The Chairman of G. U. O. Motors Limited, Chief Godwin Okeke, yesterday, commenced his evidence-in-chief at an Onitsha High Court in Anambra State, presided over by Justice Chudi Nwankwo, in respect of his abduction by kidnappers in Onitsha on Sunday, August 23, 2009.
Okeke who spoke under oath, shortly after the court granted a motion to file and serve additional prove of evidence with respect to one of the suspected kidnappers, Alexander Onyinanya, filed by the prosecution counsel, Chris Ajugwe with Mrs. N. D. Wilcox.
He narrated his encounter with the kidnappers at the All Saints Anglican Church Cathedral, Onitsha when he went for a Sunday worship with his wife, driver and some family members.
However, counsel to the first and third accused persons, O. U. Uduma and J. N. Okongwu, did not object to the prosecution counsel’s motion to file and serve additional prove of evidence with respect to the third accused, Onyinanya.
How he was abducted:
Led in the evidence by his counsel, Okeke stated that he went for 7 a.m. service which ended at about 10 a.m, adding that between 10.30 and 11 a.m., his wife mounted the steering of his Nissan Amanda Spots Utility Van, SUV, and was driving towards the church gate when suddenly, gunmen blocked the car with a bus in front and a Mercedes Benz car at the rear.
Okeke told the court that before he could ask questions, the gunmen started shooting sporadically, adding that even though he managed to disarm one or two of them, they shattered his left leg, over-powered him, drove away his wife and family members before bundling him into his SUV and zoomed off with the abductors’ vehicles following.
He further told the court that they passed through Awka Road and at Limca Road, they met a traffic gridlock but his abductors shot sporadically into the air to scare the commuters before they continued their movement up to Nkpor junction where he said they met some policemen and exchanged fire with them.
Two vehicles snatched:
He said: “At Umuoji Road, my abductors discovered that their tyres were deflated during the exchange of fire with the policemen and they quickly jumped out of the vehicles, blocked the road, snatched two other vehicles from their unsuspecting owners and transferred their arms and ammunition, including 9 AK 47 riffles, rocket launchers, machine guns and a big Ghana-must-go bag filled with loaded magazines and live cartridges into the snatched vehicles.
“They continued their journey and drove through Alor, Adazi-Ani and Adazi-Enu. On getting to somewhere between Adazi-Enu and Neni communities in Anaocha Local Government Area of the state, they drove into a bungalow, rounded up the occupants, who were mainly children, locked them up in one of the rooms and kept me inside the living room.
“I removed my shirt and tied my bleeding leg as part of measures to control the blood gushing out from the bullet wound. At a stage, I became thirsty and requested them to give me water to drink. Two of the abductors, Emeka Eze and Anthony Ifeanyi Okafor were with me while others were outside monitoring movements.”
He said the duo with him advised him not to drink water because of his bullet wound but he insisted on drinking and eventually they gave him the water which he drank.
He said: “I overheard those outside asking the detained children where they kept oil, salt and other condiments because at that point, they had started cooking breadfruit meal for lunch.
The third accused was my ex-employee
He said after cooking, they presented the food and he ate with them. He said among those outside, two of them, a tall and short one wore masks, adding that he could discover that the tall one, Alexander Onyinanya, the third accused with mask was his former employee
“I could identify Onyinanya because he limps as a result of an accident he had when he was working for me. I was the one who paid his hospital bill when he had the accident.
I offered them N1bn, instead of N100m
“After eating the breadfruit meal, they praised me for my courage and for accepting their food, unlike other victims who usually refuse to eat during their captivity.”
He said they now asked him to get ready for negotiation to which he paid attention.
“They told me that Chief Paul Okonkwor, Managing Director of Pokobros Group West Africa Limited paid them N70 million as ransom when they kidnapped him, while Chief Anthony Enukeme, Managing Director of Tonimas Oil Limited paid them N80 million during his own time and told me to pay them N100 million.
“I replied them promptly that Okonkwor and Enukeme are millionaires, while I am a billionaire, and offered them N1 billion, instead of N100 million.
“The offer gave them special joy as they now dropped their weapons by the side, relaxed and asked me how and when the money would get to them to which I told them that the money was in the bank.”
At this stage, Justice Nwankwo ordered him to stop for the day till the next adjourned date. The court now adjourned the matter to November 14, 26, 27, 28, December 2, 3, 4, 5 and 9, this year for accelerated hearing and possible dispensation.
-Vanguard NGR
Tuesday, 12 November 2013
MASSOB v security clash: Four Killed in Onitsha
FOUR people were feared killed on Monday when members of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra clashed with a joint team of security men in Onitsha, Anambra State.
But while MASSOB claimed that the clash was an attack on its members because of the decision of the group to withdraw their support for the All Progressives Grand Alliance, the police declined comments on the incident. The Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Emeka Chukwuemeka, said he had not been officially briefed.
Director of Information of MASSOB, Mr. Uchenna Madu, who said he was speaking on behalf of the leader of MASSOB, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, said the incident occurred in the early hours of the day and that the security team, made up of army, police and State Security Services personnel, stormed the MASSOB headquarters along Onitsha-Owerri Road and allegedly opened fire on the members.
He said that at the end of the attack, four persons were felled while about 80 persons were injured. He said those injured during the incident were denied medical attention because they could not produce police medical permit.
