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NIGERIA POLICE GETS FIRST FEMALE FORCE PUBLIC RELATIONS
As IGP Appoints New Principal Staff Officer
In his determination to advance change over stasis, the Inspector General of Police, IGP Solomon E. Arase, fdc, NPM has appointed Acting ACP Olabisi Alofe Kolawole as the new Force Public Relations Officer. Ag. ACP Kolawole becomes the first female police officer to be appointed as National Police spokesperson.
This appointment is geared towards harnessing the enormous potentials among Nigerian female Police officers. Ag. ACP Kolawole who holds a first degree in law, from Ogun State University and a Masters degree in Police Leadership and management from University of Leicester, United Kingdom replaces CP Emmanuel Ojukwu who is now the Commissioner of Police, Kogi State Command. The new FPRO has served in various capacities both at national and international level. She was the Force Gender Adviser before her recent posting.
Similarly, the IGP has appointed Ag. ACP Idowu Owohunwa as Principal Staff Officer (PSO) to Inspector General of Police. The new PSO who holds a Bachelors degree in International Studies from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria as well as Masters degree in Criminal Justice and Policing from University of Leeds United Kingdom has served the Nigeria Police in diverse capacities, such as Staff Officer to the 2006 Alh Dan Madami-Chaired Presidential Committee on Nigeria Police Reforms, Divisional Crime officer National Assembly Complex Police Division Abuja. He was pioneer head of the Intelligence Analysis Unit of the Force Intelligence Bureau. Ag. ACP Owohunwa takes over from CP Austin Iwar who is now the Commissioner of Police, Gombe State Command. Before his appointment as PSO Ag. ACP Owohunwa was the Personal Assistant (PA) to the current IGP.
NNPC has cancelled the current contracts on the supply of crude to the nation’s refineries.
The Nigeria National Petroleum Cooperation (NNPC) has cancelled the current contracts on the supply of crude to the nation’s refineries.
The move according to the cooperation is to curb the exorbitant cost and inappropriate process of engagement.
While that subsist, NIDAS Marine Limited, a subsidiary of the NNPC has been engaged to provide crude delivery service on negotiated industry standard rate pending the establishment of substantive contracts.
When another contract is in place, it will be the delivery of crude to the refineries by marine vessels rather than through the pipeline network, which the corporation says is susceptible to vandalism.
In the same vein, the Corporation also terminated the Offshore Processing Agreements (OPA), entered into in January, 2015 with three companies, namely- Duke Oil Company Inc., Aiteo Energy Resources Limited and Sahara Energy Resources (Nig) Ltd, claiming that the current OPA is skewed in favour of the companies’ such that the value of product delivered is significantly lower than the equivalent crude oil allocated for the programme.
To the alternative, the NNPC has invited Messrs. Oando, Sahara Energy, Calson, MRS, Duke Oil, BP/Nigermed and Total Trading to bid for the new Offshore Processing agreement.
On the status of the Crude for Product Exchange Agreement (SWAP) reportedly entered into by the NNPC and some oil traders, the Corporation informed that the last SWAP arrangement lapsed in December, 2014 and was never renewed.
Meanwhile, a tendering process for the 2015/2016 Crude Oil Term Contract for the evacuation of Nigeria’s crude oil equity from the various crude and condensate production arrangements will soon be commenced.
FG BEGINS ARM PROCUREMENT PROBE.
The 13-man investigative committee
set up to probe the procurement of hardware and ammunition in the Armed
Forces has started its sitting, albeit in camera, The PUNCH has learnt.
The committee has been meeting in the
office of the National Security Adviser, Maj. Gen. Babagana Monguno
(retd.), a source in the Presidency confided in The PUNCH on Wednesday.
The source said, “I can confirm to you
that the committee members have started meeting. They even started
meeting before their appointments were announced. This is because they
do not need any confirmation or any formal inauguration.
“Available information showed that members are getting the needed assistance and support from interested parties.
“It
is the government’s belief that a lot of ground would be covered by the
committee in its desire to ascertain what went wrong in the past as far
as the procurement of arms is concerned.”
Presidential spokesman, Mr. Femi
Adesina, had on Monday announced the composition of the committee, which
is saddled with the responsibility of probing arms purchase from 2007
till now.
Adesina had said the President directed
the NSA to set up the committee with the mandate of identifying
irregularities and making recommendations for streamlining the
procurement process in the Armed Forces.
Members of the committee include AVM
J.O.N. Ode (retd.) –chairman; R/Adm. J. A. Aikhomu (retd.); R/Adm. E.
Ogbor (retd.); Brig. Gen L. Adekagun (retd.); Brig. Gen. M. Aminu-Kano
(retd.); Brig. Gen. N. Rimtip (retd.); Cdre. T.D. Ikoli; Air Cdre U.
Mohammed (retd.); Air Cdre I. Shafi’i; Col. A.A. Ariyibi; Group Capt.
C.A. Oriaku (retd.); Mr. I. Magu (EFCC); and Brig. Gen Y.I. Shalangwa –
Secretary.
Adesina explained that the establishment
of the committee was in keeping with Buhari’s determination to stamp
out corruption and irregularities in Nigeria’s public service.
He added, “It (the committee) comes
against the background of the myriad of challenges that the Nigerian
Armed Forces have faced in the course of ongoing counter-insurgency
operations in the North-East, including the apparent deficit in military
platforms with its attendant negative effects of troops’ morale.
“The committee will specifically
investigate allegations of non-adherence to correct equipment
procurement procedures and the exclusion of relevant logistics branches
from arms procurement under past administrations, which, very often
resulted in the acquisition of sub-standard and unserviceable
equipment.”
