By Mustapha Yauri

A group supporting the election campaign of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, says it is set to mobilise 15 million votes from the 120,000 polling units across Nigeria.

The Nigerian Youth Movement (NYM) said it would ensure that Abubakar got the projected votes using members of the group, appointed as polling unit canvassers; and drawn from the 120, 000 polling booths across the country.

The Director General of NYM, Chief Ovat Ayabom, stated this on Monday in Abuja when he received campaign materials from the wife of PDP Presidential Candidate, Mrs Jamila Atiku Abubakar, through her manager, Mr Godwin Etim.

The materials included T-shirts, campaign fliers and posters for distribution to the National and State coordinators of NYM.

According Ayabom, the group has a very strong presence in all the polling units.

He said each of the 25 members in a polling unit, had been directed to evangelise, convince and ensure five persons voted for Abubakar on election day.

He said acting on the directive of the NYM Patron, Mrs Abubakar, 13 support groups had been collapsed into NYM for better performance and to ensure a wider campaign coverage and mobilisation.

The future looks very promising and will no doubt be in favour of Atiku, he noted.
In her response, the wife of the presidential hopeful, who was represented by Etim, thanked members of the NYM for their unflinching support for her husband.

She assured them that he would keep his promises to Nigerians; and would never forget those that supported him on his way to victory.

Mrs Abubakar urged the Director General of the group to ensure transparent and equitable distribution of the materials, pledging that more were on the way.

Source: NAN

Juventus striker Cristiano Ronaldo will return to Madrid on Tuesday to appear in court for tax fraud charges dating back to his time with Real Madrid.

The date with the tax man may have weighed heavily in Ronaldos mind on Monday as he missed a penalty for Juventus, although the Italian league leaders eased past bottom club Chievo 3-0 to pull nine points clear on top of Serie A.

Portuguese superstar Ronaldo had sealed Juventuss first title of the season a record eighth Italian Super Cup trophy against AC Milan last Wednesday.

But the 33-year-old was off-form in the first league game after the three-week winter break.

The five-time Ballon dOr winner missed numerous chances to score with Chievo goalkeeper Stefano Sorrentino denying him a 15th league goal this season from the spot after 53 minutes.

But Juventus eased past Chievo with Douglas Costa and Emre Can scoring in the first half and Daniele Rugani heading in a third six minutes from time.

Chievo started their season with a 3-2 defeat to Juventus in Verona but ended 2018 with their first win and would have been in front of Frosinone had they not been deducted three points for false accounting.

They had lost just one of the previous eight games holding Napoli, Lazio and Inter.

Brazilian winger Costa scored the first with an impressive solo run from midfield after 13 minutes for his first league goal of the season.

Ronaldos appearance in court may be a mere formalty as earlier reports said he had agreed to pay 16.7 million euros to the Spanish tax man as final settlement of his tax liablities.

Source: NAN

President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated Festus Keyamo on his 49birthday and commended him for having earned the highest place and esteem in the legal profession through his defence of the rights of ordinary Nigerians.

Malam Garba Shehu, the Presidents Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, in a statement in Abuja, said the president made the commendation in a message of congratulations which he personally signed and addressed to Keyamo on Monday.

Buhari thanked the Spokesperson of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council for bringing these qualities to bear on the ongoing campaign for elections.

The congratulatory message had the headline: Happy Birthday, Festus.

I write to heartily congratulate you on your 49th birthday, today.

The story of your life has always been to speak up for the masses of our country and at critical times in the life of our nation. You have also used law as an instrument to achieve these goals.

This has rightly earned you the highest place and esteem in your profession as Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

As you apply these qualities in helping to CHANGE this nation through our campaigns, I pray that God Almighty will continue to bless you and grant you long life and good health, the President said.

He wished Keyamo a Happy Birthday.

Source: NAN

President Muhammadu Buhari has sympathised with those that sustained injuries following the collapse of a pavilion at the massively-attended campaign rally in Maiduguri, Borno.

Tens of party men and women who wanted a vantage view of the speakers at the rally climbed on roofs of the pavilions, one of which came down crashing on other spectators.

A statement by Malam Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, in Abuja on Monday, stated that the president, who expressed sadness over the incident, prayed for the quick recovery of the affected persons.

President Buhari said: I am shocked to hear about the many who suffered injury following the tragic incident at the stadium this afternoon in Maiduguri. May Allah heal all those that were injured.

I understand that the Borno State government, the Red Cross and other aid agencies are taking steps to help affected people. May Allah heal the injured, he added.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that President Buhari had on Monday launched his re-election bid in Maiduguri and Damaturu, Borno and Yobe states respectively, with a pledge to improve on the gains recorded in the security sector.

The President, who addressed mammoth crowd at both venues, assured the people of the two states that his re-election for a second term would provide him with the opportunity to build on his previous achievements.

