Please Return to classroom, FG begs ASUU

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ABUJA—The Federal Government, yesterday, begged the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, to return to classrooms, as the union insisted that the strike would continue unless agreements between it and government were implemented. The strike which began last week, entered its second week yesterday, even as the union and Education Ministry officials appear before the National Assembly today.

Minister of Education, Professor Ruqquayat Rufa’i, who made the appeal, said the union should call off its strike in the interest of students.  Rufa’i said: 

“We are going to meet with ASUU and all those that are concerned at the Senate today. We are going to appear before the Senate and the House Committee on Education and we are pleading with ASUU to go back to classroom and let our children go back to school.”

Speaking to Vanguard, ASUU President, Dr Isa Nasir Fagge Isa, however, said the strike would continue until the Federal Government faithfully implemented agreement in the Memorandum of Understanding, MoU reached between both parties. Strike to contine unless…

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FG’s ultimatum to Dana Airline

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The Federal Government’s recent intervention meant to fast-track the payment of claims to the families left behind by victims of Dana Airline’s June 3, 2012 plane crash in Iju, Lagos, is yet another reminder of the tragic air mishap that claimed the lives of 153 passengers and crew members and many others on ground. More than a year after the fatal incident, however, many of the families of the victims are yet to be compensated.

The Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, indicated last week that the airline had paid up to 60 percent of the claims, but that the delay being experienced by Dana Airline’s management in concluding the settlement was due to double claims that needed to be clarified. She said the airline had up to six months (between now and December this year) to complete the payment of compensation to all affected families or face sanctions. The aviation ministry had at the first anniversary of the tragic air mishap and unveiling of the memorial cenotaph built to immortalise the dead in Lagos early last month, announced that the FG was working with the airline’s management to ensure that all compensation disagreements were amicably resolved.

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FG recovers £22.5m stolen assets abroad – Adoke

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Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mr Mohammed Adoke, said on Thursday that his ministry had recovered more than twenty million pounds allegedly stolen from Nigeria’s coffers.

Adoke, who said this at the 2013 Ministerial Platform in Abuja, noted that the money was recovered from one Raj Arjandes Bhojwani, an Indian national and associate of late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha.

He said that the assets were recovered in 2011, adding that the ministry was able to recover and repatriate the money following its negotiations with the Island of Jersey.

“During the period under review, the ministry intensified its efforts to trace and repatriate Nigeria’s stolen assets abroad.  “In this connection, we have maintained effective liaison and communication with targeted jurisdictions to keep pace with assets recovery proceedings in those jurisdictions.

“In 2011, our close liaison and negotiation with the Island of Jersey led to the recovery and repatriation of the sum of £22.5 million confiscated by the Royal Court of Jersey from Raj Arjandes Bhojwani, an Indian national and associate of General Sani Abacha on account of his money laundering transactions from Nigeria.“

£3,000 visa bond: FG summons British High Commissioner

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A diplomatic row  seems to be  brewing between Nigeria and the United Kingdom following a  proposed policy by the  British Government  requiring  Nigerian travellers to the UK to deposit £3,000 as bond in case they overstay  their visa limits.

On Monday,  the Federal Government  summoned the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr. Andrew Pocock, over the development  while the House of Representatives which flayed  the policy, argued that it could have negative impact on the relationship between  the two countries.

Nigeria, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Ghana, Pakistan and India are  listed by the UK  as  countries whose citizens are to deposit the £3,000 under  the  proposed  policy that will take off in November.

A Home Office official said the six countries highlighted were those with “the most significant risk of abuse.”

About 2.2million people are granted visas to enter Britain every year.

Nigeria: FG to Use Space Technology to Enhance National Development - Jonathan

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Abuja — The Federal Government is rolling out plans to use space technology to enhance national security, communication, industrialisation and sustained socio-economic development.

President Goodluck Jonathan made this known on Tuesday when he inaugurated a 13-member National Space Council (NSC) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He said that given the critical place of space technology in national security, communication, industrialisation and sustained socio-economic development, the need to properly structure and drive the national space programme could not be over-emphasised.

"This informs why our administration has constituted this council with high calibre membership. "We must evolve clear cut initiatives that will not only fast-track our industrialisation process, but one that will also see us, within the shortest possible period, to be able to build our own motor vehicles, our own boats and our own aircraft.