Madu also said that about 18 vehicles belonging to MASSOB members and traders at the Mgbuka-Obosi, Old Motor Spare Parts Obosi, and 137 motorcycles belonging to MASSOB members were burnt and cash sum of N920, 000 was taken by the security agents.
The MASSOB spokesman also said 37 traders in the Old Motor Spare Parts, Mgbuka, sustained bullet wounds and were rushed to various hospitals for medical attention.
He alleged that the clampdown on their members was masterminded by the state government which he accused of not being comfortable with members of the group’s resolve to announce their preferred candidate ahead of Saturday governorship election.
Madu said, “This devilish act of cowardice meted on MASSOB was not unconnected with our refusal to allow our name to be used by some desperate politicians who wanted to score cheap political goal, using our platform.
“We had issued a statement distancing ourselves from supporting APGA and its candidate ahead of the governorship election in the state. We are very quite aware that the stand we took did not go down well with some highly placed persons in the state, hence, the attack was to disorganise us and browbeat us to submission.
“We hold Peter Obi responsible for the killings. This reminds us about the 2006 shoot-on-sight order by Governor Peter Obi who massacred about 2,000 MASSOB members.
“We shall arrest him and pay him back in his own coin in our own way immediately he steps down as the governor because his recent action of killing MASSOB members will heavily affect APGA chances of winning this election.”
The Senior Special Assistant to Obi on Media and Publicity, Mr. Valentine Obienyem, who said he was not yet aware of the incident, wondered why MASSOB was attributing it to the governor.
“Why are they calling the name of the governor?” he asked.
But while MASSOB claimed that the clash was an attack on its members because of the decision of the group to withdraw their support for the All Progressives Grand Alliance, the police declined comments on the incident. The Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Emeka Chukwuemeka, said he had not been officially briefed.
Director of Information of MASSOB, Mr. Uchenna Madu, who said he was speaking on behalf of the leader of MASSOB, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, said the incident occurred in the early hours of the day and that the security team, made up of army, police and State Security Services personnel, stormed the MASSOB headquarters along Onitsha-Owerri Road and allegedly opened fire on the members.
He said that at the end of the attack, four persons were felled while about 80 persons were injured. He said those injured during the incident were denied medical attention because they could not produce police medical permit.
Madu also said that about 18 vehicles belonging to MASSOB members and traders at the Mgbuka-Obosi, Old Motor Spare Parts Obosi, and 137 motorcycles belonging to MASSOB members were burnt and cash sum of N920, 000 was taken by the security agents.
The MASSOB spokesman also said 37 traders in the Old Motor Spare Parts, Mgbuka, sustained bullet wounds and were rushed to various hospitals for medical attention.
He alleged that the clampdown on their members was masterminded by the state government which he accused of not being comfortable with members of the group’s resolve to announce their preferred candidate ahead of Saturday governorship election.
Madu said, “This devilish act of cowardice meted on MASSOB was not unconnected with our refusal to allow our name to be used by some desperate politicians who wanted to score cheap political goal, using our platform.
“We had issued a statement distancing ourselves from supporting APGA and its candidate ahead of the governorship election in the state. We are very quite aware that the stand we took did not go down well with some highly placed persons in the state, hence, the attack was to disorganise us and browbeat us to submission.
“We hold Peter Obi responsible for the killings. This reminds us about the 2006 shoot-on-sight order by Governor Peter Obi who massacred about 2,000 MASSOB members.
“We shall arrest him and pay him back in his own coin in our own way immediately he steps down as the governor because his recent action of killing MASSOB members will heavily affect APGA chances of winning this election.”
The Senior Special Assistant to Obi on Media and Publicity, Mr. Valentine Obienyem, who said he was not yet aware of the incident, wondered why MASSOB was attributing it to the governor.
“Why are they calling the name of the governor?” he asked.
Glo signs D’banj, Wande Coal as ambassadors
Dapo ‘D’banj’ Oyebanjo has re-signed a multi-million Naira brand endorsement deal with Globacom Nigeria, according to Nigeria Entertainment yesterday.
A source says the Pop star has inked his second endorsement deal with the Nigerian telecommunications company after weeks of deliberations.
D’banj who had once been an ambassador of the telecom giant three years ago, now joins the likes of heavyweight contemporary musicians PSquare as well as recently unveiled ambassadors Naeto C, M.I, Lynxxx, Bez, Burna Boy, Flavour, Waje, Omawumi, and little known Chee.
Wande Coal however made his more public by twitting about the latest deal, joined the tall list of Globacom ambassadors.
‘Thank you to God the almighty & big thank u to my faithful fans for all your support through the years.I’m the newest Glo Ambassador in Town‘, he tweeted.
Wande has parted ways with former record label Mavin Records and launched his very own outfit Black Diamond Entertainment.
Exact figures of both endorsement deals were not immediately available.
A source says the Pop star has inked his second endorsement deal with the Nigerian telecommunications company after weeks of deliberations.
D’banj who had once been an ambassador of the telecom giant three years ago, now joins the likes of heavyweight contemporary musicians PSquare as well as recently unveiled ambassadors Naeto C, M.I, Lynxxx, Bez, Burna Boy, Flavour, Waje, Omawumi, and little known Chee.
Wande Coal however made his more public by twitting about the latest deal, joined the tall list of Globacom ambassadors.
‘Thank you to God the almighty & big thank u to my faithful fans for all your support through the years.I’m the newest Glo Ambassador in Town‘, he tweeted.
Wande has parted ways with former record label Mavin Records and launched his very own outfit Black Diamond Entertainment.