No timeline was given for the co
mmittee to carry out its assignment.
Meanwhile, South Africa has said that it
is not involved in the investigation into the purchase of arms by the
administrations of late President Umaru Yar’Adua and former President
Goodluck Jonathan.
It described the arms probe panel as a
Nigerian affair, saying it did not involve in the aborted botched $15m
arms deal by the administration of Jonathan in 2014.
The South Africa’s High Commissioner in
Nigeria, Lulu Mnguni, stated this in a telephone interview with our
correspondent on Wednesday.
Mnguni was asked to react to a report that South Africa might be invited by the Buhari’s arms deal probe panel.
Also asked if his commission would
appear before the panel if summoned, the envoy said his mission had
nothing to do with the failed arms deals, stressing that it was purely a
Nigerian issue.
He added that the South African mission
would be guided by directives from the home government, noting that the
embassy was a member of the diplomatic community which only follows
official instructions.
“We don’t know anything about the arms
issue; that is a Nigerian matter. We are not involved. You know what, we
are guided by our government and you must also know that we are in the
diplomatic community,” he said.
ABUJA
— President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, set up a 13-member panel to
probe two of his predecessors, late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and Dr. Goodluck
Jonathan, on procurement of arms and ammunition for the Armed Forces.
The investigative committee’s mandate is to identify irregularities and make recommendations for streamlining the procurement process in the Armed Forces.
The committee, which was constituted by the the National Security Adviser, Major-General Babagana Monguno (retd), on the directive of the President, is headed by AVM J.O.N. Ode (retd.) while Brig-Gen. Y. I. Shalangwa is secretary.
Other members are Rear Admiral J. A. Aikhomu (retd.), Rear Admiral E. Ogbor (retd.), Brig-Gen. L. Adekagun (retd.), Brig-Gen. M. Aminu-Kano (retd.), Brig-Gen N. Rimtip (retd.), Commodore T. D. Ikoli, Air Commodore U. Mohammed (retd), Air Commodore I. Shafi’i, Col A. A. Ariyibi, GP Capt C.A. Oriaku (retd) and Mr. I. Magu (EFCC).
A statement from presidential spokesman, Mr. Femi Adesina, said “the establishment of the investigative committee is in keeping with President Buhari’s determination to stamp out corruption and irregularities in Nigeria’s public service.
“It comes against the background of the myriad of challenges that the Nigerian Armed Forces have faced in the course of ongoing counter-insurgency operations in the northeast, including the apparent deficit in military platforms with its attendant negative effects on troops’ morale.
“The committee will specifically investigate allegations of non-adherence to correct equipment procurement procedures and the exclusion of relevant logistics branches from arms procurement under past administrations, which, very often resulted in the acquisition of sub-standard and unserviceable equipment.”
This is not a govt of probes, but of due process, law and order
Meanwhile, the Presidency has declared that Buhari’s administration is not a government of probes but of due process, law and order.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, who spoke with Vanguard, yesterday, also stated the administration of President Buhari will not shy away from probing the government of former President Jonathan in the face of alleged fraud and corruption.
He spoke following an accusation of selective probe against Buhari by a prominent northern leader, Tanko Yakassai.
The presidential aide said there are sensitive matters arising from briefings and official engagements, which the President cannot overlook and described as laughable the allegation that Buhari has excluded other former presidents like Chief Olusegun Obasanjo because he was close to them.
He said: “Let me say that officially, nobody is under probe, even Dr. Jonathan. People should not make mistakes about the fact that what is going on are routine investigations. These are matters that the President has found on the table.
“So, there is nothing like a probe. If Jonathan will be probed, you would have heard of, may be, an administrative panel of enquiry or judicial panel of enquiry. But it hasn’t come to that. These are matters of routine engagements of due process of law and order.
“President Buhari in his campaign said his government was not going to probe into the past. We are not probing but as a responsible government, you cannot bring to the table matters such as we are dealing with and then, the President will wave them off.
“The Office of the President may be powerful but it is controlled, regulated by due process and the constitution of the country. The President cannot wave away matters that are arising from either handing-over or the routine briefings. How can anybody say he was part of the Obasanjo military regime and that’s why he’s not probing them?
Speaking further, the presidential spokesman queried why the allies of former President Jonathan would wait until now to champion the cause of probing past governments before Jonathan.
It was Jonathan’s responsibility to probe Obasanjo, Yar’Adua
He stated that it was Jonathan’s responsibility to probe the governments of Obasanjo and Yar’Adua.
“Let me tell you, if Obasanjo and Yar’Adua and all of the past governments before Jonathan needed to have been probed, why did Jonathan shy away from his responsibility? Why didn’t he probe them while he was in office? Why didn’t Tanko Yakassai ask Jonathan to probe Yar’Adua, Babangida, Obasanjo? Why do they have to wait for Buhari to come and do what he should have done?
“It is common sense. So, if he didn’t probe them, why should his people ask some other person to probe them? If they felt it was desirable to probe the past administration, as a party, why didn’t they do it themselves? Why do they have to wait for President Buhari?
“This is not a government of probes. It is a government of due process and law and order. President Buhari is dealing with the matters he has found on the table and he has no power under the constitution to wave them. If somebody had stolen Nigeria’s one billion dollars of oil, President Buhari is not authorized to wave it off under the law. He should ask questions. There is no probe going on now. People who are creating the spectre of probes in the country just want to create unnecessary fear.”
