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ASUU tackles Fed Govt over N163 billion varsity funds

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THE Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has asked the Federal Government to stop distorting facts about funds released to the union and the universities. It said the ongoing strike by the university teachers will still linger owing to a few disagreements between the government and the union on the mode of releasing agreed funds to the universities. ASUU National President Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi spoke with The Nation on the sideline of the Central Working Committee meeting of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), at the weekend. He said the union was not a spending agency of government, adding that the comment credited to the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, that N163 billion was released to the union was a distortion of facts. But the Minister of Education Adamu Adamu is optimistic that the ASUU strike may end this week. Adamu stated this during a briefing with reporters in Abuja at the weekend on the proliferation of illegal institutions. ASUU...

2019: INEC needs 1.2 million personnel to conduct elections, says INEC boss

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The chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu on Friday in Kano declared that the Commission needs about 1.2 million personnel, including security agencies, as well as ad’hoc staff to conduct the 2019 general elections. Yakubu who spoke through the chairman, Board of the Electoral Institute (BEI), Solomon Adedeji Soyebi, during the Election Security Personnel Training of Trainers for the 2019 general elections held in Kano, said over 360,000 to 450,000 security personnel are needed to man the polling units across the country during the election. The training was organized by INEC in collaboration with European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES) and the European Union (EU). He also added that INEC requires about 500,000 security personnel to ensure peaceful and rancour-free elections in 2019. Prof. Yakubu further revealed that Nigeria is the second largest democracy in the world with 84 million registered voters, after the United States...

Why I live like a young man at 59 – Harry Anyanwu

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Being an actor has to do with interpreting diverse roles. For Harry Anyanwu, his most challenging role so far is acting as a pastor. He noted that the role seemed difficult for him at the initial stage, but that it eventually taught him how to pray. “My most challenging movie role was when I had to act as a pastor; it was difficult for me because I didn’t know how to pray and speak in tongues at the time. Interestingly, the role eventually taught me how to pray; and I went back home and taught my wife how to pray. I told her I’d guide her. The role opened my eyes to see the things I had always taken for granted in life. It is good to know how to pray, but individuals have different styles of praying and I have been improving on that,” he told  Saturday Beats. Anyanwu is one of the few elderly men in Nollywood industry that have been able to sustain a healthy relationship with young entertainers as he is usually seen in the company with young musicians and actors. Asked how...

Pogba back in line for Manchester Utd captaincy – Solskjaer

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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says Paul Pogba is back in line for captaincy duties at Manchester United four months after being stripped of the role by Jose Mourinho,  KweseESPN  reports. Mourinho told Pogba in September he would no longer be considered for the armband but caretaker boss Solskjaer has reversed the decision. He is a leader,” Solskjaer told a news conference on Friday. “He’s a character, he influences people and you’ve seen the videos from France. He cares and he really wants to be successful. “He knows he can’t do it by himself, it’s a team game and he’s a character that brings so many good things with him when he’s enjoying himself, I have to say.” Pogba captained United nine times under Mourinho and in the absence of Antonio Valencia and Ashley Young was named skipper for the first game of the season against Leicester. But just over a month later Mourinho confirmed the Frenchman was no longer “second captain” while insisting there had been “no fall out” bet...

ASUU: Lecturers vow to continue strike, reveal who to blame

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The Chairman of Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, at the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, Joel Okewale, has said that Federal Government should be blamed for the continuing strike action by the Union. He said the Federal Government has been “insincere, deceitful and unwillingness to resolve the issues raised by the Union.” Okewale stated this yesterday while briefing newsmen at the ASUU Secretariat, OOU Mini Campus, Ago Iwoye. The briefing was attended by the Secretary of the branch, Olugbenga Azeez, the immediate past zonal coordinator (Lagos) of ASUU and member of the union’s negotiating team, Adetola Nassir and other branch executive members. Okewale informed journalists that rather than addressing and resolving the main issues that led to the strike, the Federal Government had engaged in dishing out false information to raise hope of Nigerians over the matter. He noted that “government has not shown serious commitment to the defraying of th...

Truck crushes mother, children to death in Anambra

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A woman and her two children were on Friday crushed to death by an articulated truck along Otolo/Okigwe road in Nnewi, Anambra State. The deceased was said to be on a motorcycle with her four kids when they were knocked down by driver of the vehicle, with REG number AWK- 575- ZW. A witness, who identified himself as Theo, said the truck driver was on top speed when he suddenly lost control and rammed into the motorcycle. The State Police Public Relations Officer, Haruna Mohammed, confirmed the incident, saying the woman and two of her kids lost their lives in the accident. He said the other two children were rescued and were responding to treatment, while the driver was still at large. He said, “There was a fatal Motor vehicle and motorcycle accident along Otolo/Okigwe road in Nnewi LGA of Anambra State. Accident involved a Mercedes 911 Tipper with REG number AWK- 575- ZW while on speed lost control and knocked down motorcycle rider one Blessing Iteshi ‘f’ of Ikwo in Ebo...

Ohanaeze directs Igbos to vote for Atiku, Obi in 2019 presidential election

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The Ohanaeze Ndigbo has directed Igbos to cast their votes for the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, in the February 16 presidential election. The endorsement of the former vice president was announced by the President General of the Igbo socio-political group,  John Nwodo , in a statement released on Thursday, January 24, 2019 after a meeting of the Ime Obi, the group's highest decision-making council. He noted that the decision was carefully made in consideration of many issues, especially in regards to the plans of candidates on the restructuring of the federation. The group also noted that Atiku's choice of  Peter Obi , a former Anambra State governor, as his running mate gives the Igbos an opportunity for inclusivity in government. The statement read,  "After a critical and dispassionate appraisal of the issues and the visible fault lines in our polity, including the analysis of the election manifestos of the va...