PDP backs opposition senators’ stand over Amaechi's ministerial confirmation

 

 

The National Caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party has expressed support to its senators’ decision to walk-out in protest during the confirmation of Mr. Rotimi Amaechi for ministerial appointment by the Senate on Thursday.

The opposition party said the action of its senators was a collective stand against corruption.

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Olisa Metuh, stated this while briefing journalists on the resolutions of the PDP National Caucus Meeting, held on Thursday night in Abuja.

Metuh said confirmation of Amaechi’s nomination as minister by the Senate was an indication of insincerity of the All Progressives Congress’ fight against corruption.

Reading the resolution of the caucus, he said,”We salute the courage and unity of purpose of our senators, especially as demonstrated in the Senate chamber on Thursday, in their collective stand against impunity and corruption in line with the wishes and aspirations of Nigerians.

“The PDP states that what the APC senators did on Thursday finally put a death nail on their party`s Presidential war against corruption.

“While the APC former governors are being rewarded with ministerial appointments in spite of cases of corrupt charges on them, the PDP former governors are being hounded on a selective war against corruption.”

Metuh called on President Muhammadu Buhari as leader of Nigeria to stand up for justice and equity in the country.

Zimbabwean University staffer suspended over Mugabe's cap mishap

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Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe writes his comments in a visitors' book at the University of Zimbabwe in Harare. Court papers in Harare say a senior staffer at the University of Zimbabwe has been suspended for allegedly procuring academic caps for Mugabe that were too small for his head. 

 

The papers say the longtime leader ended up wearing a cap that was rejected as too small last year while officiating at an Oct. 2 graduation ceremony in his role as chancellor of Zimbabwe's dozen-plus state universities. 

 

For Zimbabwean leader Robert Mugabe, one size does not fit all.

A senior staffer at the University of Zimbabwe has been suspended for allegedly procuring academic caps for Mugabe that were too small for his head, according to court papers filed this week.

A mortarboard that was offered to the longtime leader at a graduation ceremony last year was rejected as too small, the papers said. But Mugabe wore that same mortarboard without any problems at an Oct. 2 ceremony after the cap bought for this year was also rejected as tiny, they said.

Mugabe appeared at the ceremonies in his role as chancellor of Zimbabwe's dozen-plus state universities.

Ngaatendwe Takawira, an assistant registrar at the University of Zimbabwe, has approached the labor court to try to stop disciplinary hearings against her over the cap mishap.

The university alleges that this year's graduation ceremony had to be delayed by 45 minutes while authorities scrounged around for a cap that fit Mugabe.

Takawira, however, has argued that, after efforts to get a replacement failed, the 91-year-old leader wore a previously rejected cap that was just the right size.

"It fit the Chancellor perfectly well," Takawira said in the papers, which were filed by her lawyer, Thabani Mpofu.

"The cap sizes were obtained from the Chancellor's office and also, when he was asked to fit the caps, his office indicated that he was busy," she said.

Takawira, who said she has been in charge of the university's graduation ceremonies since 1996, wants the labor court to stop what she calls "biased" disciplinary hearings against her and allow an independent committee to conduct the proceedings.

The university has said there is no evidence of bias on the disciplinary committee handling Takawira's case.

 

Alabama Teacher of the Year resigns after being told she's unqualified

A one-time Alabama Teacher of the Year says she has resigned after state officials told her she's unqualified to teach in her fifth-grade classroom because of certification issues.

Veteran teacher Ann Marie Corgill said Alabama Department of Education officials recently informed her that she was not qualified despite her well-documented accomplishments. 

She said she grew tired of trying to prove herself, prompting her to submit a letter of resignation, dated Tuesday and obtained by Al.com (http://bit.ly/1MwE2zy ). In the letter, Corgill — the state's 2014-15 Teacher of the Year — cites her confusion.

"After 21 years of teaching in grades 1-6, I have no answers as to why this is a problem now, so instead of paying more fees, taking more tests and proving once again that I am qualified to teach, I am resigning," Corgill wrote.