On allegation of running unilateral govt
On the issue of running a unilateral government having not appointed ministers, Shehu said the allegation was unfounded.
According to him, the government is running well and its ministries and agencies were competently manned by the permanent secretaries.
Shehu, however, assured that President Buhari would form his cabinet soon.
He said: “The constitution is very clear about the powers of the state. Legislative powers are there under the parliament. The President has not interfered with the powers of the parliament. Even when the clamour was there for him to save the parliament from the crisis of leadership, he stayed out of it.
“The executive arm of government is the first arm which President Buhari has under him and he is not interfering in the other arms of government. However, all the ministries of the government are being competently run under the supervision of the permanent secretaries.
“They consult the President and the President consults them. He consults the party and the party consults him. So, if anybody is not in the room when these matters are being discussed, don’t go out there telling people that there is no consultation going on. You cannot be an adviser to PDP president and also be an adviser to the APC government at the same time.
“The President will appoint ministers. There is no question about that. The President will decide when he will appoint his ministers. If it is auspicious for him to appoint them in September, he will.”
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/08/fg-names-13-man-panel-to-probe-yaradua-jonathan/#sthash.rciggkSK.dpuf
The investigative committee’s mandate is to identify irregularities and make recommendations for streamlining the procurement process in the Armed Forces.
The committee, which was constituted by the the National Security Adviser, Major-General Babagana Monguno (retd), on the directive of the President, is headed by AVM J.O.N. Ode (retd.) while Brig-Gen. Y. I. Shalangwa is secretary.
Other members are Rear Admiral J. A. Aikhomu (retd.), Rear Admiral E. Ogbor (retd.), Brig-Gen. L. Adekagun (retd.), Brig-Gen. M. Aminu-Kano (retd.), Brig-Gen N. Rimtip (retd.), Commodore T. D. Ikoli, Air Commodore U. Mohammed (retd), Air Commodore I. Shafi’i, Col A. A. Ariyibi, GP Capt C.A. Oriaku (retd) and Mr. I. Magu (EFCC).
A statement from presidential spokesman, Mr. Femi Adesina, said “the establishment of the investigative committee is in keeping with President Buhari’s determination to stamp out corruption and irregularities in Nigeria’s public service.
“It comes against the background of the myriad of challenges that the Nigerian Armed Forces have faced in the course of ongoing counter-insurgency operations in the northeast, including the apparent deficit in military platforms with its attendant negative effects on troops’ morale.
“The committee will specifically investigate allegations of non-adherence to correct equipment procurement procedures and the exclusion of relevant logistics branches from arms procurement under past administrations, which, very often resulted in the acquisition of sub-standard and unserviceable equipment.”
MUHAMMADU BUHARI
This is not a govt of probes, but of due process, law and order
Meanwhile, the Presidency has declared that Buhari’s administration is not a government of probes but of due process, law and order.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, who spoke with Vanguard, yesterday, also stated the administration of President Buhari will not shy away from probing the government of former President Jonathan in the face of alleged fraud and corruption.
He spoke following an accusation of selective probe against Buhari by a prominent northern leader, Tanko Yakassai.
The presidential aide said there are sensitive matters arising from briefings and official engagements, which the President cannot overlook and described as laughable the allegation that Buhari has excluded other former presidents like Chief Olusegun Obasanjo because he was close to them.
He said: “Let me say that officially, nobody is under probe, even Dr. Jonathan. People should not make mistakes about the fact that what is going on are routine investigations. These are matters that the President has found on the table.
“So, there is nothing like a probe. If Jonathan will be probed, you would have heard of, may be, an administrative panel of enquiry or judicial panel of enquiry. But it hasn’t come to that. These are matters of routine engagements of due process of law and order.
“President Buhari in his campaign said his government was not going to probe into the past. We are not probing but as a responsible government, you cannot bring to the table matters such as we are dealing with and then, the President will wave them off.
“The Office of the President may be powerful but it is controlled, regulated by due process and the constitution of the country. The President cannot wave away matters that are arising from either handing-over or the routine briefings. How can anybody say he was part of the Obasanjo military regime and that’s why he’s not probing them?
Speaking further, the presidential spokesman queried why the allies of former President Jonathan would wait until now to champion the cause of probing past governments before Jonathan.
It was Jonathan’s responsibility to probe Obasanjo, Yar’Adua
He stated that it was Jonathan’s responsibility to probe the governments of Obasanjo and Yar’Adua.
“Let me tell you, if Obasanjo and Yar’Adua and all of the past governments before Jonathan needed to have been probed, why did Jonathan shy away from his responsibility? Why didn’t he probe them while he was in office? Why didn’t Tanko Yakassai ask Jonathan to probe Yar’Adua, Babangida, Obasanjo? Why do they have to wait for Buhari to come and do what he should have done?
“It is common sense. So, if he didn’t probe them, why should his people ask some other person to probe them? If they felt it was desirable to probe the past administration, as a party, why didn’t they do it themselves? Why do they have to wait for President Buhari?
“This is not a government of probes. It is a government of due process and law and order. President Buhari is dealing with the matters he has found on the table and he has no power under the constitution to wave them. If somebody had stolen Nigeria’s one billion dollars of oil, President Buhari is not authorized to wave it off under the law. He should ask questions. There is no probe going on now. People who are creating the spectre of probes in the country just want to create unnecessary fear.”
On allegation of running unilateral govt
On the issue of running a unilateral government having not appointed ministers, Shehu said the allegation was unfounded.
According to him, the government is running well and its ministries and agencies were competently manned by the permanent secretaries.
