ABIA STATE: Michael Okpara varsity disengages 460 casual workers

The Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike in Abia, on Wednesday disengaged no fewer than 460 temporary workers, whose appointment had reportedly lapsed in February. The workers were recruited toward the end of the administration of former Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Hillary Edeoga, who left office in March 2016. According to a circular issued by the university, the temporary appointment, with one year validity, had lapsed.

The circular, dated April 28, and signed by Registrar of the University, Dr Azubuike Nwaokocha, directed the affected workers to “reapply for renewal of their appointments” through their Heads of Department (HOD). The circular, which was made available to newsmen in Umuahia, requested the  HODs to give “cogent reasons” why the applicants’ temporary appointments should be renewed. Speaking further on the development, the Public Relations Officer of the University, Mrs Adanma Odefa, dispelled the speculation that the VC, Prof. Francis Otunta, was under pressure to lay off workers engaged at the end of Edeoga’s administration.

“Prof. Otuntais was just following the procedure of doing things according to the rules of the university. “The affected workers were hired illegally by the past administration. There was a bit of mess that needed to be sorted out. It did not just start with this administration. “The last administration hired no fewer than 460 people without following due process,” she said. Odefa said that the terms of the appointment showed that their appointments lapsed automatically after one year, if it is not renewed. “The appointment of the workers in question lapsed in February, technically speaking, they are no longer staff members of the university,” she explained.

Meanwhile, the development has generated tension and panic among the affected workers, who pleaded with the university to reverse the measure and regularise their appointments. Some of them said on the condition of anonymity that the measure was a calculated attempt by the VC to create an opportunity to recruit his people.

Source: The Guardian

South West leaders demand new constitution before 2019 elections

Add captionExecutive Secretary, Nigerian National Summit Group (NNSG),Tony Uranta (left); former Minister of Information, Prof. Jerry Gana and Arewa leader, Alhaji Tanko Yakassai during a press conference calling for the implementation of the 2014 National Conference Report in Abuja…yesterday

                  • Stakeholders seek action on 2014 confab report

South West delegates to the 2014 National Conference organised by former President Goodluck Jonathan have demanded that the 2019 general elections should be conducted on the basis of a new and truly federal constitution. They maintained it was the yearning of the people from the zone. After a reunion yesterday in Abuja, the leaders said the implementation of the report was the irreducible minimum to move Nigeria forward and build a nation that works for the citizenry.   

In a statement signed by their chairman, deputy and secretary, Chief Olu Falae, Alani Akinrinade (rtd) and Dr. Kunle Olajide, the delegates urged the Federal Government to initiate the process for the National Assembly to pick up the report submitted to the immediate past legislative chambers for implementation. 

Also yesterday, a summit held in Abuja to push for the implementation of the report. The gathering enumerated the major issues militating against the smooth functioning of the federation, stating that only an action on the document could solve these problems. The participants noted specifically that the perennial problem of deadly clashes between farmers and herdsmen would have been resolved if this administration had implemented the report. 

Peopled by the likes of Professor Jerry Gana; John Dara; Tanko Yakassai and Yinka Odumaki; the summit declared that the President Muhammadu Buhari administration must abandon its opposition to the implementation of the document. The summit, which held at the Abuja residence of the owner of DAAR Communication, Raymond Dokpesi, held that “no progressive government can and should dismiss the recommendations of such a serious and representative gathering of thinkers and leaders.”

Boko Haram leader, Shekau injured, deputy dead in air strike

Abubakar Shekau, Boko Haram’s leader has been reportedly injured and one of his deputies killed in an air strike in northeast Nigeria, Some civilian and security sources told AFP on Wednesday that Shekau’s deputy, Abba Mustapha was killed in the air strike attack when two Nigerian Air Force jets bombarded fighters who had gathered for prayers in Balla village, some 40 kilometres (25 miles) from Damboa, on the edge of the Sambisa Forest, last Friday.

“His deputy, Abba Mustapha, alias Malam Abba, was killed in the attack along with another key lieutenant, Abubakar Gashua, alias Abu Aisha,” the source said. “Shekau was wounded in the bombings and is believed to be receiving treatment near the Nigerian border with Cameroon around Kolofata,”

Another source who is a member of the civilian militia in Maiduguri named, Babakura Kolo, also gave a similar account, saying “Shekau was injured and a number of commanders were killed.

“Among them is his deputy called Malam Abba. They suffered heavy casualties because the bombings targeted a large gathering of his followers attending Friday prayers.”

There was no immediate comment from the Nigerian military when contacted by AFP.

Source: Daily Trust

BREAKING: Buhari fails to convene FEC meeting for 4th consecutive week

Contrary to expectations, President Muhammadu Buhari has failed preside over the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting today (Wednesday). Although reports claimed his itinerary for the week shows he will be available for the meeting, vice-president Yemi Osinbajo is currently taking charge of the meeting. 

The presidency confirmed this in a tweet, which said: “The Federal Executive Council (FEC) Meeting has started. Vice President @ProfOsinbajo is presiding.” The president has failed to convene FEC meetings for three consecutive weeks, fuelling speculation about his health. 

However, he resumed at his desk on Tuesday and took briefs from Abubakar Malami, Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), and Maikanti Baru, Group Managing Director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

FEC, which is made up of the president, vice-president and all Ministers, is the highest decision making organ of the government.

Source: Daily Post

Buhari’s health needs urgent medical attention – Falana

Ace lawyer and human rights activist, Femi Falana has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently seek for medical leave. Buhari had on March returned from the UK, where he was on medical vacation for weeks. 

However, observations revealed that since his return, the president has only made a few public appearances, fuelling speculation about his health. Falana in a statement issued on Monday, urged the President to take the advice of his personal physician and take some time to attend his health. “When President Muhammadu Buhari was recently in the United Kingdom on a medical vacation, which lasted 49 days, many public officers said that he was ‘hale and hearty.’ But upon his return to the country, President Buhari disclosed that he had never been that sick in his entire life,” the statement read.

“Even though the president did not disclose the nature of his ailment, he revealed that he went through blood transfusion. While thanking the Nigerian people for their prayers, the president announced that he might soon travel back for further medical treatment. “A few weeks ago, the governor of Kaduna state, Mr Nasir El-Rufai urged Nigerians to give President Buhari time to recover from his sickness. The plea was made after the governor had visited and presumably assessed the state of the president at the presidential villa in Abuja. “However, due to the apparent deterioration in the president’s health condition, he has neither been seen in public in the last one week nor attended the last two meetings of the federal executive council. His absence at the last Jumat service in the villa has fuelled further speculations and rumours on President Buhari’s medical condition”, he said.

The statement said rather than update Nigerians on the state of Buhari’s health, government officials have been saying: “there is no need for apprehension over the matter”. “Instead of embarking on regular briefing on the actual state of the health of President Buhari, officials of the federal government have continued to assure the Nigerian people,” it said. “In defending the absence of the president at the last FEC meeting and other state functions, the senior special assistant to the president on media and publicity, Mr Garba Shehu stated that ‘the president’s doctors have advised on his taking things slowly, as he fully recovers from the long period of treatment in the United Kingdom some weeks ago’.

“As we join the Nigerian people of goodwill to pray for a speedy recovery of President Buhari, we are compelled to advise him to heed the advice of his personal physicians by taking a rest to attend to his health without any further delay.”

Source: Daily Post