Hezbollah Terrorism: 3 Lebanese sue FG for N50bn

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Three Lebanese and the Nigerian coowner of Amigo Supermarket, who were arrested for keeping an illegal armoury and suspected links with a Hezbollah terror cell in Kano last week, have sued the Federal Government over alleged illegal detention, demanding N50bn damages.

The plaintiffs – Abdalah Tahini, Talal Rouda and Khosai Nouridine – in the action brought before the Federal High Cour sitting in Abuja are also seeking the court’s order stopping the Federal Government from deporting them.

They are contending that if they must be deported, the legal procedure must be followed

Their Nigerian associate, Mustapha Fawaz, who is also in court is joining the Lebanese to request for a separate order directing the Federal Government to unseal their business premises in Abuja.

Comment Of The Day: NIGERIA FACES SECOND COLONIZATION - MUST READ

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Fellow Nigerians, the recent FG's effort at classifying Boko Haram as a terror organisation, to my knowledge is both cosmetic and a way to subvert to sovereignty of this Country. Our Sovereignty will be subverted because, in FG's desperation to give Boko Haram international colouration, we are inviting both US and Israeli intervention into Nigeria. This is second colonialism. We will become another Afghanistan, Pakistan and another Iraq, where the US will rule us via proxy.

Drone strikes will be common place and civilian casualties will be treated same way as its done in Afghanistan.
Boko Haram is a domestic issue, as a result of mis-governance, government corruption  poverty, illiteracy, desertification, lack of border control and government's cluelessness. 

Insecurity is everywhere in the 36 states of the country but they appear in different forms. We should go to root-cause analysis and not a knee-jerk approach.
Wilcox P

FG Stops Rich Senator Sponsoring Boko Haram's From Escaping Justice

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The Federal Government yesterday requested the Abuja division of the Court of Appeal to reject an application by Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume over alleged involvement in terrorism. Ndume is seeking an order of the Appeal Court to stay his trial before a Federal High Court, pending the determination of his appeal challenging his trial for alleged sponsorship of terrorism in the country.

The appellate court consequently ordered parties to file written addresses on the issue and fixed October 2 for adoption of briefs.

The substantive appeal by Ndume challenging the ruling of the Federal High Court to the effect that he had a case to answer would be argued after determination of the application for stay.

Private jets used to smuggle cash, fugitives – FG

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The Federal Government on Sunday said illegal consignments and cash in local and foreign currencies were being smuggled on daily basis in and out of the country aboard private jets.

 

It also said some persons that securities agencies had declared wanted were being airlifted out of the country aboard private and chartered jets.

 

As a result, it insisted that pilots flying such jets must declare the passenger manifest before being allowed to take off.

 

Community Demands Benefit From FG For Hosting Ex-militants

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The indigenes of Ogada 2 Community in Obubura Local Government Area of Cross River State have demanded that the Federal Government make efforts to ensure their social and economic development as promised by the Amnesty Committee.The people of the community which hosted the Federal Government’s Post Amnesty Programme, used to execute the rehabilitation programme of over 2,000 ex-militants from the Oil rich, Niger Delta region. Over a year after the conclusion of the Programme, at the NYSC Camp in Obubura, the indigenes through one of their Chiefs have stated that they will not allow the programme to hold again, except they are duly compensated.

Opposition misinforming Nigerians on Jonathan’s performance – FG

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The Federal Government has accused opposition parties  of  deliberately misinforming Nigerians  about  the performance of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim, who  made the allegation  on Tuesday, however said Jonathan was determined to pursue and actualise his administration’s transformation agenda   in spite of the tendency of the opposition to feed the public  with   wrong information.

Anyim  said this in an address he sent to the opening of a one-day workshop on Effective Information Management and Public Communication as a Key Component of the Transformation Agenda.

FG Orders Massive Retrenchment Of PHCN Workers; 20,000 To Be Sacked

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Thousands of workers of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, may lose their jobs as the Federal Government has ordered the retrenchment of no fewer than 20,000 ahead of takeover by successful bidders of its assets.

Bureau for Public Enterprises, BPE, issued the directive to the Chief Executive Officers, CEOs, of the 18 successor companies to PHCN at a meeting in Abuja, to compile names and drastically reduce the 50,000 strong workforce before the new investors take over, Vanguard reports, adding that the new investors demanded that the workforce must be pruned before government hands off.

Nigeria: FG Declares May 1 Holiday

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The Federal Government has declared Wednesday, May 1, as public holiday to commemorate Workers' Day.

The Minister of Interior, Mr. Abba Moro, made the announcement yesterday in a statement in Abuja.

