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6 WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16, 2017 news photo •L-R: Senator Lanre Tejuoso; Mr. Femi Shitta-Bey; and Managing Director, PrimePort Logistics, Chief Femi Adewunmi, during the coronation of Adewunmi as the Atunluse of Owu-Ijebu, Ogun State...recently. Photo: Blue Seal Energy Service Nigeria Limited •L-R: Proprietress, Covenant International School, Mrs. Mojisola Adeniba; Chairman, Rev. Tunde Adeniba; wife of the Presiding Bishop, Living Faith Church Worldwide, Mrs. Faith Oyedepo; and Presiding Bishop, Living Faith Church Worldwide, Bishop David Oyedepo, during the Oyedepo’s visit to Covenant International School in Mowe, Ogun State...on Tuesday. Photo: Goke Famadewa •L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Osun State Signage, Hoarding and Advertisement Agency, Mrs. Dupe Ajayi-Gbadebo; Chairman, Osun House of Assembly Committee on Information and Strategy representing Obokun constituency, Mr. Olatunbosun Oyintiloye; Chairman, Ibokun Majiyagbe Farmers, Omiwole Samson; and Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Adelani Baderinwa, during the distribution of farm inputs and other empowerment materials to farmers in the Obokun Local Government Area of Osun State...on Sunday . Photo: Osun State Government Govt to prosecute traffic violators in Apapa Sesan Olufowobi Stakeholders in Apapa and its environs have agreed that owners of articulated vehicles parked indiscriminately in the area should be prosecuted. Also, the authorities at the Apapa Local Government Area said they would implement 24-hour enforcement of the one lane policy to reduce gridlock. These were arrived at on Tuesday at a stakeholders’ meeting at the council secretariat, attended by representatives of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, Association of Apapa Government Reserved Areas, banks and law enforcement agencies. The LGA Chairman, Mr. Owolabi Adele, who lamented that the traffic situation had crippled the socio-economic activities in Apapa, said the 24-hour enforcement would involve the deployment of enforcement teams to strategic areas to ease the flow of traffic. Sesan Olufowobi Youths in Nigeria have been asked to develop their minds and take advantage of opportunities the nation has to offer. The Chairman, International Youth Fellowship in Nigeria, Mr. William Kim, stated this at the Annual World Youth Camp in Ikorodu, Lagos State, as part of the activities to observe the International Youth Day. Kim said mind education was imperative for the nation’s youths, especially in the ongoing debate about young people taking their places in the political space. The IYF Chairman, who is also a missionary in Nigeria, said, “If there is sound mindset, they (youths) will be able to live good lives.” The IYF Director of Mind Education Institute in Nigeria, Mrs. Christine Oh, emphasised the need for future leaders to develop great dreams, noting that He said, “The damage done to our economy and the suffering of our people as a result of the traffic menace in the Apapa area cannot be overemphasised. “However, we will continue to repair bad road network promptly. But we call for intensive training for all tanker drivers to stem the tide of overloading and reckless driving that result in avoidable accidents.” Speaking on behalf of the Association of Apapa Government Reserved Areas, Brig. Gen. Ayo Vaughan (retd.), suggested the erection of barriers to regulate the use of some roads by articulated vehicles. He also advised that commercial transport should be regulated to end the menace of okada riders and commercial bus drivers in the area. The General Manager of the NPA, Biodun Gbadamosi, blamed the worrisome situation in Apapa on nonadherence to its original master plan and neglect by successive governments in the country. Nigerian youths asked to develop minds Afeez Hanafi The Senator representing Lagos East, Senator Gbenga Ashafa, has called on the Association of Community Pharmacists, to lead the campaign against drug abuse. Ashafa decried the rise in the abuse of prescription drugs and over the counter pills, which he described as dangers to the national development, a statement said on Tuesday. He made the call at the 2017 edition of Community Pharmacists Association’s Day, Lagos State chapter, with the theme, ‘National Development: The Role of Pharmaceutical Sector’, adding that the role of Nigerian youngsters had great potential. “We want to give youngsters in Nigeria the opportunities to realise their dreams; the youths here have great potential because of the English-speaking advantage. I am from South Korea and we have only one language; Koreans are handicapped in learning foreign languages. For instance, Korean students need up to one year to learn Spanish, but Nigerian youngsters need only two months to do so; that is the power you have,” Oh added. The Guest Speaker, Pastor Kwang Rhee, said Nigerian youths would be ripe to take their rightful place in the country after they had developed a positive mindset. Rhee, who spoke through an interpreter, said, “We are not in difficulty because of the situation; things become difficult because of the mindset that we have towards the situation.” ‘Fight drug abuse’ community pharmacists as first responders in the community health value chain was commendable. Ashafa, who was represented by head of his Medical Outreach Team, Dr Rotimi Adesanya, said, “Drugs, like codeine, tramadol, among others have been used as stimulants and narcotics by a large number of our youths. Community pharmacists should lead the charge in ensuring that prescription medications are only sold upon presentation of doctors’ prescriptions.” The Senator added that he had sponsored a motion on the floor of the Senate to stamp out drug abuse in the country.