ASUU Strike: Universities Open Registers For Lecturers

Several universities have opened registers to be signed by the lecturers as the deadline given by the Federal Government to the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, to call off the six month-old strike or be sacked expires tomorrow. At the University of Ibadan, ASUU members resolved not to sign any register as directed by the government. The lecturers took the decision during a congress held in the institution yesterday. This came as all lecture rooms in various faculties were under lock and key. The campus was a ghost of itself as few people were seen moving around. Apart from the fact that students feel the government’s order would not help the face-off, the advice given by the academic union to parents that they should not expose their wards to danger may have been adhered to by most parents. Speaking with newsmen, the chairman, UI chapter of ASUU, Dr Olusegun Ajiboye said the union remained on course at ensuring that government funds public universities. Though, he stated that the union respects the office of Mr President, he alleged that Dr. Doyin Okupe and others in his government were trying to ridicule the office of the President through their unguarded utterances against the union. There were also no signs of resumption at the University of Benin in the university yesterday, as both the Ekenwa and Ugbowo campuses were empty despite the announcement by the university authorities that academic activities would resume. Students of the university said they would not resume until the remains of Professor Festus Iyayi who they held in high esteem is buried. ASUU chairman, UNIBEN chapter, Dr. Tony Monye when contacted said they were busy preparing for the burial of Professor Festus Iyayi even as he added that ASUU members would not resume duties. At the University of Jos, the governing council directed heads of departments to open attendance registers for academic staff. Registrar of the university, Danjuma Jilly- Dandam in a statement yesterday, also requested departments to publish lecture time tables by today (Tuesday) to signal the resumption of academic activities and keep daily compliance registers for academic staff that report for work. However, despite the directive, lecturers were not visible at both the Bauchi Road and Naraguta campuses of the institution as only the non- academic staff members were seen in their offices. Students are also yet to return to school as hostels remained largely desolate when Vanguard visited, yesterday. However, students and lecturers of the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) have returned to school following a directive by the school authorities. The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, correspondent who monitored the situation at the Enugu and Agbani campuses of the university reports that the students were in their various departments exchanging pleasantries and checking the notice boards. At the faculties of engineering and management sciences in the Enugu campus, students in their numbers were copying the second semester examination timetables pasted on the notice boards. The lecturers, on the other hand, held a meeting with the governing council of the university at the Agbani campus on the resumption of work. Addressing the lecturers, chairman of the council, Chief Chilo Offiah, appealed to them to sheathe their swords and return to classes in the interest of the students. Offiah thanked the lecturers for attending the meeting and assured them that the council would do all it could to ensure the improvement of their welfare. The executive members of the ESUT branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), which called the strike, did not attend the meeting. At the Enugu campus of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, the story was different, as only a few students and lecturers were on campus. NAN reports that the few lecturers were in their various offices discussing or reading while the non-academic staff members were busy working. Some of the lecturers who spoke on conditions of anonymity said they were waiting for directives from both the school authorities and the ASUU branch. “We heard on the radio that we should resume classes but we have not received any circular to that effect,” some of them said. Only the medical students who did not join the strike were fully on campus. At the Ondo state-owned Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko (AAUA), lectures resumed, yesterday, but few lecturers and students were seen in the lecture theaters. Lectures however held in the Department of History and the Faculty of Education as time table for the session has been released by the university authority. In a reminder, by the Registrar, Mr. Bamidele Olotu, the university confirmed the resumption of lectures. Olotu said in a statement that: “In line with an earlier circular to all students on resumption for the second semester 2012/2013 academic session, all students of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko in particular, their parents and the public in general are hereby informed that commencement of lectures on Monday, December 2, 2013, remains sacrosanct as announced. It added that “registration had indeed commenced in accordance with the university approved academic calendar.” Some of the academic staff who spoke with the Information Unit of the university but would not want their names in print confirmed that they had resumed for work and that they attended the faculty board meetings held on Monday and Tuesday last week. Some of the students who also spoke said they were happy about the development. They urged ASUU to cooperate with the Management and expressed optimism that lectures would begin in full swing as announced.