Exact figures of both endorsement deals were not immediately available.
Monday, 11 November 2013
NIGERIAN STUDENTS ATTACK UBON MARCUS, CALL HIM A SLEEPING COMRADE
Students under the aegis of NANS South-South Action Committee have berated the Vice President Special Duties of NANS, Comrade Ubon Marcus for what they described as his lackadaisical approach towards unionism especially the current ASUU strike.
According to the students’ body, Comrade Marcus since his emergence as NANS VP has not visited any higher institution to interact with students so as to know their challenges and use his esteemed office to attract attention to such issues from relevant authorities. They further stated that as the present highest students’ leader from the South-South, students from the region look up to him but it’s rather a pity that the NANS VP has let them down.
This was contained in a statement issued recently in Bayelsa and signed by the Chairman, NANS South-South Action Committee, Comrade Osaki Tamuno and endorsed by NANS Joint Campus Committee Chairmen of the South-South states. The statement in part states that “The emergence of Ubon Marcus as NANS VP at the December convention in Uyo raised the hopes of Nigerian Students that once again the ideals of our struggle will be upheld and our collective interests as students fought for.
As a young man who exhibited true comradeship in previous positions he held especially as Worldwide President of Etinan Local Government Students in Akwa Ibom, we had no doubts in his capacity to move the Aluta ship forward especially for us from this region that are usually marginalised. It is therefore most unfortunate that the young man has turned to a sleeping Comrade choosing to enjoy the enormous benefits of his office ignoring the plight of students who put him there.”
They called on the NANS Vice President to sit-up or incur their wrath wondering why he would choose to be a failure when two very distinguished senior comrades: a former NANS President and a former Speaker of the Nigerian Youth Parliament are solidly behind him.
When contacted, the NANS Vice President Special Duties Comrade Ubon Marcus who cast doubts on the legitimacy of the NANS South-South Action Committee said he is not a failure, stating that he has done the best within his ability for students so far.
According to Marcus, “You cannot evaluate a man’s performance without taking his challenges into consideration. NANS has no statutory allocation from anywhere. As NANS VP I don’t receive salary, stipend or allowance. Do you know how I even manage to get transport to follow up the struggle or to help students in need? I don’t even have a car or any means of mobility of my own. Things are rough but I am not complaining. I have tried my best. What should I have done that I have not done? I’ve reached out to various individuals, corporate bodies, and government for support but it’s not forthcoming. What else should I do? Should I go and steal so that they will be happy? I almost lost my life as a result of rushing to Uyo on June 12 during the Uniuyo crisis, only for our Senate President and other NANS cadre to perish on the same road the following day. These are the risks we as student leaders put ourselves through just to serve. Then what do we get in return? Passing such judgement on me by the very people I risk everything for is really unfair to my person,”
The students’ leader lamented. He faulted their claim that he has not visited any campus stating that he had embarked on campus tour to various campuses across the country and emphasised that he has recorded several achievements especially his intervention in the Uniuyo crisis boasting that with the role he and other stakeholders played in bringing peace to the institution, academic activities will resume immediately the ASUU Strike is called off.
Concerning the ASUU Strike, the student leader stated that he has made several efforts towards finding a solution to the ASUU/FG face-off, the latest being a press release by the Akwa Ibom Student Leaders Forum (AKSLF) carried on national and local papers. While reiterating his commitment to the struggle, Comrade Marcus appealed to well meaning Nigerians to come to his aid as he vowed not to let students down.
- AfricaNewsPress
According to the students’ body, Comrade Marcus since his emergence as NANS VP has not visited any higher institution to interact with students so as to know their challenges and use his esteemed office to attract attention to such issues from relevant authorities. They further stated that as the present highest students’ leader from the South-South, students from the region look up to him but it’s rather a pity that the NANS VP has let them down.
This was contained in a statement issued recently in Bayelsa and signed by the Chairman, NANS South-South Action Committee, Comrade Osaki Tamuno and endorsed by NANS Joint Campus Committee Chairmen of the South-South states. The statement in part states that “The emergence of Ubon Marcus as NANS VP at the December convention in Uyo raised the hopes of Nigerian Students that once again the ideals of our struggle will be upheld and our collective interests as students fought for.
As a young man who exhibited true comradeship in previous positions he held especially as Worldwide President of Etinan Local Government Students in Akwa Ibom, we had no doubts in his capacity to move the Aluta ship forward especially for us from this region that are usually marginalised. It is therefore most unfortunate that the young man has turned to a sleeping Comrade choosing to enjoy the enormous benefits of his office ignoring the plight of students who put him there.”
They called on the NANS Vice President to sit-up or incur their wrath wondering why he would choose to be a failure when two very distinguished senior comrades: a former NANS President and a former Speaker of the Nigerian Youth Parliament are solidly behind him.
When contacted, the NANS Vice President Special Duties Comrade Ubon Marcus who cast doubts on the legitimacy of the NANS South-South Action Committee said he is not a failure, stating that he has done the best within his ability for students so far.
