Friday, 11 October 2013

ASUU STRIKE: GOVT BEGINS "NO WORK NO PAY"


Precisely, three months of fruitless negotiations between the
Academic Staff Union of Universities(ASUU), and the
federal government, over the strike embarked on by the union,
strong indications have emerged that the Federal Government
has commenced the implementation of the “No Work, No Pay” rule.
A reliable source at the National Universities Commission(NUC), according to Vanguard, said that the government has passed a directive to the various universities governing councils to stop payment of salaries of the striking lecturers.
Confirming this, yesterday, in Abuja after a zonal conference of ASUU, University of Abuja chapter, which took place at the Gwagwalada campus to review the nationwide strike, ASUU Zonal Chairman in Abuja, Mr Clement Chup said his colleagues were yet to receive their September salaries.
According to him, “we have resorted to other welfare strategies to cope with the effect of the strike, particularly to contain the various attempts by government to break
the resolve of the union. The Federal Government has through the
National Universities Commission, directed universities to stop the
payment of our salaries effective September this year and
since then our salaries have not been paid.
“Part of the welfare strategy, involved distributing food items,
giving out soft loans and cash advances to members.”
He therefore urged members of the public to ignore the rumour
that the strike has been called off. He therefore urged members
of the public to ignore the rumour that the strike has been called off.
 
He said: “Nigerians should disregard rumours making the rounds that
the three months old strike has been called off”, adding that “the strike 
continues until the government demonstrates a positive inclination towards implementing the 2009 agreements and the 2012 Memorandum of Understanding signed by both parties.”
 
How long will this continue? 

Thursday, 10 October 2013

UPDATE : LIYBAN PM RELEASED

The Libyan Prime Minister Ali Zeidan who was seized this morning has been released after so many hours.  His seizure was a reprisal for the capture of a Libyan Al-Qaeda suspect by the US forces. Shortly , after being released the PM called on Libyans to be calm and assured the foreign investors that their safety is not in question.
The rebel group accused Ali Zeidan of corruption dating back to September, saying Zeidan issued cheques to military guards who had been blocking an oil refinery in east Libya. Zeidan was seized at dawn from a luxury hotel where he lives under tight security and was held for about six hours.

2014 FIFA WORLD CUP

The super eagles has been promised a package by Mr President if they clinch the tickets of the 2014 FIFA World Cup against Ethiopia on Sunday. The Super Eagles started their training at the Abuja stadium on Tuesday, at time of filing this report all expected 23team players are on ground including Victor Moses, Emmanuel Emenike, Ideye and others who were absent on Tuesday. The Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi is optimistic that his boys will win and that he is not worried about the football pitch. He assured Nigerians that there is nothing to fear. The FG has also made plans for about 200 fans to go cheer the team in Ethiopia on Sunday.  We really hope they win. GO SUPER EAGLES!!!

SHELL OIL SPILLAGE

An oil spillage has been reported in Bunu Tai in Tai local government of the ogoniland in Rivers state. The oil pipelines are owned by shell corporation and are also known to be the only company with a pipeline in the community. Eye witness report shows that the spillage occurred at about 12:32pm Nigerian time on Wednesday. The villagers were seen scooping fuel at the scene of the spill as well as putting themselves in immense danger. This has occurred ten days after the pipelines were re-opened.

Libyan Prime Minister Abducted

The Libyan Prime Minister, Ali Zeidan has been kidnapped this morning at the Libyan capital Tripoli by armed men. According  to information released, he was abducted by  former Libyan rebel group. The Libyan Revolutionary Operation claims that Ali Zeidan was seized on the prosecutors orders, adding that the PM was arrested under the LIBYAN PENAL CODE. The rebels claimed the Zeidan arrest came after his government allowed the US to capture top Al-Qaeda suspect Abu Anas al-Liby. At this point nothing is really clear as the General National Congress are meeting and trying to contain the issue. 

SOLOMON LAR DIES @ 80

Solomon lar dies at the age of 80 in a US hospital after a protracted illness. Solomon Lar was the first PDP chairman and the second republic governor of plateau state, he will be greatly missed in the political circle as condolence messages pour in from the party, the president and other politicians.....