According to him, only the people of Borno and Yobe states are in a better position to assess whether there are improvements in the security sector or not.

The president also pledged the commitment of his administration in building a robust economy that would provide employment opportunities for Nigerians

Source: NAN

The Federal Government said it has released N163 billion to the universities from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), but striking academics are stalling in calling off their strike.

Sen. Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment, said this while addressing newsmen after a closed door reconciliatory meeting with leaders of Academic Staff Union of Universities(ASUU) on Monday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the striking lecturers embarked on strike on Nov. 5, 2018, to press home their demands.

ASUU demands included some areas of understanding in the implementation of the Memorandum of Action agreed in 2017.

Some of these areas include shortfall in salaries of some Federal Universities workers and lecturers, earned allowances, revitalisation that were part of the 2009 agreement, among others.

According to Ngige, today we have agreed to fund revitalisation.

Government has released about N163 billion from TETFund account to universities.

So, we have gotten some substantial agreement in most of the areas of the agreement.

Most of the issues have being resolved, so they are going to go back to their members and present governments offer to their council, he said.

Ngige also said that the striking lecturers were not asking for N50 billion before they would call off the strike.

He, however, added that if the total amount of the unions demand was aggregated it would be more than the N50 billion as the government was paying in different compartments.

These are debts of 2009, owed by the past administration, that is 2009 to 2012, so it is not our own debt and we have been doing a lot to settle these debts.

So, we will be reconvening at the instance of ASUU. They said they want to go and consult with their members and they cannot call off the strike without consulting with their members, he said.

Earlier, the minister had said that President Muhammadu Buhari had mandated him to ensure that all issues concerning the ongoing strike in the university system were resolved.

The president has directed me to pass the night here until all issues that have kept our children away from schools are resolved and strike called off.

He has also directed me to impress upon you, the imperative of little sacrifice from all sides, knowing fully well that the revenue of the federation has dwindled from what it was before the present administration assumed office, he said.

Ngige further said President Buhari was greatly worried about the situation in the university system, hence his steady and holistic approach to tackling the rot through adequate funding.

Mr president told me to assure you of his determination to reposition our universities as he would do everything possible to cast the present challenges in our tertiary education to dustbin of history.

Also, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, ASUU President, said that there were still some grey areas in the proposal presented by the Federal Government.

He said the union would look at the grey areas and would get back to the government.

The most critical area is the revitalisation, because it is central to our work, as academics and unless that area is addressed our members will have issues with ongoing action.

We also did not ask for N50 billion, we are saying that the minimum we expect government to release in order to reactive the revitalisation fund is N50 billion.

So, the strike is still on, he said.

Source: NAN

If we fail to communicate, we fail to tell others our existence and our being. It doesn't really matter then whether we have the freedom of speech or not. Those of us who are good communicators are recognized and are generally appreciated for their ability in an unbiased environment.

In a biased environment, it is needed even more to avoid barriers and miscommunications that can be fatal for our professional lives and careers in particular. It is now known for a fact that top slots in any organization require effective communication skills. While technical skills or knowledge about our own area or subject takes us forward to a certain extent; effective communicators carry the clay and of course the dream job or the coveted promotion that everybody was eyeing for.

Organizations need leader to steer them -and the role of communication skills in leadership has been acknowledged universally. The most revered leaders in the human history are the ones with high level competency in communication. We all have certain leadership roles in our own domains. Teachers' role as leaders, who develop nations, are the celebrated ones, universally; just imagine a teacher who fails to communicate what they actually wanted to in any setting, but particularly in a classroom. It surely would be a great opportunity lost; to say the least.

The role of communication in relationships can hardly be over stressed.

It is an established fact that our quality of relationship is directly dependent on our quality of communication.

Our effective communication can enhance our understanding of people and people's understanding of ourselves, which in return allows our relations to flourish and prosper.

I have a question for you; Do you love your mother more than your father? The response would vary; though my experience has been that Moms tend to win this one particularly.

The reasons could be different but "expression of love and care" are the reasons mostly accounted for Moms being voted as the favorites, link this "expression of love and care" with communication. How well you have "communicated' your appreciation and love for your parents? More importantly let me ask you how do you or would you "communicate" your love to your parents or your loved ones? This question is meant to make you conscious and make you reflect on your personal communication styles that you "unknowingly" might be using to communicate and receive different responses from what you were expecting.

Consciousness helps to alter your communication style according to different communication situations.

When you communicate with your relations, It would increase what you know of your relationship with them. In my discussions, this question has always generated a lot of interest and varied responses. Honestly answer the above question on how well you have communicated your appreciation and love for your parents (for the simple reason that our parents love us) and you would know "why it's important to communicate" and for that you need to know about communication.

As teachers we consider ourselves "spiritual parents". As spiritual parents how well have we been able to communicate our care to our students and how? How can we better communicate with them is the focus. The better the communication, the better would be their understanding of you and resultantly of your subject. Try it! You will be amazed by the results.