Shehu, however, assured that President Buhari would form his cabinet soon.
He said: “The constitution is very clear about the powers of the state. Legislative powers are there under the parliament. The President has not interfered with the powers of the parliament. Even when the clamour was there for him to save the parliament from the crisis of leadership, he stayed out of it.
“The executive arm of government is the first arm which President Buhari has under him and he is not interfering in the other arms of government. However, all the ministries of the government are being competently run under the supervision of the permanent secretaries.
“They consult the President and the President consults them. He consults the party and the party consults him. So, if anybody is not in the room when these matters are being discussed, don’t go out there telling people that there is no consultation going on. You cannot be an adviser to PDP president and also be an adviser to the APC government at the same time.
“The President will appoint ministers. There is no question about that. The President will decide when he will appoint his ministers. If it is auspicious for him to appoint them in September, he will.”
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/08/fg-names-13-man-panel-to-probe-yaradua-jonathan/#sthash.rciggkSK.dpuf
FG reviews Second Niger Bridge contract.
President Muhammadu Buhari
Construction
work on the Second Niger Bridge may be further delayed as the Federal
Government has said it is currently reviewing the contract sum for the
project to justify the cost.
The Goodluck Jonathan administration
said in January this year that the government had spent N10bn on the
project out of the N130bn total cost of the contract.
But the Director-General, Infrastructure
Concession Regulatory Commission, Mr. Aminu Diko, in an interview with
State House correspondents on Wednesday, after briefing President
Muhammadu Buhari in the Presidential Villa, Abuja, said the ICRC was
currently withholding the certificate of compliance for the project.
He said the certificate was being
withheld because of many issues regarding the project, adding that the
commission was engaging the Ministry of Works on how to resolve the
issues.
Specifically, he said the ICRC had asked the ministry to review the cost of the project with a view to justifying it.
He also identified the clamour for
compensation by owners of the land where the project is being sited as
one of the pending issues.
He said, “The issue of the Second Niger
Bridge is one of the projects that we discussed with the President. We
did say that the project is in the commission for regulatory oversight.
We have been discussing the transaction with the Ministry of Works. But
before it can be finalised, the commission has to give a certificate of
compliance, but we have not done that because we have seen a lot of
issues that we are uncomfortable with.
“We are talking with the Ministry of
Works for them to correct it. The communities around that area are
clamouring that their land has been taken and that they have not been
compensated adequately. As a matter of fact, we got a letter from the
Onitsha Traditional Council complaining that they have not been
adequately represented in this transaction. With this kind of issue, we
are not saying that something has not been done properly but we need to
be convinced that these few problems are sorted out properly.
“We will also talk about the actual cost
of the bridge eventually; we have asked the Ministry of Works to review
it and justify how much the project should cost.”
Diko, however, said he had no idea of
the present state of the project, whose groundbreaking was done with
fanfare by the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
He explained that there would be a lot of studies, including an integrity test, to be done on the bridge.
Diko said, “I have no idea about the
status of the project. What I need to tell Nigerians is that the PPPs
take a long time to mature. This is different from a project in which
you have money in your pocket or in your account and you just bring it
out and tell somebody to go and do it. But when it is a PPP transaction,
you first engage a number of people. You have bankers, lawyers,
engineers. They all collaborate to form consultancy for that
transaction. For the Second Niger Bridge, there will be a lot of studies
that need to be done on the integrity of the bridge itself, which will
take time; it is not something we can see being completed in the next
six months.
“I will like us to be patient about it;
we know that it is a critical road. We also know how Nigerians suffer
during festive holidays and we hear people sleep on that old bridge. The
time has come for us to bring succour to Nigerians.”
The ICRC boss added that when properly
signed and executed, the commission would also take custody of the
agreements to ensure that there is total compliance.
He added that he also told the President
some of the limitations the commission has, the most significant of
which was the commission’s enabling law. He described the law as
“ineffective.”
Diko said, “It (the law) is very
ineffective. So we have proposed an amendment to the law and he has
agreed to support the passing of the bill when it comes back to him from
the Attorney-General’s office.
“We also discussed some of the legacy
concessions that we inherited such as the port terminals, the Lagos
International Trade Fair, the Tafawa Balewa Square and the Lagos-Ibadan
Expressway.
“We also discussed all the projects that
were started under the ICRC Act, one of which is the second Niger
Bridge, the National Theatre Complex, Lagos.
“These are important projects to the
country and in addition to that, this country is proposing to build
three deep seaports for Nigeria with a combined estimated cost of about
$6bn. So, you can imagine the kind of opportunities it can create as far
as job creation is concerned and as far as vibrancy of the economy is
concerned.
“So, we are reviewing this proposal with the Ministry of Transport and in due course, we will come out with a position on that.”
Diko said the President handed down two directives to the commission.
He said the President directed that
state governors should be involved in encouraging farmers to utilise the
33 agricultural silos being built all over the country.
W/Bank offers FG N27.58bn for community projects.
The
World Bank on Wednesday said it would soon start the disbursement of
$140m (N27.58bn) under its assisted Community and Social Development
Project to 26 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The bank, in a statement issued in Abuja
and made available to our correspondent, said about $200m (N39.4bn) had
been disbursed under the first phase of the project, thus bringing the
total amount provided under the programme to $340m (N66.98bn)
It said states that would benefit from
the additional financing would focus on the most vulnerable households
in poor communities in the country.
Anambra, Kaduna and Sokoto states, it added, are also set to participate in the additional financing.
The statement said the additional
financing was expected to fund micro-project facilities such as
rehabilitation and construction of school class rooms, health centres
and clinics and skills acquisition.