The statement, which was signed by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mrs. Anesthesia Nwoebia, also congratulated Nigerians for their resilience and commitment in the face of the challenges of daily living.

Moro urged Nigerian workers to sustain their support for the Goodluck Jonathan administration's efforts to lead the country on the right path to the next level.

The minister also wished all Nigerian workers a joyous and fruitful celebration.

NAN

FG grounds Governor Amaechi's private plane over expired permit

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The Federal Government yesterday Saturday April 27th grounded a Bombardier BD700, Global Express with tag no N565 RS owned by the Rivers State government.

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, (NCAA) said the plane, which is Governor Rotimi Amaechi's private plane, has been operating illegally as it's clearance to operate expired since April 2, 2013. 

The Director of airworthiness standards of the NCAA, Engineer Benedict Adeyileka, explained:

FG Plans To Create 5m Jobs By 2015 – Aganga

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Dr Olusegun Aganga, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, on Thursday said that the Federal Government was working to create at least five million jobs by 2015. Aganga, who stated this in Ibadan at the opening of the 6th National Council on Industry, Trade and Investment (NCITI-06), said it would be achieved with industrialisation of the country.

According to him, the economic transformation of the country requires the support and contributions of every Nigerian.The Minister said the nation had in recent times became the number one investment destination in Africa, saying the country had grown by seven per cent in the last 14 years.

Youths Urge FG To Forget Amnesty For Boko Haram

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Barely 24 hours after President Goodluck inaugurated a 25-man committee to work towards disarming members of the Boko Haram sect and granting them amnesty, thousands of unemployed youths have asked the Federal Government to jettison the idea or risk their wrath.

The youths, who converged in Abuja, yesterday, described the attempt by the government to dialogue and settle violent groups in the country as a step in the wrong direction capable of truncating the fragile peace in the country.Although the angry youths drawn from the 774 local government areas of the country, did not say what the form of their action would be, their leader who gave his name as Okey Felix Nwachukwu, warned that they would take steps to compel the government to address their plight.

FG hires SAN to prosecute Leadership reporters

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The Federal Government has hired an Abuja-based member of the inner bar, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, as private lawyer to prosecute the Group News Editor, Mr. Tony Amokeodo and Political Correspondent, Mr. Chibuzor Ukaibe, of Leadership newspapers, over allegation of forging a document containing a presidential directive.

The journalists are also accused of fraudulent publication of a bromide of the controversial document, inciting members of the public against the government to dislocate the nation’s peace and forgery of the seal, signet or sign manual purported to be the signature of President Jonathan Goodluck.

But, the government which concealed a number of crucial documents containing details of the forgery allegation against the journalists, however, failed yesterday to arraign them as they insisted on full disclosure of the entire case against them before they would know the type of plea to enter.

FG seeks $3.4bn foreign loan for power projects …says Nigerian banks charge high interest rates

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The Federal Government is looking beyond Nigerian banks to raise $3.4bn needed to fund power projects in the country because of high interest rates being charged on loans by local banks.

The Chairman, Presidential Task Force on Power, Mr. Beks Dagogo-Jack, said Nigerian banks had not done enough in terms of understanding how the ongoing reforms in the power sector worked.

He spoke with journalists on the sidelines of the Presidential Power Reform Transaction signing ceremony in Abuja on Monday.

FG to release white paper on NECO – Wike

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Federal Government will soon release the white paper on the Steve Oransaye-led Presidential Committee on the Rationalisation and Restructuring of Federal Government parastatals, commissions and agencies.

The Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike, who said this in Abuja, added that this would clear the speculations on the recommendation to scrap the National Examinations Council.

Wike, who spoke with reporters after monitoring the 2013 national common entrance examination at Junior Secondary School, Wuse-Abuja, said agitations over the report were unnecessary as government would consider an alternative measure, if NECO eventually get scrapped.

Amnesty: Boko Haram Gives FG Conditions

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A leader of the Boko Haram sect, Muhammad Marwan, has said that if the Federal Government would not blackmail or deceive them as was done in the past, they will be  ready to avail themselves for dialogue as was initiated by the Northern Elders Forum.

 Marwan spoke  in an interview with the Hausa Service of the Voice of America (VOA) monitored in Kaduna on Tuesday, adding that  he was speaking on behalf of members of Jamatul Ahlus Sunnati lil Daawati wal Jihad, otherwise known as Boko Haram, on the call by Northern Elders Forum for amnesty for the sect members.