Corgill has Class A and B certifications to teach primary school through third grade, according to certification records provided by The Alabama Department of Education. Corgill said she started this school year at Birmingham's Oliver Elementary School teaching second grade, but shortly after the semester began, she was moved to a fifth-grade classroom.

In a news release Thursday, the state Department of Education said it "did not determine Ms. Corgill was not qualified. However, when an inquiry was made, the department reported that her current teaching certificate covers primary grades through Grade 3. This does not carry with it a requirement for resignation."

But Corgill — a 2015 National Teacher of the Year finalist — holds National Board Certification to teach children ages 7 to 12, a group that would include most fifth-graders. That certification is valid until November 2020, according to the National Board Certification directory.

Birmingham City Schools spokeswoman Chandra Temple said Thursday that the district is working on the matter and had no further comment.

This story has been corrected to show that Ann Marie Corgill was the 2014-15 Alabama Teacher of the Year and is not the reigning Teacher of the Year.

Source: Associated Press

Another container falls in Victoria Island Today (See photos)

Another container falls in Victoria Island Today (See photos)

 

 

A trailer carrying a container fell today at Bonny Camp, Victoria Island. LASTMA officials are presently there to manage the traffic.

 

 

Amnesty Programme: Ijaw youths express displeasure of programme

A group called Integrity Youth Association of Ijaw Kingdom in Ondo and Bayelsa states, on Thursday, raised the alarm over alleged plan to reduce number of ex-militants benefiting from the Presidential Amnesty Programme.

The group alleged that since Brig. Gen. Paul Borth was appointed as the co-ordinator for the programme, he had only been paying selected beneficiaries the monthly stipend.

A statement signed by Akinyemi Iroju and made available to reporters in Akure, Ondo State capital, ‎ also accused the immediate past coordinator of the programme, Kingsley Kuku, of failure to make proper documentation of the beneficiaries before leaving office.

It noted that its members numbering about 1,000 received the May and June allowances but were shocked when they were not alerted by their banks of July, August and September allowances.

The group confirmed that other ex-militants benefiting from ‎the scheme had been paid for the three months.

The group said a protest letter had already been written to Borth but yet to see any positive response ‎from the government.

The statement said: “We like to make it known to the whole world that there is going to be total uprising again in the Niger-Delta region if the thousands of people benefiting from the scheme are not paid.

“So many people fought the Ijaw struggle on the intellectual front while so many others were also enlisted into the Presidential Amnesty Programme because they are from the affected areas.

“We deem it fit to say that we expect the present coordinator of the Amnesty programme to carry out proper documentation instead of wanting to throw people into the already congested labour market and further make youths go back to acts of criminality.”

Court Of Appeal Dismisses Bukola Saraki's Appeal

  Court Of Appeal Dismisses Bukola Saraki's Appeal

 

 

This morning, The Abuja division of the court of Appeal dismissed the appeal filed by senate president, Bukola Saraki challenging his trial by the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

 

The appeal court dismissed all 5 issues raised by Saraki in the appeal. Two of the three panel of judges ruled that his appeal lacks merit. This implies that the Code of Conduct will still go ahead with Saraki's trial.

Saraki is being tried on a-13 count charge of false asset declaration when he was Kwara state governor. He is expected to appear before the Code of Conduct Tribunal on November 5, 2015.

Do You Know How Important Bananas Are? Then You Must Read This!

Do You Know How Important Bananas Are? Then You Must Read This!

 

 

This is interesting.

Bananas contain three natural sugars – sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.

Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world’s leading athletes. But energy isn’t the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.

DEPRESSION

According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.

ANAEMIA
High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anaemia.

BLOOD PRESSURE
This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit’s ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.

BRAIN POWER 

200 students at a Twickenham school ( England ) were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert

 

CONSTIPATION
High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.

HEARTBURN
Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

MORNING SICKNESS
Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.

MOSQUITO BITES
Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

HANGOVERS

One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.

NERVOUS SYSTEM
Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system..
Overweight and at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and chips. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.