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16, 2017 7 news Strike enters third day, ASUU says negotiation hasn’t started with FG Fidelis Soriwei and Olalekan Adetayo THE Federal Government and the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities on Tuesday presented different views on a parley involving both parties over the strike by university teachers. While the Federal Government said significant steps were taken at the meeting towards the resolution of the issues raised by ASUU, the President of the union, Prof Biodun Ogunyemi, said it was a “mere consultation.” He said, “We have not yet had a formal meeting (with government); we are still making consultation. Don’t worry; I will get back to you when there is information. But there is no information for now.” But the Director of Press, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Samuel Olowookere, in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday said the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, led government to the meeting on behalf of the government. He said the meeting held took significant steps towards the resolution of the issues raised by ASUU. Olowookere said the meeting agreed on the forensic audit of N30bn earlier given to ASUU in 2010 and further agreed on monthly remittances to ASUU while the audit lasts. He said, “The Minister hence wishes to assure members of ASUU, and indeed all Nigerians that government is already at work to resolve all outstanding issues in line with the resolve of the present administration to cast any form of disruption of universities’ academic calendar into the dustbin of history. The meeting continues on Thursday August 17, 2017.” ASUU strike unnecessary, says Presidency The Presidency on Tuesday described the industrial action declared by ASUU on Monday as “totally unnecessary.” The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said this in an interview on Channels Television’s programme, Sunrise Daily. Shehu said the union leaders were aware of the fact that the Muhammadu Buhari administration inherited the agreements based on which the industrial action was declared. He said they were also aware that the Federal Government had set up a committee on the matter. The presidential spokesman regretted that while the union leaders were expected to sit down and negotiate with the committee, they resorted to a strike. He gave an indication that the government might not be able to meet the huge financial obligation the striking university teachers were asking for since the N850bn debt was more than the total allocation to the Ministry of Education in the 2017 Budget which he put at N369bn. Shehu said, “Governments enter into agreements that they can pay for. Ability to pay is a key requirement in going into agreements. “Since President Buhari assumed office, he has sent words out there in form of a warning to all government institutions that they should not go into negotiations and agreements that they cannot pay for; but get clearance. “I understand that they are talking about debts owed their members to the tune of N850bn. If I am correct, the entire appropriation for the Ministry of Education for this year is N369bn. So where do they want us to get the money from? “We have inherited these agreements and we are not running away from them. Government has set up a committee led by (Dr Wale) Babalakin. They are already sitting. Why didn’t they sit down and negotiate? “This strike is totally unnecessary. The issues can be resolved, especially where we have full understanding of where we are coming from. The governments that signed those agreements did not deem it fit to implement because the capacity was not there. “If they are ready, they can sit down and discuss with the committee that has capable and qualified people as members.” Shehu said the university teachers opted to go on strike because they expected that all their problems should be solved with a wave of hand. “They want all the problems to go with a wave of the hand. They want all the answers to all their problems at a go. There is an avenue that the government has opened for them for dialogue and it is not closed yet,” the presidential spokesman said. Poly lecturers threaten sympathy strike The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics on Tuesday said it supported the strike embarked upon by ASUU. The union in a statement by its Secretary General, Anderson Ezeibe, noted that the strike was aimed at restoring sanity to Nigerian universities and the education sector. It also urged government to commence the implementation of agreements entered into with ASUP to forestall an impending crisis in polytechnics. The union lamented that it had become a norm for government to renege on agreements entered into with trade unions, particularly in the education sector. It said failure of government to implement agreements frustrated unions and left them with no choice but to go on strike. The group said that it was concerned about the consequences of the strike on students, parents and society at large. It urged government to address the issue of shortfall in personnel releases in federal institutions since December 2015, nonpayment of salaries in state polytechnics, nonimplementation of Needs Assessment report and non-payment of allowances. “ASUP notes the renewal of hostilities on the country’s university campuses between ASUU and government of Nigeria. “While we are in unconditional solidarity with ASUU in this struggle to restore sanity to Nigerian universities, we are calling on the government to commence without further delay the implementation of agreements entered into with ASUP to forestall an impending crisis in the polytechnic subsector.” Stone-throwing mob attacks #ResumeOrResign protesters, damages Charly boy’s car Adelani Adepegba and Godwin Isenyo POPULAR artist and Co-convener of the #ResumeOrResign protests, Charles Oputa, aka Charly Boy, and other