Below is a list of Banks, financial institutions and money service providers in Nigeria.

ABBEY MORTGAGE BANK
ACCESS BANK PLC
AccessMobile
ACCION MICROFINANCE BANK
ADDOSSER MICROFINANCE BANK
AG MORTGAGE BANK PLC
AL-BARAKAH MICROFINANCE BANK
AMJU UNIQUE MICROFINANCE BANK
AMML MFB
ASO SAVINGS AND LOANS

Boctrust Microfinance Bank
BOWEN MICROFINANCE BANK
BRENT MORTGAGE BANK
CELLULANT
CEMCS MICROFINANCE BANK
CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA
ChamsMobile
CIT MICROFINANCE BANK
Citibank Nigeria LTD
CONSUMER MICROFINANCE BANK
CONTEC GLOBAL INFOTECH LIMITED (NOWNOW)
Coronation Merchant Bank
Covenant
CREDIT AFRIQUE MICROFINANCE BANK
DAYLIGHT MICROFINANCE BANK
DIAMOND BANK PLC
Eartholeum
ECOBANK NIGERIA PLC
EcoMobile
EKONDO MICROFINANCE BANK
EMPIRE TRUST BANK
eTranzact
FAST MICROFINANCE BANK
FBN Mortgages Limited
FBNMobile
FBNQuest Merchant Bank Limited
FET
FFS MICROFINANCE BANK
FIDELITY BANK PLC
Fidelity Mobile
FidFund MFB
FINATRUST MICROFINANCE BANK
FIRST BANK OF NIGERIA PLC
FIRST CITY MONUMENT BANK PLC
FIRST ROYAL MICROFINANCE BANK
FLUTTERWAVE TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS LIMITED
Fortis Microfinance Bank
FSDH MERCHANT BANK LIMIT
GATEWAY MORTGAGE BANK
GOWANS MFB
GREENBANK MICROFINANCE BANK
GTMobile
Haggai Mortgage Bank Limited
HASAL MICROFINANCE BANK
Hedonmark
HERITAGE BANK
HIGHSTREET MICROFINANCE BANK
IBILE MFB
IMPERIAL HOMES MORTGAGE BANK
INFINITY MICROFINANCE BANK
INFINITY TRUST MORTGAGE BANK
Innovectives Kesh
Intellifin
JAIZ BANK PLC
JUBILEE LIFE MORTGAGE BANK
KEYSTONE BANK
KongaPay
LAGOS BUILDING INVESTMENT COMPANY
MALACHY MICROFINANCE BANK
Microcred Microfinance Bank Nigeria Ltd
MICROVIS MICROFINANCE BANK
Mkudi
MONEY TRUST MICROFINANCE BANK
MoneyBox
MUTUAL TRUST MICROFINANCE BANK
NDIORAH MICROFINANCE BANK
New Prudential Bank
NIGERIA INTERBANK SETTLEMENT SYSTEM
NIP Virtual Bank
NOVA MERCHANT BANK LTD
NPF Microfinance Bank
OHAFIA MFB
OKPOGA MICROFINANCE BANK
Omoluabi Savings and Loans Plc
ONE FINANCE
PAGA
Page MFBank
PARALLEX MFB
Parkway-ReadyCash
PayAttitude Online
PAYCOM
PECANTRUST MICROFINANCE BANK
Personal Trust Microfinance Bank
PETRA MICROFINANCE BANK
PLATINUM MORTGAGE BANK
POLARIS BANK LTD (SKYE BANK PLC)
PROVIDUS BANK
RAHAMA MICROFINANCE BANK
RAND MERCHANT BANK
REGENT MFB
RELIANCE MICROFINANCE BANK
RICHWAY MICROFINANCE BANK
Safetrust Mortgage bank
SAGAMU MICROFINANCE BANK LTD
SEED CAPITAL MICROFINANCE BANK
STANBIC IBTC BANK PLC
STANBIC MOBILEMONEY
STANDARD CHARTERED BANK NIGERIA LTD
STERLING BANK PLC
Sterling Mobile
SunTrust Bank
TCF
TeasyMobile
TRIDENT MICROFINANCE BANK
TRUSTBOND MORTGAGE BANK
UNION BANK OF NIGERIA PLC
UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC
UNITY BANK PLC
Verite Microfinance Bank
VFD MICROFINANCE BANK
VISA MICROFINANCE BANK
Visual ICT 
VTNetworks
WEMA BANK PLC
WETLAND MFB
XSLNCE Microfinance Bank
YES MICROFINANCE BANK
ZENITH BANK PLC
ZenithMobile

The Nigerian Army on Sunday, said it had uncovered Boko Haram logistics supply syndicates among loggers and charcoal dealers in Borno.

