by Stanley Opara

The Deep Offshore Community Affairs Group in partnership with Total Upstream Nigeria Limited, have unveiled an e-library at the University of Calabar, Cross Rivers State targeted at boosting quality research and development in the university.

The group also called for quality research and development in tertiary institutions to foster human capital development in the country.

The Chairman, DOCAG, Mr. Joseph Adeyemi, who officially handed over the facility to the school in … Continue reading →]]> DOCAG, Total donate e-library to UNICAL  (Punch, Dec. 27, 2012)

by Stanley Opara

The Deep Offshore Community Affairs Group in partnership with Total Upstream Nigeria Limited, have unveiled an e-library at the University of Calabar, Cross Rivers State targeted at boosting quality research and development in the university.

The group also called for quality research and development in tertiary institutions to foster human capital development in the country.

The Chairman, DOCAG, Mr. Joseph Adeyemi, who officially handed over the facility to the school in Calabar, said in a statement on Tuesday that the facility would make significant impact on the quality of learning and consequently enhance the quality of graduates coming through the university.

He, therefore, urged the university community, both students and staff to make the best use of the facility for meaningful research and development.

Adeyemi, who was represented by the Vice- Chairman, Mr. Nyako Attah, said, “The development of human capital in our areas of operation is one of the cardinal objectives of our community development efforts and this has led to the choice of UNICAL as the beneficiary of this project.

“The e-library involves the renovation of an existing hall in the institution; provision and installation of air conditioners; partitioning of the hall into a library and two offices for library staff; furnishing the offices and provision of 100 computer systems with accessories and operating systems.”

The e-library is also equipped with customised computer tables and 100 chairs; Internet server infrastructure, VSAT, networking infrastructure, software, e-books and accessories; an inverter; Internet sunscription for one year; and a 40KVA soundproof generator to power the e-library.

Members of staff of UNICAL who will be responsible for running the e-library were also trained.

The Vice Chancellor, UNICAL, Prof. James Epoke, commended the group and assured that the university would maintain the library by ensuring its proper use for research and other academic works.

In a related development, Total Nigeria also donated a children’s play park at the National Museum Onikan, Lagos.

At the unveiling, the Managing Director, Total Nigeria Plc, Mr. Francois Boussagol, was quoted as saying that, “The park was constructed with the aim of providing an avenue for children to express and nuture both their creative and explorative abilities.”

The park is equipped with 12 concrete chairs, a walkway with interlocking stones and kerbs, tunnel with slides, an eight-sitter merry-go-round, steel swings, slides with steps, see saw, among others.

The firm said the project was one of its many Corporate Social responsibility initiatives, which include: the sponsorship of two family houses at the SOS Children Village in Nigeria; youth skills acquisition programme; HIV/AIDS awareness campaign; and its malaria initiative.

He said the company, with representation throughout the country, was uniquely placed to work with local partners towards the social and human development of communities, and would continue to use its assets and resources in such endeavours.

DSTV Eutelsat contest

Education   (Nigerian Vanguard)  Thursday, December 27, 2012

By DAYO ADESULU

The duo of Master Isa Bello Suleiman of Zamani College, Kaduna; and Miss Imoh Daniel of Army Day Secondary School, Cross River State have shun in Africa continent as they emerged the 2012 Country Winners in the Essay and Poster categories respectively at 2012 DSTV Eutelsat Star Award winners.

While Oyindamola Adisa of Adesoye College and Simon Akpan Anita of Lagos Anglican Girl’s Grammar … Continue reading →]]> Nigerian students shine at

DSTV Eutelsat contest

Education   (Nigerian Vanguard)  Thursday, December 27, 2012

By DAYO ADESULU

The duo of Master Isa Bello Suleiman of Zamani College, Kaduna; and Miss Imoh Daniel of Army Day Secondary School, Cross River State have shun in Africa continent as they emerged the 2012 Country Winners in the Essay and Poster categories respectively at 2012 DSTV Eutelsat Star Award winners.