Monday, 7 October 2013

LET THERE BE LIGHT: FACTUALITY OR FLASITY




    “Let there be light and there was light” is a famous quote from the bible but likening it to the Nigerian situation only time will tell. Recently, Mr President and his cabinet once again sold another birth right of the Nigerian people. This has been an on-going trend amongst Nigerian leaders to sell government owned properties to private investors among the long list is the Ajaokuta steel plant, NITEL etc. These projects have been known to have crumbled in the past yet this does not deter the public sales, as the power sector has joined the list of privatized sector, if it fails or succeeds that is uncertain.  It is rather flabbergasting at the method at which they solely arrived to the conclusion about who controls the new power industry,  comprising of the Distribution  companies (DISCOS) and the Generating companies (GENCOS) which are fifteen in total, yet still the new investors are face masked to the populace.
          However, the president has given the new investors the mandate of producing 5000mws in the next five years which gives a subsequent arrival date of 2016/2017 which is precisely after the next general election. Is this a suggestive pro-political agenda of the 2015 election or is it impossible for the investors to meet this target in less than five years?  But the new investors are not the only ones with a mandate as NBET (Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading company)  a liability company set up by the FG prior to the sale of the power sector to see the procurement and purchase process to the later, has been financially empowered by the FG with the sum of $750 million to enable them carry out their duties without any financial constraint. The NBET has its Managing Director as Mr RMUNDAKA WONODI, chairman as Dr NGOZI OKONJO-IWEALA, the Minister of Finance, Minister of Power CHINEDU NEBO as Vice Chairman.  Is NBET really needed to oversee the duties of the new investors, if so what then is the portfolio of the ministry of power or is this another money gulping machine?
       Though the new investors have not taken total control of the power sector, but the question on the lips of every Nigerian is are we still going to pay higher tariffs for power as it is a consistent occurrence for the private sector to inflate the value of services. As this mystery continues to unfold one need to ask, the money made from this merger or sale what is it been invested into?  Will the ministry of power still be getting its huge budgetary allocation? Who really are the new investors?

Tuesday, 1 October 2013

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE

HAPPPY INDEPENDENCE NIGERIAAA!!!

Nigeria@53, we are definitely as old as the promises
of our leaders. Yet still, we are grateful to the Almighty God for sparing
our lives till this very day. And it is a work free day, so there is
alot of celebration and parties especially for our children. But the big question is
WHAT ARE WE REALLY CELEBRATING @53? Is it for a good life?
Or Successful academic session? Winning the Africans nations cup?
Or is it the unending Boko Haram crises? or your new promotion?
Just let us know what you are celebrating and what Nigeria is celebrating.
HAPPY INDEPENDENCE, again......R101.

WELCOME TO THE REEVELOUTION

Year 2013 for most people started with many wishes, prayers and
promises. For some, the year has been good, but for others, 
they do not have so many good things to say about the year. 
and yet,the year will be coming to an end in three months time.
 
The year has been filled with a lot of saga from the Benin-ore road
accident that claimed lots of lives, kano bombing, Rivers state
government crises, to the child bride issue, BOKO HARAM crises, 
and the ASUU strike which is still trending, deaths of family members,
loved ones, and some notable figures in the country, and some quite
funny ones like the OGA at the TOP saga, nevertheless, many have lost
hopes, many expectations are yet to be met, some businesses and
contracts are yet to click, some fingers are still waiting for that SHINNY band.

Whatever the case may be hold on, don't lose hope, don't give up,
don't quit, don't pressurize yourself, worry less. Life has
been a lot better since we came across this quote "WORRYING does not
take away tomorrow's TROUBLES, it takes away today's PEACE".

Take ONE step at a time, and make the best out of your everyday life.
No matter how frustrating and hopeless life may seem, there is hope.
Stop being too hard on yourself, loosen up.
Stop counting your loses and look forward to a
blessing for every disappointment.
 
The word for this month is "KEEP BEING HAPPY" I say to
you worry not and be happy. 
We are going to be with you all the way, HAPPY or SAD, as we are
here to make the remaining months of the year interesting and exciting
for you. We promise that it will never be a dull moment as we DISH out
lots of interesting news, mind-blowing articles and write-ups.
Once again you are welcome to R101blog, happy new week and keep being
happy. Lest we forget, HAPPY INDEPENDENCE, NIGERIA.
 
SHALOM