Brig.-Gen. Bulama Biu, the Acting General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Maiduguri.

Biu was reacting to the ban imposed on the supply of firewood and charcoal in Borno.

He disclosed that intelligence report indicated that some dealers in Maiduguri were hiding under the guise of firewood trade to aid the insurgents.

“Some of them are errand boys of the Boko Haram insurgents, they hide food items, drugs, petrol and other items beneath their trucks, and supplied them to the terrorists.

“We also found out that some of them are running businesses on behalf of the Boko Haram insurgents.

“They go deep into the forest where ordinary people could not venture; to cut down trees, burn and produce charcoal.

“This could not be possible except they are in agreement with the insurgents.

“We arrested some of them and they made quite revealing testimonies, we shall fish them out to put an end to their nefarious activities,” he said.

Biu explained that the ban was temporarily designed to checkmate activities of criminal elements among the dealers and not to make life difficult for firewood and charcoal users.

He stated that the military had allowed suppliers from other states such as Oyo, Kano, Katsina, Niger and Kaduna to supply their goods under strict supervision of the command.

Biu called on the people to support the military and other security agencies to end insurgency as well as protect lives and property.

On his part, Malam Maidugu Ali, the Chairman, Borno chapter of the Firewood Sellers Association of Nigeria, expressed dismay over the development.

He expressed the association’s shock at the allegation by the military authorities.

Ali said the union had engaged members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) to support the military in the screening of its members before allowing them entry into Maiduguri.

He also that the union had adopted measures to screen vehicles conveying firewood or charcoal to Maiduguri, to check suspicious activities among its members.

Maidugu disclosed that more than 60 members of the association were killed by the Boko Haram insurgents in the past 10 years.

“Three years ago; we also recorded an incident when the insurgents’ hijacked one of our trucks and used it for suicide bomb attack, both the driver and his boy were killed during the incident.

“We are also victims of insurgency; we are strict in the registration of new members, any prospective person must produce two sureties before he was enrolled and engage in firewood trade,” he said.

Maidugu noted that the measure was to monitor its members and guard against any infiltration by the Boko Haram insurgents.

He reiterated the readiness of the association to support the military in the counter insurgency campaign and peace restoration process in the state.

Source: NAN

Nigeria is targeting the exportation of more than 5, 760 tonnes of yam to different countries in 2019.

Prof.Simon Irtwange, the Technical Committee on Nigeria Yam Export, said that the committee was unable to achieve 50 per cent of the same target in 2018.

Irtwange said that the existence of the 1986 Export Prohibition Act and logistics issues were hindering successful operations of yam exports in the country.

“We are still targeting 5,760 tonnes for exportation this year whichis the same target last year.

“We were unable to do up to 50 per cent of last year’s target because of some difficulties and logistics problem.

“We are trying to attack those issues very vigorously.

“We have written to the Ministers of Agriculture and Trade about the Export Prohibition Act to put pressure on the National Assembly to do Nigerian farmers this favour.

“We found out that some efforts have been done at the National Assembly but we do not know where the thing is currently hanging at the National Assembly.

The chairman noted that there were no cases of yam rejection at the international market in 2018.

“There was no rejection of our produce, the challenge we are having is that because there is an Export Prohibition Act in place especially in the United Kingdom.

“Once they see our yams there, they will say it is contraband because they are aware of the ban on export of yam out of Nigeria because our country prohibits it.

“So, it is even better to label our yams Ghana yam for it to be accepted in United Kingdom markets,’’.

Irtwange, also the President of Yam Farmers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria, appealed to the government to provide incentive for farmers to produce sufficient yams across the country in 2019.

According to him, once there is an incentive for the farmer, they will go into large scale and a lot of farmers are doing that now.

As it prepares to roll out in 2019, Dangote Oil Refining Company (DORC), has taken delivery of one of the major components of its refinery equipment, the regenerator for the Residual Fluid Catalytic Cracker (RFCC).

Mr Rama Putta, the Head of Quality Assurance/Quality Compliance and Construction, DORC, stated this on Sunday in Lagos.

The Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) is one of the most important conversion processes used in petroleum refineries.

It is widely used to convert the high-boiling, high-molecular weight hydrocarbon fractions of petroleum crude oils into more valuable gasoline, olefinic gases, and other products.

Putta said the sand filling of the site had been completed, adding that 60 per cent of the land was swampy.

“The refinery equipment are coming in semi-finished shape and we will finish the assembling here at the sight.

“ The remaining is being manufactured in various countries, including China, India, America, South Korea, Singapore and Malaysia,” he said.

Mr Devakumar Edwin, Executive Director, Dangote Group, said the 650,000 barrels per day refinery would stimulate economic development in Nigeria.

He said the refinery was designed to process a variety of light and medium grades of crude and produce extremely clean fuels that met Euro V specification.