While Oyindamola Adisa of Adesoye College and Simon Akpan Anita of Lagos Anglican Girl’s Grammar School emerged runners up in the essay and poster categories as well.

The presentation which held at Multichoice Boardroom, Victoria Island attracted Professor Funsho Falade from UNILAG who was also the Judge, DSTV Eutelsat, Mrs Ronke Bello, Managing Director, Innovative Literacy, representatives from Kaduna and Cross River.

Speaking at the award ceremony where a Plasma television and a certificate of excellence were handed over to each of the star award winners, the Managing Director, MultiChoice Nigeria, Mr John Ugbe said: “The awards seeks to inspire innovative thinking among secondary school students and create awareness on how science and technology can be applied to everyday life.”

According to Ugbe, the DStv Eutelsat Star Awards is a Corporate Social Respons-ibility of MultiChoice Africa and Eutelsat to educate and create awareness about satellite technology and its application among African students.

He added that the award is designed to stimulate interest in science and technology among African school children by educating them on the science involved.

The Managing Director pointed out that last year when they commenced the award, over 150 entries were received in Nigeria.

However, last year, the overall awards winners emerged from Uganda, Ghana, Mauritius and South Africa. He maintained that the awards have provided a platform for students in and outside the country to express their knowledge on satellite technology.

BY ABASS ALOBALOWO, OAU – (Nigerian Vanguard, Dec. 27, 2012).

The Registrar of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Mr Ayorinde Ogunruku has debunked rumours that the university authority was planning to increase tuition fees.

He was reacting to last week’s lecture boycott and protest for restoration of the proscribed students’ union by students.

He said that the procedure for increase in fees is quite clear, adding that no committee has met nor discussed anything whatsoever … Continue reading →]]> No Plans to Increase Tuition fees – OAU Register

BY ABASS ALOBALOWO, OAU – (Nigerian Vanguard, Dec. 27, 2012).

The Registrar of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Mr Ayorinde Ogunruku has debunked rumours that the university authority was planning to increase tuition fees.

He was reacting to last week’s lecture boycott and protest for restoration of the proscribed students’ union by students.

He said that the procedure for increase in fees is quite clear, adding that no committee has met nor discussed anything whatsoever about any increase in fees.

In a statement issued last week, Ogunruku said: ”Further to the circular issued on Sunday December 2, 2012 on the activities of some students in the university, the attention of the university management has been drawn to rumours being peddled by some mischief makers to justify their nefarious illegalities that the university has planned to increase school fees from the beginning of the 2012/2013 session.

“Those concerned have today forced some students to boycott classes without following the normal University regulations in that regard.”

He, however, enjoined students to disregard the lies which are being orchestrated by some students in order to drum support for their unscrupulous intentions.

He asserted that the university administration is committed to the well being and wellness of all the members of the community

And indeed they pray together!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11

John Ameh and Fidelis Soriwei (authors)

There was a dramatic twist to the scheduled appearance of the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Lamido Sanusi, before the House of Representatives on Thursday, as lawmakers backed down.Sanusi had been summoned to appear before the House in plenary to defend his statement that 25 per cent of Nigeria’s annual total overhead … Continue reading →]]> Source:  Punch On the Web: http://odili.net/news/source/2010/dec/3/828.html

John Ameh and Fidelis Soriwei (authors)

There was a dramatic twist to the scheduled appearance of the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Lamido Sanusi, before the House of Representatives on Thursday, as lawmakers backed down.Sanusi had been summoned to appear before the House in plenary to defend his statement that 25 per cent of Nigeria’s annual total overhead cost was spent on lawmakers.

But on Thursday, rather than admit Sanusi into its chamber as planned, the lawmakers resolved to refer him to the committees on finance, appropriation, banking/currency and drugs/narcotics/financial crimes.

The committees were mandated to hear the CBN governor and forward a report to the House before December 11.

The U-turn took place after Sanusi, who arrived at the National Assembly about 9.45am, had waited for over one and a half hours in the office of the Clerk of the House, Mr. Sani Omolori.