ULCERS
The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in chronic ulcer cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.

TEMPERATURE CONTROL
Many other cultures see bananas as a ‘cooling’ fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand , for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.

So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has FOUR TIMES the protein, TWICE the carbohydrate, THREE TIMES the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around so maybe it’s time to change that well-known phrase to, “A BANANA a day keeps the doctor away!”

BVN Deadline: 26 Million Bank Accounts To Be Frozen

BVN Deadline: 26 Million Bank Accounts To Be Frozen

 

 

Are you still waiting???

 

Barely 24 hours to the deadline for Bank Verification Number, BVN, less than half of the 52 million bank customers have been registered, a development that may have caused discomfort in the banking industry.

Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, had said no extension would be made while non-registered bank customers would be barred from accessing their money or any transaction in their account after tomorrow.

About 26 million bank customers would be affected by the shut-out.

An official of the apex bank told Vanguard yesterday that the registration window would still be opened after tomorrow, but unregistered customers would not be allowed access to their accounts.

The official, who claimed that the exact figures of registered bank customers would not be ready until next week, however lamented that “less than half of total bank customers have been captured as at Monday this week.

 

“Field reports show that there has been increased surge in the number of registrations per day since last week, but it is clear that we may not exceed 50 percent by the deadline.”

Managing Director, Ecobank Nigeria Plc, Jibril Aku, had said last month that bank customers who fail to meet the October 31 deadline to enroll on the BVN network will have their accounts frozen.

 

Aku, who spoke at the end of the 324th meeting of the bankers’ committee in Lagos, said there was no going back on the new deadline set by CBN for customers to obtain their BVN.

 

He said: “There will be no extension of the October 31 deadline. All efforts have been made by the committee, CBN and Nigeria Interbank Settlement System for bank customers to obtain their BVN.

“The customers, who fail to meet the deadline will not be able to operate their accounts until they comply.”

 

 

Wow! NITEL is Back With A- 4G Network

Wow! NITEL is Back With  A- 4G Network

 

 

 

Natcom Development and Investment Ltd (Ntel), on Thursday, said it would deploy 4 Generation (4G) network to show its relevance in the Nigerian telecommunications market.

The Managing Director of Ntel, Mr Kamar Abass, said this in Lagos during a media luncheon organised by the company.

 

Ntel is the company that acquired the assets and liabilities of defunct NITEL and MTEL.

Abass said the company would now be known as Nigeria Telecommunications (NTel) and would offer high speed data, high-definition voice and video to customers.

 

He added that there were still spaces in the marketplace for new SIMs; hence, NTel as a new entrant had many opportunities.

 

According to him, the company will be doing video over data and ensure Nigerians get high quality broadband, rather than cheap broadband.

 

“Nigeria is in extreme ‘data hunger’, with just 92.7 million active Internet users as at June 2015, but the surprising issue is that only 27.6 million of the users access the Internet are on 3G/4G networks.

“It shows that more than 65 million go on the Internet on 2G, which means that we are losing the broadband race by using 2G network, since 4G is the heart of broadband.

 

“Our story is that of pure 4G network, with high speed broadband and better technology. We see ourselves as offering Nigeria the key ingredient with the deployment of 4G.”

 

The NTel boss said that the assets acquired from NITEL included cellular spectrum/microwave frequencies; telecom operating licences, international submarine cable, which is the SAT-3 and cell towers.

He added that the company also acquired fibre and duct network (including Right Of Way), prime buildings and satellite earth stations.

 

Abass said that the company would roll out services in three cities before the end of 2015, which included Lagos, Abuja and Port-Harcourt simultaneously.

 

He noted that some of the equipment acquired from NITEL were obsolete, hence they would not be used to deploy the 4G services.

 

According to him, the 4G network to be built by NTel will be better than what is presently obtainable in the industry.

The company would start deploying fixed service in the second half of 2016, he said NTel’s ownership of SAT-3 would also help with superfast Internet from West to South Africa and Europe, all the way to Asia.