He said usually, the sulphur in petroleum fuels results in vehicle exhaust emissions that have negative impact on health and environment, adding that the Dangote plant has invested in most advanced technology to produce Euro V fuel due to help Nigeria meet the European Standard of gasoline.

He said the project would provide thousands of direct and indirect jobs and add value to the Nigeria’s economic development, noting that the refinery will lead to significant skills transfer and technology acquisition opportunities in the country.

The company has commenced the installation of equipment for the 650,000 barrels-per-day crude oil refinery being built in the Lekki area of Lagos.

The refinery has continued to receive heavy equipment, through the Dangote jetty, located close to the refinery in the Lekki Free Trade Zone.

It would be recalled that the jetty, constructed by Dangote Oil Refinery received its first ship of 132 metres long, 9,755 tonnes general cargo ship, last year to deliver essential equipment for the ongoing construction.

The refinery is designed to accommodate multiple grades of domestic and foreign crude and process these into high-quality gasoline, diesel, kerosene, and aviation fuels that meet Euro V emissions specifications, plus polypropylene.

It will include a crude distillation unit, single-train residual fluid catalytic cracking unit, diesel hydro-treating unit, continuous catalyst regeneration unit, alkylation unit, and a polypropylene unit.

The refinery will also be able to adjust its production of different products to match market demands.

Source: NAN

President Muhammadu Buhari Wednesday in Abuja reiterated his commitment to eliminate corruption in campaign financing in the country, pledging that he will not authorise the use of any money from the treasury for his re-election campaign.

Speaking at the close of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, President Buhari directed cabinet ministers to take advantage of technology to reach out to voters on the need to return the All Progressives Congress (APC) led administration in next month’s general elections.

“As political parties spread their ideologies and views to every nook and corner of the country, the issue of cash payment to voters and its corrupting influence in electioneering has once again become a topical issue.

“Try and use text and multi-media messages to seek votes for the party and government.

‘‘There is no money from the treasury for use in the campaigns. I will not authorise that,” he said.

President Buhari declared that the APC-led administration has a clear development agenda best suited to take Nigeria forward and sustain economic development.

‘‘This message needs to be taken to all Nigerians but we cannot use money from the treasury to share out to prospective voters.

‘‘Nigerians want change and we alone can deliver that change. Our people can no longer be swayed by money politics,’’ he said.

The President also used the occasion, which was a valedictory session for the Minister of State, Foreign Affairs, Hajiya Khadija Bukar Abba Ibrahim, to wish the minister success in her electoral contest.

The Minister had signified her desire to leave the cabinet, in line with existing regulations, to run for a legislative seat in her native Yobe State.

A Business can flourish only when all objectives to the organization are achieved effectively. For efficiency in an organization, all the people to the organization must be able to convey their message properly. Communication skills have proven to be the most powerful element to possess for in a skill set of employee.

To equip yourself for a smooth career in the field of management, it is even more essential to grasp, practice and put on splay high levels of communication skills in regular and crisis situations. Effective communication skills act as ladder to the managers and leaders for quick progression in their careers.

Business communications is really an umbrella term for a wide variety of activities including but not limited to strategic communications planning; media relations; publications (which can include social media, broadcast and written communications, and more) brand management; reputation management; speech writing; customer/client relations; internal/employee communications, and more); brand management; reputation management, speech writing; customer/client relations; internal / employee communications; etc.

Companies with limited resources may only cheese to engage in a few of these activities while larger organizations may employ a full spectrum of communications. Since it is difficult to develop such a broad range of skills, communications professionals often specialize in one or two of these areas but usually have at least specialize in one or two of these areas but usually have at least a working knowledge of most of them.

By far the most important qualification communications professionals can possess are excellent writing ability, good “people’ skills, and the capacity to think critically and strategically. All other types of skills can be learned and honed with experience.

Written communications and development
Over time the forms of and ideas about communication have evolved through the continuing progression of technology. Advances include communications psychology and media psychology in emerging field of study.

The progression of written communication can be divided into three “information communication revolutions”.

1. Written communication first emerged through the use of pictographs. The pict0orams were made in stone; hence written communication was not yet mobile
2. The next step occurred when writing began to appear on paper, papyrus, clay, wax etc with common alphabets. Communication became mobile.
3. The final stage is characterized by the transfer of information through controlled waves of electromagnetic ration (i.e. radio microwaves, infrared) and other electronic signals.

The Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) reached possible agreement on Monday toward resolving the ongoing lecturers’ strike.

Sen. Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment, said this after a reconciliatory meeting with ASUU in Abuja.

Ngige said the meeting was fruitful as an agreement had been reached between the Federal Government and the striking university lecturers.

According to him, the Federal Government has released N15.4 billion for the payment of the salary shortfalls, which was one of the major demands of the union.

