Blog

NAN-H-55

Salary

By Kate Obande

Abuja, Nov. 7, 2016 (NAN) Teachers of Federal Government Colleges (FGC) in Abuja have appealed to the Federal Government to hasten the payment process of their two months outstanding salaries.

Mr Chukwuemeka Orji, a teacher with the Federal Government Boys College, (FGBC) Apo made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday

Orji, the spokesman of the teachers said that the Federal Government owed September and October teachers’ salary, adding that November was already counting.

According to him, the schools have made their complaints known in writing to the Federal Ministry of Education and the Accountant General’s office, but we are told to be patient.

He said that the Federal Government attributed the delay in the payment of salary to a shortfall in the budget.

A teacher with the Federal Government College, Rubochi who pleaded anonymity also confirmed that the Federal Government owed teachers two months’ salary.

She also pleaded that their outstanding salaries be paid soonest.

Mr Johnson Azuka, a parent whose ward is in FGBC, Apo said there was an urgent need for agencies involved in paying teachers’ salaries to speed up the process.

Azuka emphasised that the development had adverse effect on the society as teachers were not motivated to impact positively on the students.

“If you continue to owe teachers, their moral will be low and they won’t be able to teach the students effectively.

“Government should prioritise the payment of teachers’ salary as education is key to the development of the nation,’’ Azuka said.(NAN)

KTE/KOLE/MO

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Edited by Remi Koleoso/Morayo Omolade

NAN-H-54

Education

By Grace Nlemadim and Kate Obande

Abuja, Nov. 7, 2016 (NAN) The Senate Committee on Tertiary Education and Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) has pledged its commitment to ensuring quality standard for Colleges of Education across the country.

Sen. Jibrin Barau, the  Chairman, made the pledge during the committee’s oversight function at the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) on Monday in Abuja.

Barau said that actualising quality standard for the colleges would be achieved through adequate Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) programmes.

He said that the committee was willing to collaborate with the commission in its quest to boost education in the country, through teachers’ development.

“ I want to ensure that the Colleges of Education in the country are of high standard and able to compete globally.

“I will not hesitate to ask the commission questions where necessary, to ensure clarity and understanding in moving the education sector forward.

“I will not unnecessarily intervene in the commission’s activities except I notice any case of fraud or corruption,’’ Barau said.

Earlier, Prof. Bappa-Aliyu Muhammadu, NCCE Executive Secretary, told the  committee that his administration would ensure the production of quality teachers at the National Teachers Institute (NTI).

He said that the commission would also promote the conduct of research activities and dissemination of findings in teacher education.

According to him, NCCE is also reviewing the curriculum for vocational and technical education.

Muhammadu stated that lack of funds had hindered adequate monitoring and evaluation of the colleges and accreditation of Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) courses.

He said that paucity of funds had hindered data collection and completion of the ommission’s multi-storey car park under construction for the past nine years.

Muhammadu said  that the car park, designed as a six-floor structure with inbuilt convenience facilities, was been awarded in 2007 at the cost of N500 million.

Meanwhile, the executive secretary said that due to funding challenges, the commission and some Colleges of Education had decided to fund accreditation of courses themselves.

He decried a situation where many NCE awarding institutions had not been accredited for more than five years.

“It is important for the senate committee to note that the commission is having a shortfall in personnel cost for  2016.

“The actual personnel cost of the commission is over N600 million but there is a shortfall of over N30 million in the personnel cost.

“Even the total overhead cost released to date is for January to June 2016; the commission awaits the release of the balance of July to December 2016,’’ he said. (NAN)

NG/KTE/DO/NKO

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Edited by David Onilede/Nkechi Okoronkwo

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NAN-S-2

Athletes

By Aderonke Ojediran-Lawal

Lagos, Nov. 7, 2016 (NAN) The Nigeria School Sports Federation (NSSF) has called for the identification and nurturing of budding athletes to replace the aging ones.

The President of the federation, Malam Ibrahim Mohammed, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Monday.

Mohammed warned that Nigeria’s performance in athletics will continue to dwindle as long as young and talented sports men and women are not nurtured to replace the aging ones.

Cue in audio

“Our athletes that are getting old may not have the best ones that will replace them because by the time you give the country the chance to bring out the younger ones to showcase their talents, the country would have abundant athletes that we can select from and train to replace the old athletes in the future.

“So, obviously, the effect of this on the country is that in the very near future Nigeria’s performance will go down because the position of the country is not like what it used to be in the 1970’s and 80’s, where the country was known all over the world when we talk of sports.’’