Others are rural electrification, rural
transport, community water schemes, community housing schemes and rural
market infrastructure.
It gave a list of vulnerable groups that
would also benefit from special grants as internally displaced poor
persons, marginalised or chronically poor households, widows and the
physically challenged.
The statement also quoted the World Bank
Task Team Leader for the project, Foluso Okunmadewa, as saying, “This
project will not only help vulnerable people in the short term,
including those in conflict-affected areas, but will also help build and
rebuild long-lasting partnership between local governments and
communities. In addition, it will help integrate communities as well as
make smart investments in people for the future.
“The first phase of the World Bank
funding of the Community Social Development Project, which benefited
over 5,600 communities and about two million people in 26 states of the
federation, was fully disbursed by December 2014.”
SENATORS FINALLY OKAYS PAY CUT
Members of the National Assembly on
Wednesday said they welcomed the decision of the Revenue Mobilisation
Allocation and Fiscal Commission to review downward the salaries and
allowances of members of the National Assembly.
The House of Representatives said a pay
cut would be a “relief” to lawmakers in many respects, including
restoring the dignity of the legislature in the country.
It noted that it was “disgusting” to
hear Nigerians call their legislators “looters” and “thieves” on account
of the salaries and allowances worked out for them by an agency of the
government empowered by law to do so.
The
Chairman of RMAFC, Mr. Elias Mbam, had on Tuesday disclosed that a new
pay package, reflecting cuts in the remuneration of public service
officers would be released in September.
Mbam specifically mentioned the National Assembly as an arm of the public service that would be affected in the planned pay cut.
Mbam, who spoke with State House
correspondents in Abuja soon after a meeting with President Muhammadu
Buhari, said, “Presently, we are reviewing the subsisting remuneration
package and it is going to reflect the socio-economic realities of
today.
“We expect that before the end of next month, it will be ready.
“But, it will go through a process; it is not something that you will just say ‘yes or no.’
“It will go through a process and it
should be obvious to you the economic realities of the day and it is
going to reflect that.”
Answering a specific question on whether
he thought senators and members of the House of Representatives would
welcome the pay cut, he stated, “They (senators and Representatives) do
not have a choice.
“We are guided by the 1999 Constitution
and we are going to be guided by such laws that are provided for in the
Constitution. They swore to obey the laws of the country.”
The House, which reacted through its
Chairman, Ad hoc Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Sani Zoro,
claimed that members would be relieved if the new pay package came into
effect.
Zoro observed that since 1999, Nigerians
viewed legislators as people who did not deserve their pay or even
“erroneously” believed that they fixed salaries for themselves.
“So, for us, it will be a relief if the pay is reduced. We will now have our integrity intact.
“We will feel confident to be called
honourable, instead of feeling horrible as some people wish to address
legislators,” he said.
Zoro also told The PUNCH that the pay
cut would reduce the financial pressure lawmakers faced from their
constituents and the general public, who held the “wrong impression”
that they were very rich.
“This is good for us on another ground. There are those who see us as looters and thieves.
“This is a message to them to let us be; since we will no longer be paid the money they feel we do not deserve.
“Our burden will now become less and we are very pleased with this development,” Zoro added.
Zoro also told The PUNCH that it was a
“cheering” decision by RMAFC, coming after the Speaker, Mr. Yakubu
Dogara, had set up a committee to assess the “needs” of the 8th House.
He explained that the committee, made up
of civil society organisations and professionals in many fields, would
cost the financial requirements for running the legislature.
At the moment, each member takes a
monthly salary of around N900,000, excluding a quarterly allowance
(running cost) of about N27.9m.
Senators take a slightly higher salary and quarterly allocation.
Lawmakers are currently observing a six-week annual recess to last till September 29.
Also, the Senate spokesperson, Dino
Melaye, explained that the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, first
initiated moves to review downward, the total package accruable to
legislators in the upper chamber immediately after the inauguration of
the 8th Senate.
IMAGINE WHAT Laura Secorun Palet HAVE TO SAY ABOUT LESIBIANISM
Why Lesbians Earn More Money Than Straight Women
Are you being discriminated against at work? No, this isn’t a cue for debate. Check your paycheck. Your boss may be able to camouflage his sexist mindset and your co-workers could secretly harbor racist views, but not being paid as much as someone else for the same job? Well, that’s pretty straightforward.
No one is surprised that women earn less than men, that blacks and Latinos make less than white folks or that gay men and transgender people make less than their heteronormative friends. Yet there’s one minority group that flies in the face of conventional wisdom with a positive wage gap: lesbians.
Lesbians in Western countries suffer many types of discrimination, but being underpaid is not one of them. A new study by the University of Melbourne and San Diego State University shows lesbians out-earn heterosexual women by at least
33 percent
Gay men, however, earn around 20 percent less than their heterosexual counterparts.Turns out lesbians are better at “leaning in.” So says Nick Drydakis, co-author of the study and senior lecturer in economics at the University of Anglia, who suggests this is because lesbians often know early in life that they will not marry into a traditional household where a male could provide for them. So they invest more in themselves, study longer than heterosexual women and make more career-oriented decisions.
Good for them, right? Not necessarily. While the lesbian pay premium is certainly good news for many hardworking women-loving women, it may also be due to the systematic discrimination against other groups. Mothers, for example, earn less than childless women. And lesbians have fewer children than heterosexual married women. “This might make employers more interested in promoting lesbians, who are less likely to move in and out of the labor market,” Drydakis says.