“On the issue of salaries in tertiary institutions, especially in universities, the Ministry of Finance and the Office of the Accountant- General provided evidence that as at December 31, 2018 the Federal Government had remitted N15.4 billon.

“Also on the issue of Earned Allowances in the universities system, they also showed us evidence that Mr President has approved the N20 billion to be used to offset the outstanding arrears of the 2009 and 2012, audit verified earnings, in the university system.

“This money is being worked on, and will be released to ASUU as soon as the process is completed.

“ASUU has fulfilled its own side of the bargain in terms of NUPECO, which is the Pension Fund Administration company that ASUU has floated to take care of pension for people in the university system.

“The Pension regulator, the PENCOM, has asked certain positions to be fulfilled and they gave ASUU a temporary license, which has expired.

“ASUU has submitted all the documents and fulfilled all conditions needed to get their license,” he said.

Ngige noted that the meeting had resolved to mandate the Ministry of Education to get in touch with PENCOM to make sure that the permanent licence is issued to ASUU as soon as possible.

The minister also said on the issue of university revitalisation, the President Goodluck Administration entered into an agreement with the ASUU for revitalisation of 20 universities annually for the next 6 years.

“This is starting from 2009, this Government will look for resources for the funding.

“We have also offered ASUU some token to show good faith and that amount is known to them. Issue of visitation panel is also taken care of.

“These were major issues discussed and ASUU is supposed to take back the resolution of these meetings to their members, while we expect that they will get back to us by Thursday, ” he said.

Also, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, ASUU National President, said the National Executive Committee of the union will review its decisions based on the new commitment by the Federal Government.

He said the strike could only be called off or not after the NEC meeting. He did not say when the meeting will hold.

The lecturers have been on strike since November 4 to demand improved funding of universities and implementation of previous agreements with the government

Without the company of Atiku Abubakar, its presidential candidate, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP will next week in Washington, DC, advertise its programme and share insights on the future of US- Nigeria relations.

Taking the centre-stage instead is Atiku’s running mate, Peter Gregory Obi, according to an online report.

Mr. Obi will be a guest at the Center For Strategic & International Studies, CSIS to discuss the PDP’s economic and security objectives, as well as his views on the future of U.S.-Nigeria relations.

The event is scheduled for Tuesday, January 15, 2019.

Established in Washington, D.C., over 50 years ago, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) is a bipartisan, nonprofit policy research organisation dedicated to providing strategic insights and policy solutions to help decisionmakers chart a course toward a better world.

Atiku’s avoidance of the event further confirmed suspicion that he has a case to answer in the United States. Recently, the spokesman of the Buhari campaign, senior lawyer Festus Keyamo said Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has a sealed indictment waiting for him in the US. “The day he visits the US, not as a candidate in an election, he will face charges.”

Yul Edochie, a Nollywood actor and former governorship candidate of the Democratic Peoples Congress (DPC) in Anambra, has defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Also Mr Godwin Ezeemo, the former governorship candidate of the Progressive Peoples Alliance, and Mr Hygers Igwebuike, a former factional governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) also defected to PDP.

Addressing party members in Awka on Sunday, Mr Peter Obi, the Vice Presidential Candidate of PDP said there was no division in the party in the South-East geo-political zone.

Obi spoke at an interdenominational church service and reception organised in his honour by the Anambra state chapter of the party.

He described the rumour that the PDP leaders in the zone were working against the partys interest in the upcoming polls as false.

He said that members of the party in the zone remained one family and were working hard to ensure its victory at the polls.

Let me tell you all, PDP in the South-East is working as one family and when the votes are turned in, you will all see it.

We are working as one family, the former Anambra state governor said.

He said that PDPs victory at the polls would further guarantee the survival of Nigeria and give the youths a better future.

He assured the people that the second Niger Bridge and the federal roads in the zone would be fixed by PDP within six months of its assumption of office.

Obi, who was at the event with his wife, Margaret, commended the people of the state for the warm reception accorded him.

He said that his mission was to assist the partys Presidential Candidate, former Vice President Abubakar Atiku, to restore sanity in the country.

He promised that they would jointly work to re-create a country where unemployment will be tackled, jobs created, infrastructure provided and the economy rebuilt.

Earlier, the state chairman of PDP, Chief Ndubisi Nwobu, urged Nigerians to vote out the All Progressives Congress for failing to deliver on its campaign promises to Nigerians.

Nwobu said, They promised to make the naira one to a dollar, reduce the cost of food items and stop the importation of refined petroleum products, but none of those promises were delivered.

Highlights of the event included the defection of some politicians in the state, together with their teeming supporters, to PDP. (NAN)

Source: NAN

The Nigerian Army has vacated the premises of the Daily Trust in Abuja, Maiduguri and Lagos, following a Federal Government order.

Garba Shehu, senior special assistant on media to President Buhari announced this on Sunday night.