According to Marcus, “You cannot evaluate a man’s performance without taking his challenges into consideration. NANS has no statutory allocation from anywhere. As NANS VP I don’t receive salary, stipend or allowance. Do you know how I even manage to get transport to follow up the struggle or to help students in need? I don’t even have a car or any means of mobility of my own. Things are rough but I am not complaining. I have tried my best. What should I have done that I have not done? I’ve reached out to various individuals, corporate bodies, and government for support but it’s not forthcoming. What else should I do? Should I go and steal so that they will be happy? I almost lost my life as a result of rushing to Uyo on June 12 during the Uniuyo crisis, only for our Senate President and other NANS cadre to perish on the same road the following day. These are the risks we as student leaders put ourselves through just to serve. Then what do we get in return? Passing such judgement on me by the very people I risk everything for is really unfair to my person,”
The students’ leader lamented. He faulted their claim that he has not visited any campus stating that he had embarked on campus tour to various campuses across the country and emphasised that he has recorded several achievements especially his intervention in the Uniuyo crisis boasting that with the role he and other stakeholders played in bringing peace to the institution, academic activities will resume immediately the ASUU Strike is called off.
Concerning the ASUU Strike, the student leader stated that he has made several efforts towards finding a solution to the ASUU/FG face-off, the latest being a press release by the Akwa Ibom Student Leaders Forum (AKSLF) carried on national and local papers. While reiterating his commitment to the struggle, Comrade Marcus appealed to well meaning Nigerians to come to his aid as he vowed not to let students down.
- AfricaNewsPress
Golden Eaglets recieve N2m each, national honours
President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday announced a cash gift of N2m each for all the players of the nation’s Under-17 team, the Golden Eaglets, who won the 2013 FIFA Under-17 World Soccer Championship on Friday in Abu Dhabi, United Emirates.
The players, their handlers and key members of the Nigerian Supporters’ Club, according to the President, will also be honoured with national honours during the next award ceremony.
Jonathan announced the rewards at a reception he held in honour of the players at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The President announced a N3m cash gift to the team’s Head Coach; the assistant coaches get N2.5m each; the team doctor, physiotherapist and team secretary get N500,000 each while the team technical officer, team coordinator, medical officers and the curator will get N300,000 each.
Jonathan said with the gifts, he was keeping his earlier promise to the team when he charged them to go and conquer the world.
Describing the cash gifts as token, the President encouraged state governments and members of the organised private sector to join the Federal Government in appreciating players, saying no amount of reward could be adequate for the young Nigerians.
“The team, the handlers, the coaches and the officials including some key members of the supporters club and the Nigerian Football Federation will all be rewarded when we give national honours,” he said.
The President said he was pleased to host and honour the players who he said by their outstanding performance had brought pride and honour to Nigeria and Africa.
He said the players won fairly and convincingly, adding that the victory is for the whole of Africa.
- PUNCH
The players, their handlers and key members of the Nigerian Supporters’ Club, according to the President, will also be honoured with national honours during the next award ceremony.
Jonathan announced the rewards at a reception he held in honour of the players at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The President announced a N3m cash gift to the team’s Head Coach; the assistant coaches get N2.5m each; the team doctor, physiotherapist and team secretary get N500,000 each while the team technical officer, team coordinator, medical officers and the curator will get N300,000 each.
Jonathan said with the gifts, he was keeping his earlier promise to the team when he charged them to go and conquer the world.
Describing the cash gifts as token, the President encouraged state governments and members of the organised private sector to join the Federal Government in appreciating players, saying no amount of reward could be adequate for the young Nigerians.
“The team, the handlers, the coaches and the officials including some key members of the supporters club and the Nigerian Football Federation will all be rewarded when we give national honours,” he said.
The President said he was pleased to host and honour the players who he said by their outstanding performance had brought pride and honour to Nigeria and Africa.
He said the players won fairly and convincingly, adding that the victory is for the whole of Africa.
- PUNCH
ASUU set to suspend strike this week
Indications have emerged that the Academic Staff Union of Universities may call off the over four-month-old strike on Thursday.
Barring a last-minute change, the National Executive Committee of ASUU will meet on Wednesday night to consider the position of the congresses of the over 50 public universities on the offer made by the Federal government to revamp the institutions.
The union met with a Federal Government team led by President Goodluck Jonathan last Tuesday in Abuja.
The ASUU leadership, after briefing the zonal coordinators on the offer, had directed the local branches to organise congress meetings between Friday last week and Tuesday (tomorrow).
This is to enable all the lecturers to make input into the action the union would take after its NEC meeting on Thursday.
However, feelers from most universities that had organised their congresses revealed that ASUU would suspend the strike after the Thursday NEC meeting.
In some universities, including the Obafemi Awolowo University and the Lagos State University that have scheduled their congress meetings for Monday (today), union leaders and lecturers expressed hope that the strike would end this week.
Also, some top officials of the union in some of the nine zones of ASUU said even though they were not happy with the plan by the government to inject N220bn yearly into the public universities for the next five years, they were pleased that a commitment had been obtained by the union.
Though the Ibadan Zonal Coordinator of ASUU, Dr. Nasir Adesola, confirmed that the NEC meeting would hold on Wednesday, he did not say whether the strike would be called off or not.
“Yes, the NEC will hold on Wednesday evening but ASUU has a process which we are going to follow. NEC reserves the right to call off the strike after due consultation with members and this is why congresses are being called in all the chapters of the union. Please, wait till after the congress,” he told one of our correspondents on the telephone.
But another source said, “Our NEC meeting will hold between Wednesday night and Thursday. Our chapters have started holding meetings to discuss the Federal Government’s offer. This is to allow input from all the lecturers. We have to carry them along to avoid disunity since there are moves by some elements to infiltrate us.”
Another source told one of our correspondents that some members had expressed mixed feelings about the Federal Government’s new offer based on its refusal to honour past agreements.