Cue out audio

NAN reports that the 2015 edition of the Nigerian school sports festival held in Otukpo, Benue state, where Cross River emerged the overall winner. (NAN)

OAF/ERO/OSA/YEE

Edited by Emmanuel Okara/Shittu Obassa/Emmanuel Yashim =============================================

NAN-HG-16
Fruit
By Tinuade Adeshiyan
Lagos, Nov. 7, 2016 (NAN) Two experts on Monday in Lagos advised men to eat dates fruit,
saying its consumption would enhance their sexual performance and increase their libido.

They told the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) that dates fruit, when taken appropriately by men, could also improve health conditions in many other ways.

them from shame of inability to satisfy their sexual partners.

Dr Aminu Kazeem, a sexual health therapist who works at Energy for Sex Clinic in Lagos said men who had performance problems should incorporate dates in their diet.

He said “a date fruit is a one-seeded fruit of the date palm tree, which is botanically known as Phoenix dactylifera and belongs to the family of Palmae (Arecaceae) plant.

“The common English names are dried dates, dates, date palm, etc; usually oblong, with varying sizes, shapes, colours, consistencies and quality.

“Eating dates will  promote sperm quality and quantity as it is one of the best natural fruits used for male fertility.

“It also increases the size of testes in men and the size of breast in women.

“Consuming the fruit can help to treat sexual disorders because it is a natural aphrodisiac.”

He explained that dates contained high levels of estradiol and flavonoid which aid sperm motility and increase sperm count.

He also urged men who want to improve their masculinity to eat the fruit, stressing that “sexual health is important for both husband and wife for a good and everlasting relationship.”

A nutritionist, Mrs Toyin Adeola, also said that eating dates could treat sexual impotence, help to improve sexual activities and increase the production of sex hormones.

She added that the fruit was good for the health of both males and female.

She said “date contains many vitamins and minerals which are essential to boost sexual power even in older persons.

“The fruit is packed with amino acids for sexual stamina, as well as a good dose of fruity sugars which make them sweet.”

The nutritionist, who described the best way it could be taken to achieve best result, however,
advised diabetic patients to seek doctor’s advise before consuming dates.

She said “it is advisable to remove the seed and grind seven or eight pieces of  dates and soak in water for about 2-3 hours.

“Add one glass of milk and one teaspoon of honey and drink at least once a day to boost sexual power.”

She also advised both men and women to eat natural foods that could enhance sexual stamina than taking pills made with chemicals which may harm sexual health.

NAN reports that the fruit is very popular in the market, especially where they hawk fruits.

Date fruit is popular in the northern part of the country and can be seen being hawked along with tiger nuts. (NAN)
TAL/HA
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(Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu)

NAN-H-46

Arrests
By Kazeem Akande
Lagos, Nov. 7, 2016 (NAN) The Lagos District of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) on Monday said it had arrested no fewer than 100 miscreants fond of riding on the rooftops of its Mass Transit Shuttle Trains in Lagos and Ogun States.

The NRC District Manager in Lagos, Mr Jerry Oche, disclosed this while addressing newsmen in Lagos.

He said that the hoodlums were arrested by a combined team of the Railway Police, the Lagos State Police Command, the NRC Task Force and Man-O-War personnel.

Oche said that the miscreants had constituted a nuisance to the corporation’s mass transit shuttle service in Lagos and Ogun States, causing harm and injuries to innocent passengers.

According to him, the miscreants, last Tuesday, caused mayhem at the Agege station and the development led to reprisal attacks from the people, which affected the operations of the corporation.

“We want to first apologise to our customers. Nov. 1 was tough for us due to the nefarious activities of the miscreants.

“The hoodlums attacked and destroyed some of our facilities. Ikeja station was seriously damaged, same at the Agege station and our police station.

“This morning, we decided to embark on a raid and we arrested about 100 hoodlums, riding on the rooftop of moving train at the Iju station.

“These people enter the trains with matchets, stones, sticks, knives and other harmful objects.

“These hoodlums sell drugs, and do a lot of criminal activities. We can’t fold our hands to allow this to go on,’’ he said.

Oche said that a baby, backed by her mother, was stoned in the process and died in one of the attacks that led to the suspension of our services at Agege and Ikeja.

According to him, the death of the baby angered residents of Agege, who staged another round of attacks on the rooftop riders.

He said that the safety and security of passengers was paramount to the corporation and this had made the NRC to redesign the windows of the trains.