He tweeted:The Federal Government has directed the military to vacate the premises of @daily_trust and the order has been complied with.

Issues between the military and the newspaper as they affect the coverage of the war in the Northeast will be resolved through dialogue, he added.

Media Trust, publishers of the newspaper confirmed that the siege was lifted at 9.30pm.

The Daily Trust had reported that its Maiduguri regional office was shut down by security operatives on Sunday and its editor, Uthman Abubakar and reporter Ibrahim Sawab arrested.

Later, the newspaper also said its head office in Abuja was also invaded and computers carted away.

In what appeared to be a coordinated operation, a little while later, the Lagos Bureau Office was reportedly taken over by a combined team military and police officers.

The Media Trust did not confirm the release of its computers, in the statement by Manir Dan-Ali, the editor-in-chief.

What appeared to have triggered the military wrath was a report in the Sunday edition of the newspaper, revealing military preparations for a massive war against Boko Haram in the North East.

Military sources told NAN that the report revealed too much and endangered the planned operation.

But in his statement, Manir Dan-Ali claimed: We have not been told of the reason for the military operation against this newspaper but suspect it may have to do with the lead story of the Daily Trust on Sunday that dwelt on the militarys effort to retake some towns recently reported to have been lost to insurgents.

Another clue is that during the invasion of our premises both in Maiduguri and in Abuja, the military men were asking for the reporters who wrote the story.

Media Trust Limited condemns this unlawful act and calls on the military authorities to release the two reporters arrested in Maiduguri and return the dozens of computers that were taken from our newsroom.

We also like to thank our colleagues in the media and all others who have been calling and supporting us in our hour of need.

We also appreciate the efforts of some government officials who insist that there is a better way of handling relations with the media.

Source: NAN

President Muhammadu Buhari, who is the leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its presidential candidate in the forthcoming general elections, will campaign for the party and all its candidates.

A presidential spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu, made this known in a statement while reacting to media enquiries over the hosting of Gov. Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun by President Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Sunday.

Amosun was accompanied by the Ogun state governorship candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Abdulkadir Adekunle Akinlade, during the visit.

The statement read: Following repeated media enquiries on the matter, the Presidency wishes to state in clear and unmistakable terms that as a party leader and a candidate on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the coming elections, President Muhammadu Buhari will campaign for the party and all its candidates.

This, however, does not mean that he, as the nations leader, will decline courtesy calls or offers of support from citizens including candidates flying the flags of other parties.

There is no doubt that the President has no competition here in terms of popularity in the coming elections. But the more support he gets, the wider the margin of victory there will be.

So please let there be no confusion about this. President Buhari is APC. He will campaign for all APC candidates, but he welcomes support and endorsements.

NAN reports that prior to Sundays meeting with the president, Amosun, accompanied by the APM National Chairman, Alhaji Yusuf Dantalle, had in Dec. 2018, met with the president at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Amosun, at the meeting, presented a letter of adoption of the President by APM as the partys presidential candidate in Feb. 16 general elections.

The governor said the endorsement letter was given to him by the party for onward presentation to the president, adding that with the endorsement, Buhari, whom he described as a man with good heart, would garner massive votes in the 2019 presidential elections.

NAN reports that the President and his visitors, at the end of todays visit, had group photograph where they all demonstrated the 4 4 symbol with their fingers, meaning another four years for governing APC in Presidential Villa.

Amosuns consensus candidates for the governorship election (Akinlade) and state assembly elections are contesting under the banner of APM.

But, the governor is contesting for the Ogun central senatorial seat as a candidate of the All Progressives Congress.

Source: NAN

In a surprise announcement World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim said today that he will be stepping down from his position after more than six years, just a little over a year into his second term.

It has been a great honour to serve as President of this remarkable institution, full of passionate individuals dedicated to the mission of ending extreme poverty in our lifetime, said Kim.

The work of the World Bank Group is more important now than ever as the aspirations of the poor rise all over the world, and problems like climate change, pandemics, famine and refugees continue to grow in both their scale and complexity. Serving as President and helping position the institution squarely in the middle of all these challenges has been a great privilege, he added.

To serve as interim president from 1 February is 65 year-old Kristalina Georgieva, the banks CEO. Georgieva, from Bulgaria was European Commissioner for Budget and Human Resources in the college of the Juncker Commission, until 2017.

Kims era was remarkable as the institutions shareholders provided strong support to multiple initiatives to ensure that the Bank Group retains strong leadership in the world of global development.

Under Kims leadership, and with the backing of the Bank Groups 189 member countries, the institution in 2012 established two goals: to end extreme poverty by 2030; and to boost shared prosperity, focusing on the bottom 40 percent of the population in developing countries. These goals now guide and inform the institution in its daily work around the globe.

