma by armed robbers who raided the hostel she and several  other colleagues are living on Tuesday night  in Calabar.

The robbers, according to a fair complexioned  male student who gave his name as Ngoli, attacked  the hostel located at Mount Zion Road/ Inyang Edem Street  at about 2am and raped all the female students and carted away all their  laptops and cell phones.

“They stared by firing warning shots into the air to warn us that they came for serious business and thereafter went from room to room battering everybody and raping the female students one after the other”.

He said the girl that went into coma was still a virgin that made all the robbers want to have a taste of her. “The first one to pounce on her announced to the rest that she was still a virgin and that made everyone of them go after her and in the process she bled seriously yet they would not allow her go”.

More details soon

- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/11/robbers-raid-students-hostel-rape-female-student-coma/#sthash.8sEHAl1M.dpuf

STRIKE Latest: ASUU NEC meeting now to hold on Saturday- Osun Defende

An impeccable source, one of the prominent leaders of Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, who pleaded anonymity because he was not authorized to comment on this yet has disclosed to one of our correspondents that the suspended ASUU Nation Executive Committee, NEC meeting earlier postponed in honour of Late Prof. Festus Iyayi, a renown novelist, former ASUU president and prominent leader of ASUU may be reconvened on Saturday.

1. 
   He reiterated that the news of of Prof Iyayi’s sudden death came as a rude shock to the union; most painfully, Late Iyayi was on ASUU official assignment when he met his gruesome and untimely death, so there was nothing the Union could do to honour the late hero at the point than to put on hold it NEC meeting scheduled to hold in Kano. “There is strong indication that the NEC meeting will be reconvened on Saturday”. He further stated in strong term that unless ASUU leaders re-decides, the NEC meeting will hold on Saturday.
   
   When asked if the strike will actually be suspended, he said: “I think so, judging by reports from the Monday congresses we held simultaneously, the union may suspend the strike on Saturday or Sunday.”
   
   Source: Osun Defender
   
   See more:
   http://www.osundefender.org/?p=131880
   

   osun defender, asuu, asuu strike

Cholera claims 12 lives in Otukpo, 80 others hospitalised

BY PETER DURU

MAKURDI — The death toll in the recent cholera outbreak in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State has continued to rise with the epidemic claiming 12 more lives, including women and children.

Also, at least 80 victims of the epidemic are now receiving treatment at the Otukpo GeneralHospital and few  private hospitals in the town.

Vanguard gathered that the disease which earlier broke out in Otukpo Wards 1 and 2 had as at yesterday spread to four council wards which include Allan Akpa, Otobi Akpa and Ewulo

A nurse at the Otukpo GeneralHospital, who preferred anonymity, told Vanguard that the disease had reached an epidemic level in the town.

She said: “Since we noticed the first outbreak of the disease in Otukpo main town, some few weeks ago, the ailment has continued to spread to other parts of the council and the fear is that it is becoming excessively prevalent.

“There is hardly a day that we do not record new cases of the disease in the hospital and most of the patients are usually from the main town.

“The  situation at the hinterlands and neighbouring villages is even worst because we hear daily of new cases and deaths in these communities. And the figure keeps rising due mainly to lack of proper medicare for victims.

“Our fear is that in the last few days we have recorded about 12 deaths while over 80 persons are receiving treatment in the hospital and if the government does not act fast we might be faced with a pandemic with its attendant consequences on the health of the people of the town.”

Contacted, the Otukpo local government council chairman, Dr. Innocent Onuh, who is also a medical doctor, said his council had commenced free distribution of necessary drugs to hospitals and patients within the council.

He said: “Apart from that, we have also intensified publicity around the town, informing the people on the need for them to boil their water before drinking.

“As for the number of deaths, I cannot specifically tell you now because most of the cases are being recorded at the hinterlands. But  we are also collaborating with the state government and the state ministry of health to stem the diseases. I can assure you that we are on top of the situation right.”

- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/11/cholera-claims-12-lives-otukpo-80-others-hospitalised/#sthash.PV1DwPgl.dpuf

Rude shock awaits Nigerians tomorrow

Ethiopia coach Sewnet Bishaw has vowed his men will give whatever it takes to overturn a first-leg defeat when they take on Nigeria in their World Cup play-off on Saturday.

Ethiopia hope to continue their surprising World Cup journey when they face Nigeria in the return leg, despite a 2-1 loss at home in mid-October.

Bishaw said: “This is the biggest match of my life. I want to win it. I’ll fight to the maximum.

Sewnet Bishaw, Ethiopia Coach

“There’s no problem in my squad. All of my players are fit and the mood in the camp is very high. Everybody is waiting for the kick-off whistle.”, the coach told BBC.

Nigeria won the first leg in Addis Ababa courtesy of a brace from Emanuel Emenike and the Super Eagles are clear favourites to book a place at next year’s tournament in Brazil, which would be their fifth appearance at a finals.

However, Bishaw is confident his side can come back.