Oche, who said that the raids would be a continuous process, added that the corporation would increase its police posts and the security personnel, to ensure the safety of all passengers and NRC personnel on the trains. (NAN)
AKA/FF/PIO
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Edited by Fela Fashoro/Idonije Obakhedo

FG sets up committee to end farmers, herdsmen conflict

NAN-DS-6
Committee
By Muhyideen Jimoh
Abuja, Nov. 7, 2016 (NAN) The Federal Government has set up a 16-member technical committee to develop a roadmap and find lasting solution to the lingering conflict between farmers and herdsmen in parts of the country.

Minister of Interior, Retired Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau, who inaugurated the Committee on Monday in Abuja, stressed the need to tackle the problem headlong.

He said that the committee would be expected to draw up a roadmap for an all-inclusive gathering of stakeholders to address the perennial crises.

“The Committee is expected to draw up a roadmap for an all-inclusive gathering of stakeholders to address the lingering conflicts between the Pastoralists and Sedentary Farmers,’’ he said.

The minister decried the escalating nature of the crises which had resulted to the wanton destruction of lives and property and threatening the socio-economic development of the nation.

“You would recall that the conflict has been escalating at every passing year with more violent proportion, different dimensions and increasing geographical spread,

“This has led to the wanton destruction of lives and property, distrust amongst the ethno-religious groups in the country and threat to the internal security and socio-economic development of the nation,’’ he said.

He gave the committee two weeks to fashion out a framework to resolving the crises which include identifying the problems underlying the conflict from regional and national perspectives.

The committee is also expected to identify regional/local laws that impact on the conflict and outline a tentative strategy to deal with the conflict.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Committee and Director General, Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, Prof. Oshita O. Oshita, assured of the dedication of members to the task ahead.

Oshita said that the surest catalyst to boosting the Federal Government’s diversification effort was to find a lasting solution to the farmers/herdsmen crises to resuscitate the economy.

He emphasised the need for peace for any meaningful development to take place in the country and urged all stakeholders to cooperate with the committee in this regard.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the committee comprised security experts, members of the Academia, diplomats and Entrepreneurs. (NAN)
MUYI/AMY/AMY
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Edited by Abdullahi Yusuf

NAN-H-53
Graduation
By Modupe Seriboh
Ibadan, Nov.7, 2016 (NAN) The University of Ibadan will on Nov. 14 issue certificates to 9,884 students for completing various academic and research programmes at its convocation ceremony.

The Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Idowu Olayinka, disclosed this on Monday at a news conference to herald the 2016 graduation ceremony.

He said that the school will also honour the Chairman of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, foremost poet, Niyi Osundare, and philanthropist, Chief Bode Amao, for their contribution to humanity.

Giving the breakdown of the graduating students, the vice chancellor said that on Nov. 14, 5,595 undergraduate students and 265 diploma students would graduate from the school.

Also 3,579 postgraduate students would receive their certificates on Nov. 15 and Nov. 16.

“On Nov. 17, 2016, which is the school’s Founder’s Day, 442 Phd students will graduate. It is the highest the school had ever produced in a single year.

“Aliko Dangote, who is reputed to be the richest African, will be awarded honourary doctorate degree on the Founder’s Day.

” We are honouring him not only because of his entrepreneurship prowess but also because he is building the biggest refinery in the world that will employ thousands of people.

“One of our literary giants, Prof. Niyi Osundare, will also be honoured. He retired as a Head of Department in UI and he is presently working in the US.

“ He will be awarded honourary Doctor of Letters, ” he said.

“Chief Bode Amao, who has been a great benefactor of the school, will also be honoured,’’ he said.

Amao, he said, built a crèche for the school and had been awarding scholarships to students in the last 30 years through the Bode Amao Foundation.

Olayinka also said that for the first time in eight years, the school will hold a Research and Development Fair as part of the graduation ceremony.

“Apart from its primary objective, the school has the responsibility of coming up with research work that would have direct positive impact on the society,’’ he said. (NAN)
MAM/OJO
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(Edited by Mufutau Ojo)

NAN-H-43
Killers
Abuja, Nov. 7, 2016 (NAN) The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has faulted the Kano State Government for nullifying the prosecution of the suspected killers of a 74-year-old woman in Kano.

The National Coordinator of HURIWA, Mr Emmanuel Onwubiko, said in a statement in Abuja on Monday that there was need to carry out diligent investigation on the killing of the woman.

He demanded that the killers of the woman must be brought to book.

On Nov. 3, five key suspects in the killing of Mrs Bridget Agbahime, a trader were set free on the orders of a Kano Magistrates’ Court.

Onwubiko said that the case should be properly re-filed at a proper court and given accelerated hearing.

“The killers of this Nigerian citizen should be charged and punished for the murder, rather than letting them go unpunished.’’

The coordinator faulted the Kano Magistrates’ Court, presided over by Jibrin Muhammad for setting the suspects free.