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ASUU Breaking: Federal University of Technology Owerri Sacks Entire Teaching Staff

The Senate of the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO) has sacked all academic staff on its payroll with immediate effect on December 2, 2013, Monday, for failure to return to classrooms. This has been confirmed by Mr. Chike Ezenwa, the Public Relations Officers (PRO) of the institution, in a telephone conversation with the Nigerian Tribune in Owerri. According to him, the senate of the university had declared all the positions of academic staff in the institution, adding that they would be advertised starting from December 2, 2013, Monday. The PRO further explained that the senate council had already compiled the list of vacant positions in the school, adding that who were willing to resume would be adequately protected. As concerns resuming the teaching process, the following press release was issued at FUTO: The Senate of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri at its 375th Extraordinary meeting held on Monday, December 2, 2013 considered the directive of the Federal Government on resumption of duty by Academic Staff in Federal Universities and decided that academic activities in the University should resume immediately for the conclusion of the 2012/2013 Rain Semester. Consequently all students of the University are required to return to campus between Monday December 2, and Friday December 8, 2013 while Rain Semester Examinations commence on Monday December 9, 2013 and end on Saturday December 21, 2013. Accordingly, all academic staff are required to proceed immediately to their respective Departments to sign in for resumption of duty not later than Wednesday December 4, 2013. Signed: Orje Ishegh-Nor Registrar/Secretary to the Senate However, the FUTO branch of ASUU said any attempt to break their ranks would be strongly resisted by their members. The Monday's communiqué urged members to ignore the resumptionnotice by FUTO management, adding that the branch would not engage in any academic activities until the Federal Government committed itself to implementing the ASUU-FGN agreement. Naij

Edo Widow: Oshiomhole employs widow, gives her N2m

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has offered employment to the widow, Mrs Joy Ifije, whom he upbraided, penultimate week. N2 million naira will also be given to Mrs Ifije whose goods were seized by men of the State War Against Indiscipline for obstructing the Mission road in the state capital . This was contained in a statement signed Monday by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Peter Okhiria. The statement read: “The Governor who announced the job offer to the woman, in addition to a N2 million grant for her to get a shop and trade, said during a breakfast meeting with her at the Government House, yesterday, that her job would be to join State’s War Against Indiscipline in the campaign against street trading and to keep the state clean.” The Governor who again apologised to the widow said “when you put your things on the road a vehicle can run into you and they have killed some people like that and that was why I said if you are a widow do you want more people to be widowed? But when I said go and die, that one was said in a fit of anger. And I am really sorry”, he said. “I want you to join us. We would employ you and pay you salary. You would help us to campaign to other women not to trade on road sides. We should not use poverty as a yardstick. We would also talk to taxi and bus drivers not to block roads when carrying passengers”, Oshiomhole said. “You will assist me to talk to women and traders not to litter the roads and sidewalks so that people walking and driving can have free road. If they want to park they can park properly so as not to disturb others.” The Governor said government was trying to change Benin City from its old status adding “as you can see Benin is becoming a modern city. So you join us now and every month you begin to get salary so that you can look after your children”. http://thenationonlineng.net/new/ oshiomhole-employs-widow-gives-n2m/ “For your child who is preparing to enter into the university, my daughters and myself have agreed to support him. If he does well as we pray he does, he would assist the family. Maybe this is the way God wants it. That is why I asked them to look for you so that I can personally offer my apology, but also to support you, so that God helping you, you can overcome the pain of widowhood”, he said. “As a single mother I want to see how I can help you to train your children and God can use any of them to become a leader of our country. Please resist the temptation to do anything that would break the law. The law is the law; it is no respecter of persons. If Government does not enforce the law there would be confusion”, he remarked. The Governor who gave the woman a cash gift of N2 million said “in addition to working with the War Against Indiscipline, I am also giving you the sum of two million naira so that you can hire a shop, trade inside the shop and not roadside and I pray that God will bless your decision on how you utilize the money. This money is not for you to share or distribute but to help you as a working capital”. Responding, the widow, Mrs Joy Ifijeh thanked the Governor for the gesture and promised that she would be part of the fight to keep the City clean. She apologized to the Governor for blocking the road with her wares, saying she recognized that what she did was wrong but she did not know that the Governor was on inspection that day.