“I’m 100% confident of overturning the result. I’ll only play for a win. Football involves a defeat and a win. We’re defeated in the first leg doesn’t mean we’ll be defeated in the second leg,” he said.

“I’ve not finished the match. I’ve 90 minutes left to play. I’ll fight for a 2-0 win or for a 2-1 to take it in to extra-time. So, I want to remind them that it’s not over yet.”

Bishaw revealed he will leave it until the last moment possible to select his side in the quest to take the east Africans to their first finals.

The big boost for Bishaw is the return of his joint top scorer, Getaneh Kebede. The striker missed the first leg of the play-offs because of an ankle injury.

“The return of Getaneh is really great news. I’ve seen him in training. He’s fit and will definitely have a role in the battle” Bishaw said.

- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/11/rude-shock-awaits-nigerians-tomorrow/#sthash.fHMaoRnm.dpuf

Rude shock awaits Nigerians tomorrow

Ethiopia coach Sewnet Bishaw has vowed his men will give whatever it takes to overturn a first-leg defeat when they take on Nigeria in their World Cup play-off on Saturday.

Ethiopia hope to continue their surprising World Cup journey when they face Nigeria in the return leg, despite a 2-1 loss at home in mid-October.

Bishaw said: “This is the biggest match of my life. I want to win it. I’ll fight to the maximum.

Sewnet Bishaw, Ethiopia Coach

“There’s no problem in my squad. All of my players are fit and the mood in the camp is very high. Everybody is waiting for the kick-off whistle.”, the coach told BBC.

Nigeria won the first leg in Addis Ababa courtesy of a brace from Emanuel Emenike and the Super Eagles are clear favourites to book a place at next year’s tournament in Brazil, which would be their fifth appearance at a finals.

However, Bishaw is confident his side can come back.

“I’m 100% confident of overturning the result. I’ll only play for a win. Football involves a defeat and a win. We’re defeated in the first leg doesn’t mean we’ll be defeated in the second leg,” he said.

“I’ve not finished the match. I’ve 90 minutes left to play. I’ll fight for a 2-0 win or for a 2-1 to take it in to extra-time. So, I want to remind them that it’s not over yet.”

Bishaw revealed he will leave it until the last moment possible to select his side in the quest to take the east Africans to their first finals.

The big boost for Bishaw is the return of his joint top scorer, Getaneh Kebede. The striker missed the first leg of the play-offs because of an ankle injury.

“The return of Getaneh is really great news. I’ve seen him in training. He’s fit and will definitely have a role in the battle” Bishaw said.

- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/11/rude-shock-awaits-nigerians-tomorrow/#sthash.fHMaoRnm.dpuf

Nigerian degrees are worthless because … – Okoji

Abuja – Prof. Julius Okojie, the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), on Thursday advised Nigerians not to cheapen the country’s educational system by saying that “its degrees are worthless”.

Okojie said at the presentation of a report on Labour Market Observation on Nigerian Graduates in Abuja that Nigerian graduates were not underprivileged and unintelligent but good with great skills.

He said people tend to describe Nigerian degrees as worthless because the demand for them was less than the supply of graduates into the labour market every year.

Okojie said the notion came about because of the unemployment rate in the country, adding that it should not be the yardstick for measuring the quality of the graduates.

“The problem is that there is no balance on the sides of demand and supply. It’s just that the supply is so much and the demand for the graduates is less.’’

He said the Nigerian education system was good “as it produces intelligent graduates’’.

“The onus is in understanding the peculiarity of the economy and moving in that direction to produce the right graduates.’’

Okojie explained that NUC initiated the survey to understand the needs of the labour market and prepare the students to meet those requirements through proper training.

“I keep hearing that our certificates are not acceptable abroad. Who has given that impression in this country?

“I have been in the university system since 1978 and I can tell you that our certificates are honoured abroad.

“The Federal Government gives scholarship to the best 52 youth corps members to study abroad every year.

“Some of them have third class honours; some are even HND holders and they do so well that they are asked to stay for their PhDs.

“So, where did we get the idea that our degrees are worthless? All the graduates need is the opportunity to practice. So, we must not kill our education system by saying our degrees are worthless,’’ he stressed.

Okojie said the obligation was to learn what was in vogue.

“For example, ICT has come to Nigeria and there is need to build capacity in that aspect.

“We must look at the labour market and its requirement and we must also bend our training needs in that direction.

“With that, I am convinced that we are in the right direction and confident that we will get it right.’’

Earlier, Prof. Ignatius Uvah, the Consultant for the survey, said it was initiated to create awareness on the labour market among stakeholders.

Uvah said it would guide the training of graduates for effective performance.

“It will also help in putting in place national and institutional structure for polices on the labour market information system.

“This will help the suppliers and consumers of labour to understand the peculiarities of the market and align themselves to it.’’ (NAN)

- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/11/nigerian-degrees-worthless-okojie/#sthash.LlpnRiWp.dpuf