“The radicals among us are sceptical about this latest offer. They do not believe that government will respect the agreement. Their view is that government only wants to deceive the union to call off the strike before it will jettison it.”
A top official of the union, who confirmed the fears, told one of our correspondents that although members’ opinions at the zonal congresses were divided over the government’s offer, the majority still decided to give the government the benefit of the doubt.
He also said that the majority opinion was that the review of the agreement which was supposed to hold this year should be postponed till next year in the interest of peace.
The official added, “Members were persuaded because President Goodluck Jonathan personally met with the union. They felt since the President was involved in the negotiation this time around, the government would not say that it was arm-twisted to make the offer.
“This is the problem we are having with the 2009 agreement. By now we should be talking about a review but we are still having troubles with implementation.
“Although feelers across the zones are that we should call off the strike, we are going to put down the government offer in black and white and make it public so that nobody accuses us tomorrow of asking for too much.”
Some universities are expected to hold their congresses on Monday (today) to discuss the outcome of the zonal congresses held at nine centres across the country last week.
A source at the meeting between the government and ASUU told one of our correspondents that the government after a long debate agreed to inject N220bn yearly for the next five years beginning from 2014.
He had said, “The meeting should be the longest that we have ever had on this crisis but I can tell you that both parties were frank all through the discussions. The parties also showed commitment towards ending the crisis. The President in particular showed that he was serious about ending the strike and that was why he offered to release over N1tn to the universities in the next five years.
“The money will be released on a yearly basis at N220bn per annum beginning from 2014. For the outgoing year, the Federal Government will only release N100bn and this has been processed.
“In order to show commitment to this deal, the money will be kept at the Central Bank of Nigeria and will be released on a quarterly basis to the universities. So, there won’t be any problem about funding the deal.”
The source added that the National Universities Commission and the Trade Union Congress would be joint guarantors of the new agreement while the Minister of Education would be the implementation officer.
He said that the government also agreed, among other things, to revamp the public universities by ensuring that all the issues that always lead to strike were dealt with once and for all.
Barring a last-minute change, the National Executive Committee of ASUU will meet on Wednesday night to consider the position of the congresses of the over 50 public universities on the offer made by the Federal government to revamp the institutions.
The union met with a Federal Government team led by President Goodluck Jonathan last Tuesday in Abuja.
The ASUU leadership, after briefing the zonal coordinators on the offer, had directed the local branches to organise congress meetings between Friday last week and Tuesday (tomorrow).
This is to enable all the lecturers to make input into the action the union would take after its NEC meeting on Thursday.
However, feelers from most universities that had organised their congresses revealed that ASUU would suspend the strike after the Thursday NEC meeting.
In some universities, including the Obafemi Awolowo University and the Lagos State University that have scheduled their congress meetings for Monday (today), union leaders and lecturers expressed hope that the strike would end this week.
Also, some top officials of the union in some of the nine zones of ASUU said even though they were not happy with the plan by the government to inject N220bn yearly into the public universities for the next five years, they were pleased that a commitment had been obtained by the union.
Though the Ibadan Zonal Coordinator of ASUU, Dr. Nasir Adesola, confirmed that the NEC meeting would hold on Wednesday, he did not say whether the strike would be called off or not.
“Yes, the NEC will hold on Wednesday evening but ASUU has a process which we are going to follow. NEC reserves the right to call off the strike after due consultation with members and this is why congresses are being called in all the chapters of the union. Please, wait till after the congress,” he told one of our correspondents on the telephone.
But another source said, “Our NEC meeting will hold between Wednesday night and Thursday. Our chapters have started holding meetings to discuss the Federal Government’s offer. This is to allow input from all the lecturers. We have to carry them along to avoid disunity since there are moves by some elements to infiltrate us.”
Another source told one of our correspondents that some members had expressed mixed feelings about the Federal Government’s new offer based on its refusal to honour past agreements.
“The radicals among us are sceptical about this latest offer. They do not believe that government will respect the agreement. Their view is that government only wants to deceive the union to call off the strike before it will jettison it.”
A top official of the union, who confirmed the fears, told one of our correspondents that although members’ opinions at the zonal congresses were divided over the government’s offer, the majority still decided to give the government the benefit of the doubt.
He also said that the majority opinion was that the review of the agreement which was supposed to hold this year should be postponed till next year in the interest of peace.
The official added, “Members were persuaded because President Goodluck Jonathan personally met with the union. They felt since the President was involved in the negotiation this time around, the government would not say that it was arm-twisted to make the offer.
“This is the problem we are having with the 2009 agreement. By now we should be talking about a review but we are still having troubles with implementation.
“Although feelers across the zones are that we should call off the strike, we are going to put down the government offer in black and white and make it public so that nobody accuses us tomorrow of asking for too much.”
Some universities are expected to hold their congresses on Monday (today) to discuss the outcome of the zonal congresses held at nine centres across the country last week.
A source at the meeting between the government and ASUU told one of our correspondents that the government after a long debate agreed to inject N220bn yearly for the next five years beginning from 2014.
He had said, “The meeting should be the longest that we have ever had on this crisis but I can tell you that both parties were frank all through the discussions. The parties also showed commitment towards ending the crisis. The President in particular showed that he was serious about ending the strike and that was why he offered to release over N1tn to the universities in the next five years.
“The money will be released on a yearly basis at N220bn per annum beginning from 2014. For the outgoing year, the Federal Government will only release N100bn and this has been processed.