members of his movement were attacked by a mob on Tuesday at Wuse Market, Abuja. The mob, who stoned the protesters, also injured a journalist with The Guardian newspaper, Oludare Richard. The mob, consisting mostly young Hausa boys, was believed to have attacked the protesters for demanding that ailing President Muhammadu Buhari should resume or resign from office. The miscreants also vandalised Charly Boy’s BMW car, breaking the side glass and the front windscreen. It was learnt that the activist and his fellow protesters managed to escape as the few security men at the scene could not control the attackers. The market was subsequently shut down temporarily while vehicles belonging to the protesters were taken away from the area. An eyewitness said many of the journalists who followed the protesters to the market were also harassed by the mob. Richard explained that the security men at the gate did not allow the coalition members to gain entrance into the market on seeing Charly Boy’s car, adding that a crowd, however, forced the gate open for everyone to access the market. He said, “When we entered the market, a crowd surrounded Charly Boy and as he was talking to the people, some Hausa boys among the crowd shouted ‘Sai Baba.’ “Charly Boy tried to calm the crowd, but one of them assaulted him and before you know it, we were surrounded by Hausa boys who started throwing stones at us. I ran into a restaurant and went out through the back door, but I met them waiting outside with big stones, sticks and knives; I shouted, ‘I’m a journalist,’ but they ignored my cries. “I ran and a big stone hit me in the face; I almost fell, but I kept running. I found myself in a corner and as they closed in on me, I shouted again that I was a journalist and I brought out my identity card. One of them looked at it and asked the others to allow me to go.” The reporter said he saw the mob attacking Charly Boy with stones as he ran, noting that he might have been killed if he was caught. “Charly Boy was lucky to escape, I saw him running towards a cul-de-sac and a big stone hit him on the back,” he added. The Co-convener of the #ResumeOrResign protests, Deji Adeyanju, explained that they were at the market to see a few of Charly Boy’s friends when some miscreants attacked them with stones, shouting Sai Baba. He said, “About 25 of them attacked us, but before we got to Charly Boy’s car, they had vandalised it. A journalist was also injured. Charly Boy was just going round, greeting the people in the market when the boys came. First, they wanted to engage us, but we said no and tried to leave, but they attacked us.” Adeyanu also wrote on Twitter, “They attacked us with policemen last Tuesday. They tried to attack us at Unity Fountain with their government sponsored thugs. Today is Wuse Market. “Charly Boy’s car was damaged by thugs. This is a senseless government. #ResumeOrResign. “There are notes wrappers all over Unity Fountain shared by Pro-Buhari protesters. The government says it’s fighting corruption.” Hausa, Igbo clash in market An eyewitness, who identified himself simply as Tunji, explained that after the hoodlums attacked the protesters, the Igbo traders in the market mobilised and retaliated with stones. “The policemen in the market just watched the groups as they stoned one another; it was the men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps that restored order in the market,” he said. But the Federal Capital Territory police spokesman, Anjuguri Manzah, stated that it was actually the intervention of the police that prevented a breakdown of law and order in the market, adding that the market had been closed. He said,”The prompt intervention by police operatives averted a major clash between two opposing sides at Wuse Market. The police brought the situation under control. “To forestall further breakdown of law and order, the management has ordered the closure of the market; a large contingent of policemen has been deployed in the market to provide security.” Buhari now is hale, hearty –ACF Meanwhile, the Arewa Consultative Forum said on Tuesday that the visit by Buhari’s media team to the President in London was an indication that Buhari was hale and hearty. The National Publicity Secretary of the northern body, Alhaji Muhammadu Ibrahim, said the President’s desire to come home was a good development that had rekindled hope and confidence in the minds of Nigerians. The forum in a statement said, “From what we saw in the video clips and pictures of the visit of the Presidential media team that visited President Muhammadu Buhari in London last week, President Buhari appears hale, healthy and in high spirits. “He expressed his desire to come home as soon as his doctors discharge him. This is a heartwarming development which has restored hope and confidence in the minds of Nigerians.” HAVE A STORY FOR US? CONTACT: Politics: 08033461633 politics@punchng.com; General News: 08165625046 Online: 08033430804 generalnews@punchng.com; Business: 07068835954 business@punchng.com • We are guided by the principles of factual, balanced and fair reporting and commentaries. • We believe that these principles and ethical conduct are the basis of public trust and confidence. • We believe that a system of self regulation, through a professional code of ethics under an CODE OF ETHICS independent body would best serve the interest of the profession and society. • We subscribe to the Ombudsman mechanism established by the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria, supported by other stakeholders, to mediate complaints against the press on ethical conduct and recommend redress. For more information, please contact: Office of the Ombudsman, Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria 8, Maryland Crescent, Maryland, Ikeja. Or e-mail: ngrombudsman@yahoo. com
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