The sitting of the House, which was fixed for 10am, did not start until 11am. Sanusi’s case was mentioned by the presiding Deputy Speaker, Alhaji Usman Nafada, at about 11.25am.

Signs of the drama that the day held emerged as soon as Nafada and other principal officers arrived in chamber for the commencement of the day’s proceedings.

There was anxiety in the chamber as lawmakers moved from row to row, discussing in groups.

Rather than kick-starting the proceedings, Nafada invited at least six lawmakers and the Clerk for a brief meeting.

Those Nafada discussed with were the Chief Whip, Mr. Emeka Ihedioha; the Chairman of the Committee on Rules and Business, Mr. Ita Enang; the Chairman of the Committee on Finance, Mr. John Enoh; the Chairman of the Committee on Banking/Currency, Mr. Ogbuefi Ozomgbachi; and the Chairman of the Committee on Gas Resources, Mr. Igochukwu Aguma.

After the short meeting, the session started formally. Nafada asked the Majority Leader, Mr. Tunde Akogun, to move a motion to usher Sanusi into the chamber.

As Akogun made to move the motion, Aguma interrupted him by raising a “counter motion.”

When the floor was yielded to him, Aguma looked at the Order Paper of the day and claimed that since there were “more important issues” there was no need to admit Sanusi as earlier scheduled.

He added that the House had also confirmed “this (Thursday) morning” that only 13.8 per cent and not 25 per cent of the recurrent budget was spent on lawmakers.

The lawmaker was not explicit on who confirmed the figure he quoted.

Aguma went on to suggest that Sanusi should be referred to the committees where the issues at stake would be better addressed as against appearing before the entire House.

Just as Nafada was to rule on Aguma’s motion, Enang interjected by reminding the House that there was no provision for counter motions on the Standing Orders and Rules of the House.

He explained that the only alternative was for Akogun to withdraw his motion for Aguma’s to be admitted.

Nafada deferred to Enang’s argument, following which Akogun formally withdrew the motion to invite Sanusi to the chamber.

He was seconded by Mrs. Nkiruka Onyejeocha

With the development, the House upheld in a majority voice vote to refer Sanusi to the committees.

At the lobby of the National Assembly, Sanusi, who was crowded by some of his aides said, “I will come back.”

He tried to flee from journalists, who chased him right to the entrance of the lobby, seeking for further comments.

He was then ambushed and stopped from entering his vehicle until he had offered a few more words.

He said, “There is nothing to say; it will be disrespectful to the House to speak on an issue that has been referred to a committee.

“I will come back on Monday; thank you all.”

Meanwhile, the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties has said that the current set of lawmakers have turned the National Assembly into a ‘trade centre.’

The National Publicity Secretary of the CNPP, Mr. Osita Okechukwu, in an email on Thursday, advised the lawmakers to focus on how to reduce their jumbo pay and allowances rather than haunting Sanusi

Okechukwu was reacting to the National Assembly’s invitation to the CBN governor over his comment.

He said that Sanusi did not say anything new about the huge amount of money being spent on lawmakers.

He challenged them to prove to Nigerians that their salaries were in accordance with the “emolument and allowances benchmark prescribed by the Federal Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission.”

Similarly, the National Publicity Secretary of the Afenifere Renewal Group, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, challenged the National Assembly members to disclose their income to justify their claim that the CBN governor was wrong.

He said that before Sanusi’s comment, Nigerians had complained in bitter terms about the disparity between the salary of elected public office holders and others.

He called on Nigerians to take the issue very seriously because of its negative impact to the nation.

The Congress for Progressive Change has also called on the National Assembly to publish, in details, facts concerning the basic salaries and allowances of its members.

On Thursday, the CPC, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Aghanya Dennis, said, “This observation has become very necessary in view of the recent summoning of the CBN governor by the Senate to explain his claims that 25 per cent of overhead of the government’s revenue is spent on the National Assembly.”

The statement noted that constituted authorities should be allowed to function without any form of intimidation from any arm of government.

“Instead of summoning him in the usual manner of the National Assembly, his office should have been simply asked to forward its records to substantiate his claims,” the statement added.