“In order to show commitment to this deal, the money will be kept at the Central Bank of Nigeria and will be released on a quarterly basis to the universities. So, there won’t be any problem about funding the deal.”
The source added that the National Universities Commission and the Trade Union Congress would be joint guarantors of the new agreement while the Minister of Education would be the implementation officer.
He said that the government also agreed, among other things, to revamp the public universities by ensuring that all the issues that always lead to strike were dealt with once and for all.
Prayer For A Child – cos it’s Sunday…’n stuff
‘Keep this sweet child
Wrapped deep in your love
May their soul fill your way
Like a hand fills a glove
Cherish their life
To be healthy and long
May their heart not break
May their spirit be strong
Show them the joy
That Your world has to give
Touch them with strength
To not wither,but live
Each day on their path
You’ve laid out before them
Your peace to embrace them
No lies to implore them
Teach them to love
Teach them to know
Your natures forgiving
To help them to grow
To be what is needed
To have a sound soul
Let their eyes remain childlike
Their wisdom be whole
May they be gracious and giving
And gentle and kind
Righteous in body
In spirit, in mind
But mostly dear Lord,
Keep them safe in Your palm
Enfold them with love
And protect them from harm’
© - Belinda Borradaile
1997
Wrapped deep in your love
May their soul fill your way
Like a hand fills a glove
Cherish their life
To be healthy and long
May their heart not break
May their spirit be strong
Show them the joy
That Your world has to give
Touch them with strength
To not wither,but live
Each day on their path
You’ve laid out before them
Your peace to embrace them
No lies to implore them
Teach them to love
Teach them to know
Your natures forgiving
To help them to grow
To be what is needed
To have a sound soul
Let their eyes remain childlike
Their wisdom be whole
May they be gracious and giving
And gentle and kind
Righteous in body
In spirit, in mind
But mostly dear Lord,
Keep them safe in Your palm
Enfold them with love
And protect them from harm’
© - Belinda Borradaile
1997
Saturday, 9 November 2013
ASUU Strike Updates: Lecturers to meet on Monday to vote on going back to class
Next week Monday, the Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities (ASUU), will hold a referendum, where the lecturers will discuss the outcome of this week’s meeting with President Jonathan.
At the meeting, they are expected to decided whether or not the four-month strike will continue. Invitations have reportedly been sent out by the local chapters of ASUU to the union’s members, calling on them to attend, so they can be part of reaching important conclusions.
It will be the first time the lecturers will meet, after the 13-hour long meeting they held with the president and observers are optimistic that the strike will be called off soon.
At the meeting, they are expected to decided whether or not the four-month strike will continue. Invitations have reportedly been sent out by the local chapters of ASUU to the union’s members, calling on them to attend, so they can be part of reaching important conclusions.
It will be the first time the lecturers will meet, after the 13-hour long meeting they held with the president and observers are optimistic that the strike will be called off soon.
ASUU's proposal to FG
Members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities have given the Federal Government certain conditions to be met before the union could call off its four-month old strike.
Part of this condition, Saturday PUNCH learnt, is that all federal parastatals in charge of fund, labour, and education must sign the agreement purportedly reached between its leadership and the Federal Government on Tuesday.
A prominent member of the union, who craved anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on behalf of the union, told Saturday PUNCH that doing this would give the association the confidence that “the Federal Government knows what it is doing when it signed the agreement.”
He said, “I must tell you that our mandate remains. The only mandate we have is that 2009 agreement must be met. We have not reached any agreement with the Federal Government.
“Since the Federal Government wants to be releasing N220bn every year for five years, then all monetary and regulatory agencies must sign. The Central Bank of Nigeria, Ministries of Finance and Labour, National Assembly, Office of the Presidency, National Universities Commission, Tertiary Education Trust Fund, Trade Union Congress and our umbrella body, the Nigeria Labour Congress, must sign with consequences stated.
“The reason we will ensure this is that we don’t want argument tomorrow that the agreement was entered in error or that they don’t know the implication of signing the agreement. If possible, documents that will provide for automatic deduction of the agreed money at a particular/agreed date must be provided.”
The leadership of the union had engaged in a 13-hour marathon meeting with government delegation led by President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja between Monday and Tuesday.
Though it was generally perceived that both ASUU and the Federal Government achieved breakthrough in negotiation for the first time after the lengthy meeting with the President, Saturday PUNCH learnt that the lecturers might not be in a hurry to go back to class.
Another source close to ASUU who was also part of the marathon meeting with the President in Abuja, said there was nothing new in what the President promised members of the union.
According to him, government had always failed in implementing agreements reached with ASUU. He said, “Truly the President sat down for more than 13 hours with us. He told us that we were not leaving the venue until the issues were resolved. The Federal Government also promised to inject funds into the system, but a promissory note is not enough.
“Where would the money come from? There is no assurance that government will provide money especially with the mop-up policy in place that ensures that unspent money is refunded to government’s coffers at the end of every year.’’
Asked when the lecturers would call off the strike, he said, “I doubt if the strike is ending soon. The problem is with the Finance Minister. Where is government getting N1trn from? A government that could not implement agreement between 2009 and 2013, what is the guarantee that they would honour this agreement.
“It is all politics. We are still awaiting directives from our branches. We have told them the outcome of the meeting with the President but we are waiting for them to tell us what they think of government’s proposal.
“Imagine the Minister of Education has travelled out of the country. He was appointed Vice President for UNESCO General Assembly. How can he travel out of the country without resolving the crisis in the education sector?’’