In addition, shareholders strongly supported measures to ensure that the Bank Group be even better positioned to respond to the development needs of clients:

The Bank Groups Fund for the Poorest, IDA, achieved two successive, record replenishments, which enabled the institution to increase its work in areas suffering from fragility, conflict, and violence.

In April 2018, the Bank Groups Governors overwhelmingly approved a historic USD$13 billion capital increase for IBRD and IFC that will allow the Bank Group to support countries in reaching their development goals while responding to crises such as climate change, pandemics, fragility, and underinvestment in human capital around the world.

Over the past 6 years, the institutions of the World Bank Group have provided financing at levels never seen outside of a financial crisis.

Recognizing the power of capital markets to transform development finance, the Bank Group during Kims tenure also launched several new innovative financial instruments, including facilities to address infrastructure needs, prevent pandemics, and help the millions of people forcibly displaced from their homes by climate shocks, conflict, and violence. The Bank is also working with the United Nations and leading technology companies to implement the Famine Action Mechanism, to detect warning signs earlier and prevent famines before they begin.

During his term, President Kim emphasised that one of the greatest needs in the developing world is infrastructure finance, and he pushed the Bank Group to maximise finance for development by working with a new cadre of private sector partners committed to building sustainable, climate-smart infrastructure in developing countries.

To that end, Kim has announced that, immediately after his departure, he will join a firm and focus on increasing infrastructure investments in developing countries. The details of this new position will be announced shortly.

In addition to working on infrastructure investments, Kim announced that he will also be re-joining the board of Partners In Health (PIH), an organization he co-founded more than 30 years ago.

I look forward to working once again with my longtime friends and colleagues at PIH on a range of issues in global health and education. I will also continue my engagement with Brown University as a trustee of the Corporation and look forward to serving as a Senior Fellow at Browns Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs.

Kims interim successor, Georgieva had been in the World Bank system before her appointment as the first CEO in 2017.

Born in Sofia, Georgieva holds a PhD in Economics and an MA in Political Economy and Sociology from the University of National and World Economy in Sofia, Bulgaria. She was also educated at various times at London School of Economics, Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

From 19932010, she served in a number of positions in the World Bank Group, eventually rising to become its vice president and corporate secretary in March 2008. She has also served as a member of the board of trustees and associated professor in the Economics Department of her alma mater, the University of National and World Economy in Bulgaria.

She once made a bid to become the UN Secretary General in 2016, but failed.

Source: NAN

By Abbas Bamalli

One of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirants in Kano State, Mr Bello Sani-Gwarzo, on Monday dumped the party to join the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He announcing his decision at a grand reception organised to receive him and his supporters across the 44 Local Government Areas of the state.

Sani-Gwarzo expressed total loyalty and commitment to work for President Muhammadu Buharis reelection.

He said he would be working under the One 2 Tell 10, a Buhari support group, with a view to ensuring the success of President Buhari in the February election.

Sani-Gwarzo described Buhari as the most suitable candidate for the Presidency.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that no fewer than 250 political groups in the state merged with the One 2 Tell 10 as part of efforts to ensure Buharis victory at the polls.

The Director-General, Sani-Gwarzo Campaign Organisation, Alhaji Mikailu Koki, said for three consecutive terms, the aspirant aspired to the Kano Governorship position under the PDP.

According to him, Sani-Gwarzo observed that the platform was not friendly, hence his decision and others to decamp to APC in view of its good policies and developmental programmes.

He lamented that his former party, PDP, was not in any way interested in addressing the plight of the common man.

This he said was evident in what he termed retrogressive policies, occasioned by poor governance which he noted had retarded the development of the country.

Koki said instead, PDP members were more concerned about self enrichment.

They are not thinking of Nigeria. and this is evident in their poor governance in the 16 wasteful years in power.

Barely three years of APC administration under President Buhari, the country had witnessed a steady national growth and economic stability.

This is an indication of good governance and purposeful leadership that attracted the need for Buhari to have a second term in order for Nigerians to continue consolidating the gains of democracy, Koki said.

While welcoming the defectors, Director-General of the One 2 Tell 10, Dr. Abdullahi Baffa-Bichi, commended Sani-Gwarzo and his supporters for taking a wise decision.

President Buhari is the much awaited messiah that we have been yearning for.

He said those who were opposing and sabotaging Buhari have the agenda to destabilise the country.

Baffa-Bichi said Buharis greatest concern was how to bailout Nigeria out of the doldrums and make life comfortable for every Nigerian.

The director-general of the support group, who is also the Executive Secretary of Tertiary Education Trust Fund, said Nigeria, at this crucial time, needs President Buhari.

He said that the president would continue to fight corruption and take Nigeria to the next level of advanced economy, if re-elected.

We are all living witnesses to the improved security in the country, massive improvement in power generation, improved infrastructure development through road construction, rail lines and poverty alleviation scheme.

We also have improved agricultural activities, sound economic policies and many more, he said.

Source: NAN