The party further called on Nigerians “not to be intimidated by the incessant summoning by the National Assembly as they were selected to represent us” .

It noted, however, that one of the ways “the members can be effective in the discharge of their functions was through such observations like that of the Sanusi.”

“By our understanding, the National Assembly has housing, furniture, car, sitting, travelling, and wardrobe etc allowances. These are the things Nigerians want to have detailed knowledge of,” it said.

 Politics    Friday, December 3, 2010

By Uduma Kalu Deputy Features Editor

Nigerians are turning the heat on members of the National Assembly following the weekend revelation by the CBN Governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido that as much as 25% of the nation’s overhead is used to service the legislative arm alone.

They are not impressed by strenuous efforts by the legislators to discredit the allegation and Mallam Sanusi who was summoned by the Senate on Wednesday to come … Continue reading →]]> Nigerians turn heat on Senators, Reps

 Politics    Friday, December 3, 2010

By Uduma Kalu Deputy Features Editor

Nigerians are turning the heat on members of the National Assembly following the weekend revelation by the CBN Governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido that as much as 25% of the nation’s overhead is used to service the legislative arm alone.

They are not impressed by strenuous efforts by the legislators to discredit the allegation and Mallam Sanusi who was summoned by the Senate on Wednesday to come and throw light on the allegation. The CBN governor stood his ground saying he had nothing to apologise for.

Rasheed Ladoja, former senator, ex governor of Oyo state

If the figure is correct, that is what the budget says you are consuming, 25 percent, they should come and tell us that it is not true.

Aren’t they are earning so much?

They are also saying they are not. And you know Obasanjo said that they were earning more even than the Americans. You know the minimum salary in America is a 1 dollar, about N120. May be, that is the daily take in America. So you cannot convince anybody they are not collecting more than they are due for in an impoverished country like Nigeria What they should do is that they should bring their own figures and let us see.

Impact on health, power education- Are you asking me that one? That would have been beneficial to all Nigerians. That would have fetched us a lot of joy. If the power sector is good, a lot of job would be filled. The industries that are closing will not close. You know I am not a fan of Obasanjo but when he said what was right, I agreed with him. He is in a position to know what he was saying.

He has been in charge of the federal government. The question again is why did he give them N20m each for the third term? Is it not a question of….? Is he not the one that sharpened their appetite? If you give N20m to 360 plus 103 members or so, that can pay for a power plant. May be, he sharpened their appetite and they don’t like to stop. And no president can call them to order. All of them are afraid. Yar’ Adua was with Obasanjo. What do you expect?

Can they justify their pay?

Chief Ayo Adebanjo, elder statesman

My dear, I am not bothered. Their salary is too much. They earn the highest all over the world. That is the point. They have so much money. Those we elected, we are now supposed to be working for them. It’s the major objective. They earn so much millions every quarter. You think it is alright. Stop playing with words. Their salary in comparison to the economy of the country is too much.

That is what they must address. The CBN governor said they get 25 per cent, 30 per cent. Are they supposed to be earning so much as they are earning now in view of the economy of the country, without electricity. no water, no roads? Education is crippling. But they spend so much money to maintain themselves. That is the question. They should justify their salary in relation to the needs of the country. You don’t play on words, whether it is 10 percent. Whether it is 2 per cent. That 2 per cent, can you justify it to the development that we have to bring to the country? That is my own position.

Summons to Senate- I listened to them. Their quarrel is not the 25 per cent. The point is whatever they are earning, can they justify it in relation to the development of the country? That is the question. You have to explain the developments of the country. And you are earning so much. You have lesser money left for development. That is what we are saying. They should justify what they are earning in relation to the development of the country, whether it is 12 per cent or five per cent.

President’s hands tied as a PDP govt- The senators claim that the wages commission pays their salaries, not they. What we are now saying is that whoever is responsible for fixing their salary should revise it downwards. Don’t play on words. You are talking about the government itself, the amount they are earning in relation to the development requirements of the country.

It’s wasteful spending, says Eleazu,1st DG, Nigeria Think Tank, under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, ex chairman, PPMC, UN consultant, scholar and author

One has to know exactly what the federal budget was. So the quantum represented by the 25 per cent will it be N700b, N300 b? Before you begin to say what that can achieve.

2010 budget is N 4.07t. And the national assembly takes 25 per cent of that Though they say it is about 3 per cent.

That is why Nigeria is not developing. The money that should be used for electricity is being sent abroad to put in foreign banks where they are not yielding anything for us, or just use it for bribing people for election. It is wasteful spending. There is doubt about that.

How to make the lawmakers accountable- Vote them out of office, or carry placards and go to the front of the national assembly. And say that we will sit down here until you revise all the money you have allocated to yourselves. The one they call constituency vote. Some of them are paid N204m for house of representatives, and N215 for senators.

Which legislators in all parts of the world earn that kind of money? It’s just that Nigerians we are so docile. Nobody wants to protest. In view of what happened in Phillippines a few years ago- they came from churches. People carried their bibles, and went in front of the president’s mansion and sat there. They sent troops, and tanks and the people said you can roll over us.

So what else? And when they sat there for seven days non stop and more and more people were coming to sit down there, the army people who were with the tanks left the tanks and joined them. And the president ran away. That is the kind of revolution we require in this country.

They should earn sitting allowances, Prince Tony Momoh, journalism, lawyer, ex minister

Those who are asking for the neck of Sanusi are doing so because they really have no shame. If they have shame, they will know that a growing particular entity of the country will look at issues that are of priority interest to the people which national assembly will not take. But our own people, not just national assembly in our own experiences politically, would have been more interested in looking at government and being in government as a business.

Not as a service. And that is why people have been asking for decongesting the political stage so that government will be a service, not a business. And those who are lawmakers now earning such fantastic allowances should be made to earn sitting allowances rather than salaries and allowances.

So while in the past in the first republic, they earned only allowances and went back to their full time jobs, now we have full time law making as full time job. So the new law making and the position they have in public office to secure advantages for their private interests is not healthy at all. The other jurisdiction where groups demand in the system and in the polity that you can’t spent 25 per cent of your earning on allowances as recurrent expenditure, you spend about 75 per cent on the economy.

Today we are even borrowing to the current commitments and it is not healthy at all. So I support Sanusi 100 percent and I would plead that Nigerians should look at issues of more import to us than to their personal interests. If Sanusi had not mentioned that 25 percent thing, perhaps, nobody may even have known that he was in Okada to deliver a speech on the economy.

Impact on power, power education, health – That is what I mean. If, for instance, we spend less on recurrent expenditure and more on capital, all the communities in Nigeria would have had power and water and roads. But you have revenue. Hundreds of naira you earn is either put into growing the system or meeting the commitments of individuals, and the latter has been the case.

The amount they are earning is to meet the commitments of greedy officials rather than putting those earnings into areas that will grow our people and the country. Government is there because of the welfare of the people and the citizens. That is what the constitution says. But how much welfare and security do we have, from the people representing us, on behalf of the people?

It is outrageous that there is no justification to what political officeholders earn- Mr Yinka Udumakin, spokesman Save Nigeria Group (SNG)

It is unfortunate that we are living in a country where workers have to engage in a maximum struggle to get a minimum wage of N18 ,000 and the lawmakers are carting away millions every month for three-day works in a week. It is outrageous especially in an economy where the poverty incidence is 76 percent where 76 out of 100 people live below N150 per day, there is no justification to what the law makers, political officeholders, governors, council chairmen and councilors were earning. We need a system change.

By 2011, we need a paradigm shift and a kind of leadership that brings in the remedy of freshness which can give the country a fresh start and ensure that the wealth of the country is equitably distributed between those in power and those that are being governed. We must ensure that every arm of our collective wealth is not concentrated in the hands of those in government.

The CBN governor should be commended for standing up like a man before the senate to say that he stands by his belief and cannot be intimidated in his submission to lick his words and until we begin to have professionals like him and people who will not shy away from telling the truth for the love of office, we would never get things right.