He said the Federal Government should spend the trillions of dollars in its Sovereign Wealth Fund to finance university education and improve infrastructure in the country.
A key component of the agreement reached by both ASUU and the Federal Government was that government would inject N1.1trn into public universities in the next five years. Government is expected to inject N220bn yearly into the public university sector beginning from 2014. But government said it could only release N100bn this year, noting that the amount had already been processed.
The Federal Government also indicated that the N1.1trn would be domiciled at the Central Bank of Nigeria to show its commitment to the agreement. The money is expected to be released on quarterly basis to the universities so that there won’t be any problem about funding the deal.
The National Universities Commission and the Trade Union Congress will be the joint guarantors of the agreement while the Minister of Education will be the implementing officer. Government, according to sources at the meeting, also agreed to revamp public universities by ensuring that all the issues that always lead to strike are dealt with once and for all.
Asked to confirm if lecturers were planning to call off their strike, ASUU Chairman, University of Calabar branch, Dr. James Okpiliya, said the local chapter was yet to get formal briefing on the meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan.
He, however, said the union would make its position known to the press on the President’s offer after the end of a meeting scheduled for mid-night Thursday.
Also, Chairman of ASUU in Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Prof. Adegbola Akinola, said that members must be properly briefed on the resolution between the Federal Government and representatives of ASUU in the last marathon meeting.
He said the only condition that could make its members accept any offer would be the provision of necessary documents.
He said, “The NEC meeting may not hold now. It is the local congress that is expected to hold first which is either tomorrow or Monday.
“Our members are not yet briefed about the details, so it is when we meet that we will know the details and then discuss whether what we got is sufficient enough to justify our action or demand.
“I can’t really pre-empt the mind of other members. But if we are to accept any offer, there must be document to back that up. We need to obtain documents on that. Maybe if there is a document, people may look at it critically.”
However, the Federal Government said it would include the N1.1trn promised ASUU in the education budget starting from next year. It also said it was waiting for the union to know the next step to take.
The Director, Press and Public Relations of the Ministry of Education, Mr. Olu Lipide, told one of our correspondents on Thursday that government was waiting for ASUU to take the necessary steps.
Meanwhile, the Dean of Social Sciences, University of Lagos, Prof. Omololu Soyombo, has said that the general ASUU body must agree before the strike could be called off.
He said, “It is difficult to believe the President but we give him the benefit of doubt. We believe that the President is noble, the ASUU president promised to give him a feedback. If this had been done earlier, the strike wouldn’t have extended for so long.”
Corroborating his view, the Chairman, Lagos State University, ASUU, Dr. Jamiu Oluwatoki said, “It won’t be long again. By next week there should be a NEC meeting and subsequently the congress meetings before the president can call off the strike.”
Part of this condition, Saturday PUNCH learnt, is that all federal parastatals in charge of fund, labour, and education must sign the agreement purportedly reached between its leadership and the Federal Government on Tuesday.
A prominent member of the union, who craved anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on behalf of the union, told Saturday PUNCH that doing this would give the association the confidence that “the Federal Government knows what it is doing when it signed the agreement.”
He said, “I must tell you that our mandate remains. The only mandate we have is that 2009 agreement must be met. We have not reached any agreement with the Federal Government.
“Since the Federal Government wants to be releasing N220bn every year for five years, then all monetary and regulatory agencies must sign. The Central Bank of Nigeria, Ministries of Finance and Labour, National Assembly, Office of the Presidency, National Universities Commission, Tertiary Education Trust Fund, Trade Union Congress and our umbrella body, the Nigeria Labour Congress, must sign with consequences stated.
“The reason we will ensure this is that we don’t want argument tomorrow that the agreement was entered in error or that they don’t know the implication of signing the agreement. If possible, documents that will provide for automatic deduction of the agreed money at a particular/agreed date must be provided.”
The leadership of the union had engaged in a 13-hour marathon meeting with government delegation led by President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja between Monday and Tuesday.
Though it was generally perceived that both ASUU and the Federal Government achieved breakthrough in negotiation for the first time after the lengthy meeting with the President, Saturday PUNCH learnt that the lecturers might not be in a hurry to go back to class.
Another source close to ASUU who was also part of the marathon meeting with the President in Abuja, said there was nothing new in what the President promised members of the union.
According to him, government had always failed in implementing agreements reached with ASUU. He said, “Truly the President sat down for more than 13 hours with us. He told us that we were not leaving the venue until the issues were resolved. The Federal Government also promised to inject funds into the system, but a promissory note is not enough.
“Where would the money come from? There is no assurance that government will provide money especially with the mop-up policy in place that ensures that unspent money is refunded to government’s coffers at the end of every year.’’
Asked when the lecturers would call off the strike, he said, “I doubt if the strike is ending soon. The problem is with the Finance Minister. Where is government getting N1trn from? A government that could not implement agreement between 2009 and 2013, what is the guarantee that they would honour this agreement.
“It is all politics. We are still awaiting directives from our branches. We have told them the outcome of the meeting with the President but we are waiting for them to tell us what they think of government’s proposal.
“Imagine the Minister of Education has travelled out of the country. He was appointed Vice President for UNESCO General Assembly. How can he travel out of the country without resolving the crisis in the education sector?’’
He said the Federal Government should spend the trillions of dollars in its Sovereign Wealth Fund to finance university education and improve infrastructure in the country.