Catholics Will Go To Hell – Chris Okotie

In what will be very shocking to some, and taken with a pinch of salt by others who has lost respect for the pastor who has married and divorced twice despite how much God hates divorce, according to the bible, Pastor Chris Okotie has said all Catholics in the world will go to hell. The pastor of the Household of God Church gave his reason for condemning Catholics to hell as ‘because they worship Satan and are led by an Anti-Christ Pope who is a friend to the devil’. His assertion left his congregation stunned, Sunday, according to PM News. Okotie said the Catholic Church was “a counterfeit church set up by Satan” and that Catholics “bow to idols and crucify Jesus every Sunday when they eat bread claiming they are eating Jesus’ body.” “They are not Christians and have never been,” Okotie told a bewildered congregation. “They don’t know Jesus. They believe that when they eat bread on Sundays, they are eating the body of Jesus. It’s ritual,” Okotie said. He also alleged that Pope Francis is an Anti-Christ who does the job of the devil and that time is fast approaching when the Catholic church will pledge allegiance to Satan. “The pope is an Anti-Christ and the Catholic church will soon declare for Satan. This is the end of times,” Okotie erupted. He advised members of his church to come to the rescue of Catholics and evangelise them. This, he said, was not out of disrespect but out of respect for the word of God. He said those who know the truth should bring it to those who do not know it in the Catholic Church. Okotie said one of the Catholic most revered Popes, Pope John Paul 11, surrendered the Catholic Church to Mary, the earthly mother of Jesus Christ, instead of Jesus himself. He said even the current Pope Francis has also done same. He said Catholics are not Christians and do not worship the same Christ that he preaches in his church, at least the one spoken about in the Bible. Okotie admitted he did not write the Bible, but it was clear to him that those in the Catholic church were lost and were heading to hell fire. “They don’t believe in heaven. They believe in purgatory, the purgatory that they invented,” Okotie said. “That church, the Catholic church has been there for Satan and at the right time, they will declare for Satan,” Okotie said. The controversial pastor who once said God told him he would lead Nigeria, said a beauty pageant will take place in his church next Sunday to select the most beautiful woman in his church. This is not the first time Okotie is condemning a church or people to hell, he once said famous preacher and philanthropist, Prophet T.B. Joshua is the son of the devil and his followers will go straight to hell.