He also suggests that employers, colleagues and consumers often favor personality traits traditionally associated with men — like ambition, authority and pragmatism. Lesbians might also benefit if they exhibit more of those attributes than their heterosexual counterparts or gay male co-workers.
Still, besides discrimination against mothers and stubborn gender clichés, the positive lesbian pay gap suggests that Sheryl Sandberg got one thing right: Whom you marry matters. Not to mention that marrying men is dangerous for your career. Research has found that the wage premium was lower for those lesbians who had previously been in heterosexual marriages. “This is because the typical household division of labor for married couples focuses on career advancement of men,” explains Jeffrey Waddoups, who conducted this particular study and is the graduate coordinator for economics at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
To be sure, lesbians still face other types of discrimination in and out of the workplace. And research indicates the marketplace continues to benefit primarily men or women who are perceived as being more “manly.” But that doesn’t mean heterosexual women and gay men can’t take a page from the lesbian book: Be assertive, stay longer in school and select a lifelong partner who understands career advancement is not a male privilege.
Those stupid blue-checked shirts are optional.
Pregnant Kim Kardashian Shows Off Her Baby Bump in a Bronze String Bikini: See Her Steamy Maternity Swim Style!
Pregnant Kim Kardashian Shows Off Her Baby Bump in a Bronze String Bikini: See Her Steamy Maternity Swim Style!
Bronzed beauty! Pregnant Kim Kardashian, who's due with her second child (a son!) in December, took to the beaches of St. Barts on Tuesday, Aug. 18, to get her tan on.
PHOTOS: Kim K.'s second pregnancy style
In photos revealed exclusively in the new issue of Us Weekly, the reality superstar, 34, strolled onto the sand wearing a teensy, copper-hued triangle-top two-piece, which showcased her blossomed baby bump, ample bosom, and famous booty. Her ocean-dipped tresses were tousled and brushed back, and she modeled a light pink lip.
PHOTOS: Kim K.'s best booty moments
Credit: BRIAN PRAHL SPLASH NEWS
While in the Caribbean, Mrs. Kanye West, who stayed at a $25,000-per-week, nine-bedroom compound with her family (including sisters Kourtney and Khloe Kardashian, half-sisters Kendall and Kylie Jenner, and mom Kris Jenner).
"The trip was all about bonding [with the family]," a source told Us
Weekly. "Kim is a mom first." Commenting on the star's second pregnancy,
the insider added, "She feels great, and she's relaxed."
PHOTOS: Kim K.'s second pregnancy style
In photos revealed exclusively in the new issue of Us Weekly, the reality superstar, 34, strolled onto the sand wearing a teensy, copper-hued triangle-top two-piece, which showcased her blossomed baby bump, ample bosom, and famous booty. Her ocean-dipped tresses were tousled and brushed back, and she modeled a light pink lip.
PHOTOS: Kim K.'s best booty moments
Pregnant and bikini-clad Kim Kardashian takes a walk on the beach in St. Barts.
Credit: BRIAN PRAHL SPLASH NEWS
Pregnant Kim Kardashian snaps selfies on the beach in St. Barts while clad in a bronze, bump-baring bikini.
HIT AND RUN CASE ALONG GWARIMPA - DUTSEN ALHAJI ROUTE, ABUJA
It is a bizarre but familiar sight this morning as a man was seen lying lifeless on the shoulder of the expressway along the Gwarinpa - Dutse Alhaji, Abuja this morning. No one could come up to say what exactly had happened to the man, but from all indications he was obviously knocked down by a hit and run driver as bruises were seen on some part of his body.
Some say these days it it not safe to give eye witness accounts of such crimes to the police as you may be held longer than necessary by the police who would almost make you feel like you committed the crime.
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Some say these days it it not safe to give eye witness accounts of such crimes to the police as you may be held longer than necessary by the police who would almost make you feel like you committed the crime.
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GOVERNOR WIKE CONSTANTLY SEEKING PRAYERS WHY? (PHOTO)
MEN OF GOD NOW SELECT WHO TO PRAY FOR...
http://www.punchng.com/news/spotlight-on-wikes-endless-search-for-prayers/
THERE is no doubt that the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has portrayed himself in recent times as a governor that believes so much in prayers as there is hardly any Sunday that the Ikwerre-born politician is not seen among congregations of different Christian denominations.
Ordinarily, clerics would not have noticed Wike as a man that has a penchant for going to church to pray, but because he occupies a position of authority, he is always the cynosure of all eyes any time he is in church.
Before the heat of the general election in March and April 2015, the governor’s level of appearances in churches was not as high as it is now.
Within the past one month, he has been to many churches seeking and getting prayers for himself and the success of his administration.
Just last week, Wike was at the Royal House of Grace International Church where another guest of the church and a renowned cleric, Dr. Uma Ukpai, prayed for him and described him as an asset to the state.
The General Overseer of the Royal House of Grace, Apostle Zilly Aggrey, also prayed for the governor.
A week before his visit to Apostle Aggrey’s church, Wike had been to The Lord’s Chosen Church, Pastor Lazarus Mouka where he also got a large dose of prayers from the general overseer of the church. It was at the Lord’s Chosen Church that he ordered that a major road leading to the church be reconstructed based on his pledge during his previous visit before the general election.
The ‘praying governor’ has also received clerics from the Methodist Church and Archibishop Ignatius Kattey of the Anglican Church at the Government House in Port Harcourt and none of them left without praying for him and the success of his administration.
There is no doubt that this coming Sunday, Wike is likely to be found on his knees in a church praying or being prayed for.
With such an outpouring of prayers for Wike, his supporters hope that the ongoing election petition tribunal will rule in his favour.
http://www.punchng.com/news/spotlight-on-wikes-endless-search-for-prayers/
PRE-PLANNED OR JUST A COINCIDENCE? NIGERIA VP AND THE UN SEC. GEN MACHING OUTFIT
Nigeria Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo recently met with UN Secretary General Mr.
Ban Ki-Moon at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,Abuja.
Amongst several issues discussed was about democracy, development, climate change and countering violent extremism were discussed at the meeting.
Amongst several issues discussed was about democracy, development, climate change and countering violent extremism were discussed at the meeting.
CAN YOU DARE TO BELIEVE THIS? Real Advert (PHOTO)
Toddler Dies After Eating Poisoned Rice (pictures Of Suspects)
There was confusion in the Ijora Badia area of Lagos State when a two-year-old boy, Ibrahim, died after eating a plate of rice suspected to have been poisoned.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the food was prepared by his mother, Fatimoh Azeez.
Fatimoh, however, said the food was eaten by other members of her family who were not hurt, adding that she suspected that one of her sisters-in-law, Fatimoh Rasaki, who had visited her on the day of the incident, had a hand in the death of the child.
Our correspondent learnt that Fatimoh used to visit her boyfriend, Isa, regularly in his parents’ apartment on Olajide Street in the Ijora community.
She was said to have become pregnant for him and was later delivered of the boy.
The lovebirds were reportedly cohabiting in the house when Fatimoh’s parents took her and the baby away to their house on Akosile Street.
Isa was reportedly allowed to visit both mother and child.
PUNCH Metro learnt that on one of such visits, Isa had a disagreement with his mother-in-law, which escalated into a fight with his girlfriend.
Fatimoh’s family reportedly stopped him from visiting the child.
His sisters, Fatimoh Rasaki and Latifah Musbau, both married with children, were said to be visiting Fatimoh’s family on the fateful Sunday to mediate in the couple’s dispute, when the child died.
Fatimoh, in her statement to the police, said she was washing some clothes at the back of the house when she saw Rasaki spoon-feeding her child, which made her upset because she feared he could be poisoned.
She said, “After I gave birth to my child, my husband’s people started maltreating me and sent me out of the house. I decided to stay with my parents.
“On August 16, around 11am, I was washing clothes when I saw my two sisters-in-law coming into the house to meet my parents.
“I saw as Fatimoh (Rasaki) carried my child and began to feed him with rice. I quickly rushed there and grabbed him from her and strapped him to my back.
“After some time, I put him on the bed. Suddenly, he started shaking uncontrollably. I rushed him to a hospital, where the doctor said he had died.
“I was the one who prepared the rice and it was eaten by all members of my family.”
PUNCH Metro learnt that the two sisters-in-law, upon hearing the news, rushed to the house.
They were said to have been arrested by the policemen from the Ijora Badia division, before the case was transferred to the State Department of Criminal Investigation, Yaba.
Musbau, a tailor, however, denied having anything to do with the death of the child.
She said the visit was at the instance of their late father, who pleaded with them to resolve the dispute between the two families.
She said, “It was when Fatimoh became pregnant that we knew she and Isa had been dating.
“She stayed with my mother and gave birth to the child, before her parents took her away.
“After that, Isa started going to visit the boy. But one day, he had a disagreement with his mother-in-law. His girlfriend also started harassing him anywhere she spotted him. We warned him to stop visiting them. And he stopped.”
She said their father, who had been ill, appealed to them on his death bed to make peace with Fatimoh’s parents and bring the child back home.
Rasaki told PUNCH Metro that they decided to go for a truce visitation on the fateful Sunday.
She said, “When we arrived at Fatimoh’s parents’ house, it was only her mother that was around. We also saw three kids eating rice in different plates. We did not know which of them Ibrahim was.
“Her mother started abusing us, saying she would deal with us for all we made her daughter go through.
“She was still talking when her daughter suddenly barged into the room, carried the child and strapped her to her back. She then stormed out of the room.
“Later, her father arrived and we broke the news of our father’s death to him. He condoled with us and said the dispute would soon be settled.”
She said later, Fatimoh’s mother came and broke the news of the child’s death to them.
“She said the boy had died and left the house without saying another word. We all rushed to their house and saw the corpse of the boy. It was while condoling with the family that the police came and arrested us,” she added.
A police source said the police were investigating a possible case of food poisoning.
“It is still not clear what killed the child. But we are suspecting food poisoning. The remaining food eaten by the boy has already been packed for a test and we are awaiting the autopsy report. Once there is a problem with the food, the women will have a case to answer,” he said.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Patricia Amadin, when contacted on the incident, promised to get back.
But she had yet to do so as of the time of filing this report.
http://www.punchng.com/metro-plus/toddler-dies-after-eating-poisoned-rice/
Picture of Rasaki and Musbau the suspect the mother of the boy thinks they did poison her sons
Ban Ki-moon Teaches Secondary School Students In Garki, Abuja (Photo)
As part of his visit to Nigeria,United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon visited a Junior Secondary School in Garki area of Abuja where he taught the students the beneficial effects of all classes of food.
http://www.newshelm.com/2015/08/photo-ban-ki-moon-teaches-secondary.html
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to begin the 2016 sales of UTME form by August 31st, 2015.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has perfected plans
to begin the 2016 sales of UTME form by August 31st, 2015.
This was made known by the board’s Head of Information, Dr Fabian Benjamin in statement today in Lagos It was gathered that the decision of the board to make the form available now is to prepare candidates early for the 2016 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The scratch cards will be made available from August 31st, 2015 and can be purchased from the following banks; Zenith Bank, Sky Bank and First Bank. ”The registration fee for the UTME is N5,000 and candidates are also to pay N500 to obtain the textbook, The Last Days at Forcados High School’. ”Candidates will, however, be issued the book at the point of registration after showing evidence of payment,” the statement stated. Prospective candidates are advised to ensure they obtained the application forms early as well as fill their personal data correctly to avoid any mix-up.
The deadline for sales of form is January 15, 2016. While the registration website will close January 19th, 2015. The 2016 UTME examination is expected to begin Feb.29 and end on March 14, 2016.
Note: The UTME will be 100% Computer Based Test (CBT)..
www.myschool.com.ng/school/news/39402/jamb-utme-2016-sales-of-form-begins-august-31st-find-important-guidelines.html.
This was made known by the board’s Head of Information, Dr Fabian Benjamin in statement today in Lagos It was gathered that the decision of the board to make the form available now is to prepare candidates early for the 2016 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The scratch cards will be made available from August 31st, 2015 and can be purchased from the following banks; Zenith Bank, Sky Bank and First Bank. ”The registration fee for the UTME is N5,000 and candidates are also to pay N500 to obtain the textbook, The Last Days at Forcados High School’. ”Candidates will, however, be issued the book at the point of registration after showing evidence of payment,” the statement stated. Prospective candidates are advised to ensure they obtained the application forms early as well as fill their personal data correctly to avoid any mix-up.
The deadline for sales of form is January 15, 2016. While the registration website will close January 19th, 2015. The 2016 UTME examination is expected to begin Feb.29 and end on March 14, 2016.
Note: The UTME will be 100% Computer Based Test (CBT)..
www.myschool.com.ng/school/news/39402/jamb-utme-2016-sales-of-form-begins-august-31st-find-important-guidelines.html.
King of Swaziland chooses wife, tests topless girls’ virginity publicly [PHOTOS]
A common tradition in Swaziland (Swazi) permits the King, Mswati, to choose a new bride every year.
According to reports by Talk Africa, it has been a long time tradition in Swaziland and isn’t the first time this controversial issue is making it into the news.
It will be recalled that in 2012, Dailymail reported that topless virgins were paraded in front of the Swazi King, to celebrate chastity and unity.
As part of Swazi custom and norms, that time of the year has come, when the King chooses his bride and again, he has reportedly tested girls’ virginity before choosing a wife for himself.
The Reed Dance ceremony, known as Umhlanga reveals thousands of Swaziland’s ‘prettiest virgins’ dancing topless for King Mswati III, every August, hoping to be his next wife.
As the story goes, underage girls are being publicly checked to ascertain that their virginity was still intact.
MAN DIES LISTENING TO MUSIC.
Man with earphones killed by train in Lagos
An unidentified young man with earphone on, was on Wednesday killed by a passenger train at Cappa area of Oshodi, Lagos.
A Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) who was inside the train reports that the man was standing on the rail track oblivious of the fast approaching train.
The NAN correspondent reports that the Ogun-Lagos-bound mass transit train was leaving its Oshodi station to Mushin when the accident occurred.
The train had as usual, sounded its horn repeatedly as it was approaching the railway crossing at Ilupeju Bye-pass for clearance of its track.
According to an eyewitness, the man who had his earphone on was apparently carried away with either the call he was receiving or the music he was listening.
“Obviously the man was not aware of the approaching train even as it blasted its horn, perhaps because of the earphone.
“Before he knew it, he was already hit by the train and was not given any chance to escape.
“Immediately he was hit, the body was mangled as the train dragged it underneath,” the eyewitness said.
NAN reports that people standing by the rail track that saw the incident raised their hands over their heads in a show of pity for the deceased.
“The man has suddenly and unwittingly lost his life to sheer carelessness,” a passenger said.
NAN reports that it was not the first time a moving train would crush to death people standing on the rail track because of having their earphones on.
In 2006, a lady was killed at Shogunle GRA railway crossing, while another one was killed in 2007 at Oshodi.
NAN
http://dailypost.ng/2015/04/08/man-with-earphones-killed-by-train-in-lagos/
An unidentified young man with earphone on, was on Wednesday killed by a passenger train at Cappa area of Oshodi, Lagos.
A Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) who was inside the train reports that the man was standing on the rail track oblivious of the fast approaching train.
The NAN correspondent reports that the Ogun-Lagos-bound mass transit train was leaving its Oshodi station to Mushin when the accident occurred.
The train had as usual, sounded its horn repeatedly as it was approaching the railway crossing at Ilupeju Bye-pass for clearance of its track.
According to an eyewitness, the man who had his earphone on was apparently carried away with either the call he was receiving or the music he was listening.
“Obviously the man was not aware of the approaching train even as it blasted its horn, perhaps because of the earphone.
“Before he knew it, he was already hit by the train and was not given any chance to escape.
“Immediately he was hit, the body was mangled as the train dragged it underneath,” the eyewitness said.
NAN reports that people standing by the rail track that saw the incident raised their hands over their heads in a show of pity for the deceased.
“The man has suddenly and unwittingly lost his life to sheer carelessness,” a passenger said.
NAN reports that it was not the first time a moving train would crush to death people standing on the rail track because of having their earphones on.
In 2006, a lady was killed at Shogunle GRA railway crossing, while another one was killed in 2007 at Oshodi.
NAN
http://dailypost.ng/2015/04/08/man-with-earphones-killed-by-train-in-lagos/
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