A key component of the agreement reached by both ASUU and the Federal Government was that government would inject N1.1trn into public universities in the next five years. Government is expected to inject N220bn yearly into the public university sector beginning from 2014. But government said it could only release N100bn this year, noting that the amount had already been processed.
The Federal Government also indicated that the N1.1trn would be domiciled at the Central Bank of Nigeria to show its commitment to the agreement. The money is expected to be released on quarterly basis to the universities so that there won’t be any problem about funding the deal.
The National Universities Commission and the Trade Union Congress will be the joint guarantors of the agreement while the Minister of Education will be the implementing officer. Government, according to sources at the meeting, also agreed to revamp public universities by ensuring that all the issues that always lead to strike are dealt with once and for all.
Asked to confirm if lecturers were planning to call off their strike, ASUU Chairman, University of Calabar branch, Dr. James Okpiliya, said the local chapter was yet to get formal briefing on the meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan.
He, however, said the union would make its position known to the press on the President’s offer after the end of a meeting scheduled for mid-night Thursday.
Also, Chairman of ASUU in Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Prof. Adegbola Akinola, said that members must be properly briefed on the resolution between the Federal Government and representatives of ASUU in the last marathon meeting.
He said the only condition that could make its members accept any offer would be the provision of necessary documents.
He said, “The NEC meeting may not hold now. It is the local congress that is expected to hold first which is either tomorrow or Monday.
“Our members are not yet briefed about the details, so it is when we meet that we will know the details and then discuss whether what we got is sufficient enough to justify our action or demand.
“I can’t really pre-empt the mind of other members. But if we are to accept any offer, there must be document to back that up. We need to obtain documents on that. Maybe if there is a document, people may look at it critically.”
However, the Federal Government said it would include the N1.1trn promised ASUU in the education budget starting from next year. It also said it was waiting for the union to know the next step to take.
The Director, Press and Public Relations of the Ministry of Education, Mr. Olu Lipide, told one of our correspondents on Thursday that government was waiting for ASUU to take the necessary steps.
Meanwhile, the Dean of Social Sciences, University of Lagos, Prof. Omololu Soyombo, has said that the general ASUU body must agree before the strike could be called off.
He said, “It is difficult to believe the President but we give him the benefit of doubt. We believe that the President is noble, the ASUU president promised to give him a feedback. If this had been done earlier, the strike wouldn’t have extended for so long.”
Corroborating his view, the Chairman, Lagos State University, ASUU, Dr. Jamiu Oluwatoki said, “It won’t be long again. By next week there should be a NEC meeting and subsequently the congress meetings before the president can call off the strike.”
Edo: Flood victims receive free treatment
Communities affected by flood in Agenebode, Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State on Thursday received free malaria treatment and insecticide-treated mosquito nets.
The drugs and the mosquito nets were donated to the communities by Agbami Partners, comprising Chevron Nigeria Limited, Star Deep Water Petroluem Limited, Famfa Oil Limited, NNPC, Statoil and Petroleo Brasileiro Nigeria Limited.
It would be recalled that over 20 communities in Edo State were affected by flood disaster which ravaged parts of the state in 2012.
Speaking during the occasion, Director, Star Deepwater Petroleum, Mr. Jeffrey Ewing, said they were implementing the Roll Back Malaria in the affected communities in order to add value to the lives of the people and contribute positively to the country’s socio-economic development.
He said, “Today’s event is another indication of the partners’ determined efforts to improve primary healthcare delivery in Nigeria.
“Malaria is a major killer disease severely affecting mostly children under five years and pregnant women, but beside malaria, the Agbani partners have also implemented awareness programme on HIV/AIDS, diabetes and other diseases in several communities across the six geo-political zones in the country.”
Chairman of Etsako East Local Government Area, Suleiman Afegbua, while declaring the programme open, expressed joy over the gesture and urged beneficiaries to make good use of the mosquito nets.
The Okumagbe of Weppawano, who was represented by Chief Oshomah Akenabor, commended the Agbami partners for coming to the aid of the affected communities and assured that the “people will make good use of the mosquito treated nets and also adhere strictly to the prescription of the malaria drugs distributed.”
The drugs and the mosquito nets were donated to the communities by Agbami Partners, comprising Chevron Nigeria Limited, Star Deep Water Petroluem Limited, Famfa Oil Limited, NNPC, Statoil and Petroleo Brasileiro Nigeria Limited.
It would be recalled that over 20 communities in Edo State were affected by flood disaster which ravaged parts of the state in 2012.
Speaking during the occasion, Director, Star Deepwater Petroleum, Mr. Jeffrey Ewing, said they were implementing the Roll Back Malaria in the affected communities in order to add value to the lives of the people and contribute positively to the country’s socio-economic development.
He said, “Today’s event is another indication of the partners’ determined efforts to improve primary healthcare delivery in Nigeria.
“Malaria is a major killer disease severely affecting mostly children under five years and pregnant women, but beside malaria, the Agbani partners have also implemented awareness programme on HIV/AIDS, diabetes and other diseases in several communities across the six geo-political zones in the country.”
Chairman of Etsako East Local Government Area, Suleiman Afegbua, while declaring the programme open, expressed joy over the gesture and urged beneficiaries to make good use of the mosquito nets.
The Okumagbe of Weppawano, who was represented by Chief Oshomah Akenabor, commended the Agbami partners for coming to the aid of the affected communities and assured that the “people will make good use of the mosquito treated nets and also adhere strictly to the prescription of the malaria drugs distributed.”
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