Don’t send students back to campuses, ASUU begs Parents

The Presidency, on its part accused ASUU leaders of treachery and warned the university lecturers not to dare the resolve of government to carry out its threat to sack them if they failed to resume. The Senate President, David Mark has also cautioned the Federal Government over the threat to sack the striking lecturers just as the All Progressives Congress (APC) slammed the government for issuing the threat. Supervising Minister for Education, Mr Nyesom Wike last Thursday gave the lecturers a seven-day ultimatum to resume from their six-month strike or risk being sacked. President Goodluck Jonathan, however, clarified, weekend, in Bayelsa that the Federal Government did not give the ultimatum, stating that it was given by the Committee of Vice Chancellors. However, the Secretary-General of the Committee of Vice Chancellors, Professor Mike Faborede denied the claim that his committee gave the ultimatum. He passed the buck to the Committee of Pro- Chancellors. ASUU meantime said no academic activities would resume until the Federal Government perfects and implements resolutions reached with the union. The order given by the Federal Government that universities across the country should resume seems not to have any impact in the University of Ibadan. A visit to the campus, yesterday, showed that the order had been ignored by students as they did not turn up for resumption. A student, Bolade who did not want his surname in print said the order was disregarded because they knew the approach of the Federal Government would only aggravate the face-off. All the halls of residence — Kuti Hall, Sultan Bello, Independence, Nnamdi Azikwe, Queen Elizabeth and Idia Halls in the institution were still deserted. Though, the halls were opened, only some non academic staff and few students who did not leave the campus at all were seen. Describing the threat by Federal Government as height of insensitivity, the academic union asked its members not to sign any register but to remain calm and stay resolute. On denial by President Goodluck Jonathan that he never issued any ultimatum to the union, the National President of ASUU, Dr. Nasir Fagge and University of Ibadan chapter of the Union, ASUU said it was laughable. Fagge said: “Comrades, can you see the unfolding drama? Now, Jonathan says they didn’t give ultimatum; that the Vice Chancellors did and Wike became their trumpet; But NUC’s ultimatum is by Federal Government to us to resume or get sacked. And Wike’s press address says “FG has directed, “NOT”VCs have directed”Be calm, stay resolute. By God, we are on course” Also speaking in the same vein, UI ASUU chairman, Dr. Segun Ajiboye asked parents not to risk the precious lives of “our students by releasing them, saying no lecturer will teach them. “Don’t risk the lives of your children, keep your children at home because ASUU will not teach. Soldiers and the police deployed by the Federal Government will not teach. Mr Wike can come and teach in university. It is a huge joke to sack professors. Our strike must not be in vain. Our students must see the results. It is funny; we thought we are in a democracy. I assure Nigerians that we know what the law says about the strike. Our job is statute backed. We are not threatened. We do not trust the government. The record of the government is clear. This government is dishonouring agreements. Our members are resolved to pursue this to a logical conclusion” UI ASUU also sent a text message to its staff reads: “Dear members, stay calm and remain resolute. There is nothing wrong in asking govt to do what it says it will do immediately. ASUU is not making any new demands as the Minister is propagating. Government is only repeating a ‘one act play’ scripted by the IBB dictatorship in early 90s. It didn’t work then, and, it won’t work now.!all branches are intact. We cannot be intimidated!!united we bargain, divided we beg!!!Aluta Continua.” Don’t dare Govt, Presidency warns Meanwhile, the Presidency yesterday accused the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU of treachery, just as it warned the university lecturers not to dare the resolve of government to carry out its threat to sack them if they failed to resume. According to the Presidency, ASUU leaders have gone contrary to the desire of majority of their chapters who have voted and agreed to end the strike because of the personal intervention of President Goodluck Jonathan, even as it boasted that it was joking with the threat of sacking the lecturers. Addressing Journalists yesterday in Abuja, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe said that ASUU leadership came into negotiation with a mindset that betrayed what he termed, lack of understanding that the nation and the government were a continuum. Asked whether the Federal Government can fill the vacancies if the lecturers were indeed sacked, he retorted: “Do you think the government is joking?” Okupe who noted that the 13-hour meeting Jonathan held with ASUU ended with a definite agreement and resolutions acceptable to the ASUU leadership, however stressed that the leadership of ASUU was expected to consult with its members nationwide and report back to government within one week. “The ASUU leadership rather than take its responsibility seriously, wasted seven days before scheduling a meeting. When the meeting eventually held the leadership decided to thwart and undemocratically override the expressed will of majority of its chapters to call off the strike. This action is contrary to established practice and procedure of any democratic labour institution, which ASUU is expected to be.” The Secretary-Generl of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors in a text message to Vanguard, last night, said: “The Committee of Pro-Chancellors (CPC), issued the ultimatum, not the Committee of Vice- Chancellors (CVC).” Mark cautions FG over threat Senate President, David Mark has also cautioned the federal government on the use of threat to solve the lingering crisis with ASUU. The Senate President for the umpteenth time also pleaded with ASUU to reconsider their position and return to classes to salvage the already battered education sector from further deterioration. Senator Mark who advised the Federal Government not to use the sledgehammer on ASUU on account of the five months strike when he commissioned a lecture theatre for the School of management sciences at the Kano state polytechnic donated by Senator Kabiru Gaya, pleaded with the teachers to resume classes while negations continue. He said, “We have reached a situation where hardline positions would worsen the situation. My plea to ASUU is to resume classes while negotiation continues. The strike has done enough damage to our universities. They have also made their point and I think we should reason together and end this matter. “Nobody, including the university teachers themselves can be said to be enjoying this crisis. It is a huge cost on government, parents, the management, staff and students of the universities.