Agbahime from Imo was killed at the Kofar Wambai Market over alleged blasphemy on June 2.

Onwubiko said that Muhammad’s decision was based on the directive of the Kano State attorney-general and commissioner for justice.

The freed suspects are Dauda Ahmed, Abdulmumeen Mustafa, Zubairu Abubakar, Abdullahi Abubakar and Musa Abdullahi.

They were earlier charged with a four-count charge of allegedly inciting disturbance, culpable homicide, joint act and mischief.  (NAN)
COO/DO/SN

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Edited by David Onilede/Silas Nwoha

ICT expert urges government to build more ICT hubs
NAN-H-49
Hubs
By Constance Athekame
Abuja, Nov. 7, 2016 (NAN) Mrs Mary Uduma, the immediate Past President, Nigeria Internet Registration Association of Nigeria (NIRA), has called on government to build more Information and Communication Technology (ICT) hubs in the country.

Uduma, who is also the coordinator of the Nigeria Internet Governance Forum, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday.

She said building more ICT hubs meant creating more employment for the youth.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that an ICT hub is a sustainable physical centre with the necessary infrastructure to provide generic services.

The generic services include tele-centres, desktop publishing, business support, application development, training, and information services to the community.

The past NIRA president said though there were some ICT hubs in the country currently, there was, however, the need for government to build more to encourage the youths.

“We have to build more hubs; only by so doing will ICT be brought closer to youths and this will encourage them to embrace the profession and come up with innovations.

“ Currently, we have ICT hubs. It is just for it to be communicated to our youths, especially the very brilliant ones.’’

Uduma said that a lot of progress had been made in the ICT sector, adding, however, that there was still room for further progress to make use of the opportunities the sector offered.

“I like the fact that Gov. Malam Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State has introduced computer devices for secondary schools that will catch the students young.

“As long as children are touching the devices in computers, ideas will be coming and they can compete with other children anywhere in the world.

“Starting at that level is important, they become digital natives.

“At my own age, I am a digital migrate, so we want to breed digital natives and these are the children in primary and secondary schools,’’ the ex-NIRA boss said.

She urged young people to participate in ICT programmes and exhibitions where they could get noticed.

According to her, if a child has the desire to be an entrepreneur, it will motivate him or her.

Uduma added children should be encouraged to attend programmes to bring out innovations in them.

“There is a part for both government and young people to play that will bring out their talents when there is competition.

“There is this initiative by the Nigeria Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) called “Digital Friday or start-up Fridays’’, they can be a part of it.

“I know that there are centres that states are now opening up for youths to showcase what they have done,’’ Uduma said. (NAN)
COA/COF/AMY
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Edited by Oluyinka Fadare and Abdullahi Yusuf

CJN says Judiciary remains resolute on its independence
NAN-H-29
Commitment
By Martins Odeh
Abuja, Nov. 7, 2016 (NAN) Justice Mahmud Mohammed, Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), on Monday said the Judiciary remained resolute and committed to upholding its independence.

The CJN said this on the occasion of the swearing-in of Amina Augie and Ejembi Eko as justices of the Supreme Court in Abuja.

Mohammed said all courts in the country were empowered to adjudicate with utmost fairness and justice as prescribed in the Constitution and the law.

“Certainly, the decision of the National Judicial Council at its last meeting reflects our desire to preserve this independence.

“Hence, we proclaimed to the World that any Judicial officer that is standing trial will cease to perform judicial functions.

“The Council took this stand following communications it received from the Attorney General of the Federal that he was embarking on the prosecution of the affected judicial officers for the offences disclosed against them,” he said.

However, he said: “We must not forget that we operate a constitutional democracy, which clearly prescribes the powers accorded to each organ of the State.

“I therefore wish to state without fear of contradiction that the third arm of government will remain resolute in its commitment and resolve to uphold its independence.’’

On his advice to the new justices, Mohammed urged them to continue to be diligent in the discharge of their duties.

“You must remain blind to personality and status, and remain the hope of all men, whether common or uncommon.

“Hence, the integrity and impartiality of our courts must not be in question or compromised.

“I am confident that with the institutions and initiatives that we have put in place, the Nigerian Judiciary will evolve to meet the high standards demanded by our citizens,” the CJN said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Eko before his appointment was a Justice of the Court of Appeal.

He also served in the High Court of Justice, Benue State Judiciary, between 1989 and 2007.

Eko, the Benue born, obtained a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.), Law/Jurisprudence from the University of Ife, Ile-Ife, between 1973 and 1976.

On her part, Augie until her elevation to the apex court was a justice of the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division. (NAN)
OMO/MST/MST

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola