ASUU strike: Fresh negotiation opens between the FG and university lecturers

There are indications that the Federal Government and university lecturers have began new talks to end the on-going strike in universities across the nation. Yesterday, Minister of Labour and Productivity, Emeka Wogu, announced that it has entered into fresh negotiation with Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). Leading the negotiation the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim. Wogu speaking to the Bamanga Tukur-led leadership of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Working Committee (NWC) on the activities of his ministry said that the government was not comfortable with the original agreement, which he described as complex. “We have made offer to ASUU. It is as complex as presented. Negotiation is ongoing. The National Assembly is equally involved,” he said. “We believe they will soon call off the strike. I personally and passionately appeal to them to call off the strike.” “It will not affect the negotiation if they call off the strike. It is better for them to be inside than outside. Students have equally appealed to them.” ”The nine-point agreements ASUU signed with Federal Government were: funding requirements for revitalisation of Nigerian universities and Federal Government’s assistance to state universities.” According to reports, they also agreed on payment of earned allowances, including the establishment of NUPEMCO and progressive increase in annual budgetary allocation to education to 26 percent between 2009 and 2020, an amendment of the pension/retirement age of academics on the professorial cadre from 65 to 70 years, reinstatement of prematurely dissolved governing councils and transfer of Federal Government landed property to universities. There was also an agreement on setting up of research development council and provision of research equipment to laboratories and classrooms in universities.

Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney willing to move to Arsenal

Wayne Rooney would consider a transfer to Arsenal, but only should his talks with Chelsea fall through. According to The Daily Mail, not only would Rooney be fine with moving to North London, but Arsenal would also gladly break tradition and meet his astronomical wage demands, offering him £200,000 per week for five years. Chelsea are still very much favourites for the United forward’s signature after officially lodging an offer of £23m plus £2.5m in clauses last week. Rooney has two years remaining on his £240,000 per week contract, but both Chelsea and Arsenal would be happy to take him off of new United manager David Moyes’ hands. With recent complaints about being left out of the team and a slip down the pecking order, made particularly clear following his Champions League semifinal snub against Real Madrid, Rooney is said to be drawn to the Arsene Wenger’s promise of building the team around him, should he sign. Sir Alex Ferguson had a particularly tumultuous relationship with the forwards towards the end of his United reign, and Moyes has failed to provide the clarification of his squad role which Rooney so clearly desires.

Minister of state for health leaves Jonathan’s cabinet

The  Minister of State for Health Dr. Ali Pate, resigned on Wednesday in Abuja.

His voluntary resignation has been accepted by President Goodluck Jonathan and  this was disclosed by  Dr. Reuben Abati to the  State House correspondents as his resignation takes immediate effect. Reports say Pate was leaving the Goodluck Jonaathan cabinet to take up a position as professor in Duke University’s Global Health Institute, USA. He said in his new capacity, he would participate in a university-wide Africa initiative and would also serve as Senior Adviser to Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation based in Washington DC. Pate, however, offered to continue to serve the Jonathan’s  administration as honorary advisor on the polio eradication initiative and Save one million lives of Women and Children initiative which he was in charge of. “As we have discussed, I wish to offer the continuation of my service on part time basis as Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Polio Eradication and Public Private Coalition on Saving one million live initiative. “If you agree, in fulfilment of my previous commitment to see to the conclusion of these important national priorities, this may entail an honorary advisory role reporting directly to you progress at least on quarterly basis,’’ he said.

Abati, said that in accepting the minister’s resignation, the President was “highly elated that his star-studded cabinet was attracting required global attention.’’ He said that the President saw the appointment as a plus for the administration and the country. Abati said Jonathan commended Pate for the integrity and competence he brought on board while carrying out his duties first as the Chief Executive of the National Primary Health  Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) and later as a minister.He recalled that another cabinet member, the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, was one of those shortlisted for the position of the World Bank’s President in 2012. “The cabinet is full of very distinguished men and women, people with not only national, but also international recognition. “The President congratulated the minister and accepted his offer to continue to serve on a part-time basis as honorary adviser. “It is a positive development that we have people who are recognised globally,’’ he said. Pate, from Bauchi State, had resigned his appointment from the World Bank Office in 2008, to come back home to join the public service after 15 years in the Diaspora. He served first, as the Chief Executive of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) and as cabinet minister in the past two years with the portfolio as Minister of State in the Federal Ministry of Health.

Tonto Dikeh Angry With Best Friend Rukky Sanda For Attending Yvonne Nelson’s Movie Premiere

It appears Tonto Dikeh is mad at best friend Rukky for attending Yvonne Nelson’s premiere of House of Gold, that held last Friday, July 19, 2013. Movie Moments disclosed that Rukky had showed up at the premiere after invitations were duly sent to her by the organizers of the movie premiere. Though her presence caused stir-with her boob revealing dress-celebrities in the know wondered how she intends to deal with her buddy, Tonto, after showing up her perceived enemy’smovie premiere. Tonto Dikeh is widely known to have drawn a war path with Yvonne Nelson since their short-lived romances with music rave, Iyanya. Unconfirmed sources are however insinuating that Rukky might have covertly parted ways with Tonto long time ago before deciding to rock the boat with Yvonne.

Van Persie's injury is not believed to be serious

Manchester United manager David Moyes has more than pre-season defeats to worry about as his star-striker Robin van Persie came off during their recent loss to Yokohama after picking up a thigh injury.

It hasn't been announced how bad the injury is, but after seeing the Dutchman holding his thigh and struggling to move fluently, Moyes decided to bring him off and will now await test results to find out how severe the injury is. Despite the injury to Van Persie, Moyes has received some good news in the form of Wayne Rooney recovering quicker than expected from his hamstring injury and he is expected to be fit in a couple of weeks, rather than a month, which was first thought. Talking in an interview after the pre-season defeat, Moyes confirmed that Van Persie had picked up a knock, and also revealed Danny Welbeck has a niggle as well. "We’ve got a couple of wee worries," Moyes told reporters. "Robin just felt his thigh in the first half and we didn’t want to take any chances. "Danny Welbeck also felt his groin when he went on and we’ve just got to make sure they’re all OK, especially with so many games coming up. "We’ve still got a few games to play before the season starts when we get back home. "As far as we know, Wayne is coming on. He’s started light jogging and the feedback I’m getting from the physios is that he’s progressing. Hopefully those dates are still on track." After talking about Rooney's fitness levels, Moyes was then asked about the striker's future and once again he remained adamant on keeping the 27-year-old. "We have said he is not for sale and our stance hasn’t changed."

7 International Celebrities You Didn't Know Were Nigerian

This list has dug a little deeper and discovered 7 more celebrities you never thought could be Nigerian. Get ready to be shocked as we present you 7 well-known International celebs who are Fellow Nigerians;

 

1)  Hugo Weaving-  Do you remember Agent Smith in Matrix? Yes! Neo’s arch-rival is Nigerian. How? Well the 53 year old actor was born in Nigeria at the University College Hospital in Ibadan. This makes him Nigerian by birth. His parents moved back to England a year after. Hugo Weavinghas acted in several blockbusters such as V For Vendetta, The Matrix Trilogy and Lord of The Rings Trilogy, Transformers Trilogy, The Hobbit Trilogy and Captain America. Who said Ibadan boys don’t go far?

 

 

2)  Taio Cruz- The 25 year old British singer is of Nigerian heritage. He was born to a Nigerian father and Brazilian mother. Taio Cruz who started penning songs at 12, began writing professionally 7 years later. He released his debut album Departure in 2008. The following year he released his sophomore Rokstarr which featured the hit song ‘Dynamite’. He dropped his 3^rd album TY.O three years ago. Taio Cruz has won several awards including the BRIT Awards, Billboard Music Awards, ASCAP Awards and American Music Awards.

 

 

3) Tyler the Creator- Yes, do not be shocked. The ‘Black Eminem’ is Nigerian. Tyler the Creator’s actual names are Tyler Okonma. His father is Igbo. The leader of the music collective ‘Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All’ claims he never met his father. Maybe that is why he is not too fond of him. In 2009 Tyler released his first album Bastard. His buzz started growing from then on mainly backed by his offensive, homophobic and disgusting lyrics. He released his second albumGoblin two years later and became a national sensation without the backing of any major record label in America. He released his third album Wolf this year.

 

4)  Dizzie Rascal- Dizzie (Dylan Kwabena Mills) is one of the most respected rappers in the UK and also happens to be Nigerian. His Nigerian father died when he was young and he was raised by his Ghanaian mum. He had a rebellious childhood and that’s how he got the name Rascal. He was a friend of Nigerian footballer Danny Shittu when he was a kid. At 16 he produced his first single ‘I Luv U’ and in 2002 formed the collective Roll Deep Crew. Dizzie Rascal has released 5 solo albums till date making him one of the biggest rappers in the UK. He performed at the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympics in London and won the Best International Act at the BET Awards in 2010.

 

 

5)  Richard Ayoade- This is another Brit-Nigerian. Richard  Ayoade was born to a Nigerian father and Norwegian mother. The 36 year old comedian, actor and writer has written several awards winning stage plays in the UK. He is also a known face on British TV having starred in the highly popular The IT Crowd. He made his Hollywood debut in 2012 after starring in the comedy The Watchalongside Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn and Jonah Hill.

6) Donald Adeosun Faison: Fans of the popular television Comedy-drama "Scrubs" would know this one. Not only is he one of our favorite character,  you probably didn't know this American actor's middle name is Yoruba.

7) Lemar: Lemar Obika (born 4 April 1978), professionally known simply as Lemar, is an English R&B singer–songwriter and record producer. His Nigerian fans probably didn't know that the UK singer who was born in Tottenham, England is son to Nigerian parents of Enugu State, South Eastern Nigeria.

 

 

Real Reasons Tonto Dikeh And Mercy Johnson Are At Loggerheads

The battle going on between these two controversial actresses, Mercy Johnson and Tonto Dikeh is not new to you, but many do not really know the cause of this brouhaha. We gathered that Tonto was enjoying the best of her time when Mercy got married and later got pregnant, reason being that, she became a hot cake that producers request for in and out of Lagos. Mercy’s short absence created enormous wealth for her and she was really feeding hard on that. Now, Mercy is fit and active to return to her groove. Tonto, people in the know, got threatened by that and she became so agitated she went on social media to ridicule her rival. “Tonto has never liked Mercy. Starting from when Nollywood started shifting ground to Asaba, Mercy was always in hot demand, which obviously made Tonto to begin seeing her as a competitor. This, among other things combined to make them impenitent enemies,” the source, who is a stakeholder in the industry disclosed. Only God knows what will result to this fight. Meanwhile, the return of Mercy Johnson is causing a lot of stir in Nollywood as all the actresses are seeing it as a threat just like Tonto Dikeh.

Yap