Jose mourinho: we suprised Saints. And Essien is my man

The Blues boss extended his unbeaten Premier League home record to 67 games as his side recovered from conceding a goal after just 13 seconds to win 3-1 at Stamford Bridge. Jay Rodriguez gave Saints the early advantage after a bad mistake by Michael Essien and having reached half-time with their clean sheet intact, the visitors were expected to frustrate their hosts still further. But Gary Cahill brought the scoreline level on 55 minutes and after Saints goalkeeper Artur Boruc had to go off injured, there were further goals for John Terry and Demba Ba as Chelsea moved back to within four points of leaders Arsenal. Mourinho says he was confident his players could turn the game around. "It was the worst possible start but I think we had the quality to keep balanced and wait for the second half to risk and to try to score a goal," he told Sky Sports. "We did not lose our balance. We kept calm, even when Oscar had to come out (just before half-time). I played Lampard, not Demba. "We knew that in the second half we could change things and I think the second-half performance was very good. We showed emotion and heart, and quality too. "I think we gave Southampton something in the second half they were not expecting and they couldn't cope with it." When asked what he said to his players at half-time, Mourinho responded: "I told them it's easy to play when you're winning, but now we have to show character. "But we knew what to do. Mata was like a fake winger, playing inside all the time - and that gave them problems. Ramires and Lampard pressed them high, and it was a deserved result." In his post-match press conference, Mourinho attempted to play down Chelsea's title ambitions, merely suggesting it was important his team were in contention after being out of it at this stage of the season in recent campaigns. "They must feel the responsibility to play for Chelsea," Mourinho added. "Feeling that Chelsea cannot be in December - like it happened in a few seasons - completely out of the title race. "I can't establish targets. I can't say 'now I want to win five consecutive matches, now I want to be top of the league'. "One of the things these boys have to learn is to cope with the responsibility of being there. We cannot be 15 points behind by December, we have to be there." Next Chelsea face Sunderland, Stoke and Crystal Palace in three Premier League games before the December 23 contest at Arsenal. Mourinho is not ready to look ahead to the trip to the Emirates Stadium. "Now we have two matches away, after that we play Crystal Palace at home," he added. "We are playing against three teams, they need points, because of the position they have, so we are going to have very difficult matches." Essien, on his first Premier League start since May 2012, gave away the ball for Rodriguez's goal and was off the pace in a first half where he was booked for diving. Mourinho replaced the Ghana midfielder at half-time, insisting he did so only to safeguard against a potential dismissal. "Everybody makes a mistake," Mourinho added. "Strikers they miss goals, goalkeepers they make mistakes, midfield players, they lose balls, especially when they try to play. And he tried to play. It was a back pass and they scored the goal. "He had a very normal performance. He played a part in the stability the team had in the first half, but one yellow card for 45 minutes is a long time. "I had to take one off and it was a very normal decision. Essien is Essien, he's my man, he's a Chelsea man and no problem, because other guys they make mistakes."

The Blues boss extended his unbeaten Premier League home record to 67 games as his side recovered from conceding a goal after just 13 seconds to win 3-1 at Stamford Bridge. Jay Rodriguez gave Saints the early advantage after a bad mistake by Michael Essien and having reached half-time with their clean sheet intact, the visitors were expected to frustrate their hosts still further. But Gary Cahill brought the scoreline level on 55 minutes and after Saints goalkeeper Artur Boruc had to go off injured, there were further goals for John Terry and Demba Ba as Chelsea moved back to within four points of leaders Arsenal. Mourinho says he was confident his players could turn the game around. "It was the worst possible start but I think we had the quality to keep balanced and wait for the second half to risk and to try to score a goal," he told Sky Sports. "We did not lose our balance. We kept calm, even when Oscar had to come out (just before half-time). I played Lampard, not Demba. "We knew that in the second half we could change things and I think the second-half performance was very good. We showed emotion and heart, and quality too. "I think we gave Southampton something in the second half they were not expecting and they couldn't cope with it." When asked what he said to his players at half-time, Mourinho responded: "I told them it's easy to play when you're winning, but now we have to show character. "But we knew what to do. Mata was like a fake winger, playing inside all the time - and that gave them problems. Ramires and Lampard pressed them high, and it was a deserved result." In his post-match press conference, Mourinho attempted to play down Chelsea's title ambitions, merely suggesting it was important his team were in contention after being out of it at this stage of the season in recent campaigns. "They must feel the responsibility to play for Chelsea," Mourinho added. "Feeling that Chelsea cannot be in December - like it happened in a few seasons - completely out of the title race. "I can't establish targets. I can't say 'now I want to win five consecutive matches, now I want to be top of the league'. "One of the things these boys have to learn is to cope with the responsibility of being there. We cannot be 15 points behind by December, we have to be there." Next Chelsea face Sunderland, Stoke and Crystal Palace in three Premier League games before the December 23 contest at Arsenal. Mourinho is not ready to look ahead to the trip to the Emirates Stadium. "Now we have two matches away, after that we play Crystal Palace at home," he added. "We are playing against three teams, they need points, because of the position they have, so we are going to have very difficult matches." Essien, on his first Premier League start since May 2012, gave away the ball for Rodriguez's goal and was off the pace in a first half where he was booked for diving. Mourinho replaced the Ghana midfielder at half-time, insisting he did so only to safeguard against a potential dismissal. "Everybody makes a mistake," Mourinho added. "Strikers they miss goals, goalkeepers they make mistakes, midfield players, they lose balls, especially when they try to play. And he tried to play. It was a back pass and they scored the goal. "He had a very normal performance. He played a part in the stability the team had in the first half, but one yellow card for 45 minutes is a long time. "I had to take one off and it was a very normal decision. Essien is Essien, he's my man, he's a Chelsea man and no problem, because other guys they make mistakes."

Paul Walker, Fast & Furious Star, Dies In A Car Crash

Paul Walker has died at the age of 40. The actor -- best known for his work in the Fast and the Furious franchise -- died suddenly after a single-car accident and explosion in Southern California, TMZ reports. The movie star died Saturday afternoon. According to the site, Walker reportedly was in a Porsche when the unidentified driver lost control and slammed the vehicle into a tree. The car burst into flames at the scene. Another person was also killed at the time. A native of Glendale, Calif., Walker first broke out in Hollywood in the late 90s films Pleasantville and Varsity Blues. He then went on to appear in She's All That, The Skulls, and first joined the Fast and the Furious franchise in 2001. The actor reprised his role as Brian O'Conner in Fast & Furious 6 in 2013. Fast & Furious 7 was announced for a 2014 debut. While promoting his latest film Hours earlier this month, Walker revealed that his 15-year-old daughter, Meadow, recently moved to live with him last year after living with her mother in Hawaii. Walker welcomed Meadow with then- girlfriend Rebecca in November 1998.

One of the biggest Music Awards in Africa, the ChannelO Awards just ended and our Nigerian artistes sure represented us in the most fab way. Our superstar twins PSquare, in addition to winning the 'Most Gifted African West' Award got the special recognition award and delivered a powerful, mind-blowing performance. Wizkid got to look for Caro during his performance, and also won the 'Video of the year' award with his video for “Azonto”. BankyW also did us proud - he won the 'Most Gifted R&B Video' award. Congratulations to all the winners for the ChannelO 2013 Music Video Awards, they were deserving and big ups to ChannelO for hosting a fantastic show. Here's the full list of winners. Most Gifted Video of The Year went to: @wizkidayo Most Gifted Male Video went to: @ZeusGC feat Tumi & @akaworldwide Most Gifted Female Video went to: Zonke Most Gifted New Comer Video went to: Khaya Mthethwa Most Gifted Duo/Group Video went to: Zonefam Most Gifted Afro Pop went to: The Soil feat Zakwe Most Gifted R&B Video went to: @BankyW. Most Gifted Dance Video went to: Mafikizolo Most Gifted Hip Hop Video went to: @akaworldwide Most Gifted African South Video went to: Oskido Most Gifted Ragga/ Dancehall went to P-Unit Most Gifted African West went to: P Square! Most Gifted African East Video went to: P Unit! Most Gifted Kwaito Music Video went to Professor!